Trump and Xi Jingping summit: How are the United States and China redefining their relationship?

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As tensions over trade, Taiwan, technology, and global influence intensify, the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping may determine the future balance of power between Washington and Beijing. By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Sulaimani, Iraq | 13 May 2026 — Kurdish Policy Analysis "We don't have permanent allies and we don't have permanent enemies, only our interests are permanent, and we have to follow them." – Henry John Temple. The root of the current Strait of Hormuz tensions is not only about shipping routes or oil prices, but also about the final collapse of the historical US concept towards Beijing. However, the 2025 National Security Strategy, released by the White House in November, says this was a historic mistake because China used the assets it accumulated to strengthen itself and compete with the West, not to become their partner. For many years, the United States alone maintained maritime security; The fifth US ship in Manama, Bahrain, worked only to keep o...
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Lahur Sheikh Jangi and Brother Launch Hunger Strike Over Detention as Kurdistan Political Tensions Escalate

Former PUK co-president Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother Polad Sheikh Jangi accuse Kurdish authorities of political interference in their eight-month detention case, raising pressure on the Kurdistan Region’s judiciary.

Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj, Sulaimani, Iraq, 19 April, Kurdish Policy Analysis -- Lahur Sheikh Jangi and his brother Polad Sheikh Jangi have begun a hunger strike over their eight-month detention, accusing Kurdish officials of interfering in the judiciary and blocking their case from reaching appeal courts.

Lahur Sheikh Jangi, former co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and his brother Polad Sheikh Jangi have begun a hunger strike, saying they have been held in what they describe as unjust imprisonment for eight months.

In a public message, Sheikh Jangi said the decision came after prolonged delays in the judicial process, accusing authorities of obstructing legal review of their case.

“For eight months, we have been unjustly imprisoned, contrary to all institutional and legal norms,” he said.

Allegations of Political Interference

Sheikh Jangi directly accused senior Kurdish officials, including PUK President Bafel Talabani and Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, of interfering in the judicial process.

He claimed that pressure on courts and institutions has prevented the case from reaching the Court of Cassation, effectively blocking legal review.

According to Sheikh Jangi, the hunger strike will continue “until the rule of law is restored” in their case.

“You have left no role for the courts and institutions of Sulaymaniyah,” he added.

Court Developments and Legal Dispute

In January 2026, the Sulaymaniyah Criminal Court suspended proceedings in the case and referred the file to the Court of Cassation in Erbil after a request from the defense team.

The defense, led by lawyer Burhan Rashid Gulla, confirmed that the referral request was submitted formally to the higher judiciary.

The case remains under review at the appellate level.

Background: Armed Clashes and Arrest Operation

The case originates from events on August 22, 2025, when security forces attempted to execute an arrest warrant against Sheikh Jangi at the Lalezar Hotel in Sulaymaniyah, which also served as his political headquarters.

The operation involved multiple security units, including:

  • Asayish (General Security forces)
  • Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG)
  • Commando units

They reportedly surrounded the compound, leading to armed resistance from forces loyal to Sheikh Jangi, known as the “Scorpion Force.”

The ensuing clashes lasted more than three hours, involving heavy gunfire and explosions.

At least four people were killed, dozens were injured, and more than 100 individuals were detained.

Political Fallout in the Kurdistan Region

Sheikh Jangi, once a senior figure within the PUK, was removed from the party leadership in 2021 before founding the opposition political movement known as the People’s Front (Baray Gal).

He was later arrested alongside his brother Polad and several senior aides following the 2025 confrontation.

The case has since become one of the most sensitive political and judicial disputes in the Kurdistan Region, highlighting deep divisions within Kurdish political structures and ongoing tensions between rival factions in Sulaymaniyah.

Analysis: A Legal Case with Political Weight

While formally a criminal proceeding, the case has evolved into a broader political confrontation between rival Kurdish power centers.

The hunger strike introduces new pressure on the judiciary and could further intensify scrutiny of political influence over legal institutions in the Kurdistan Region.

For now, the case remains unresolved, with both legal and political implications continuing to unfold.

#Kurdistan #Sulaymaniyah #PUK #LahurSheikhJangi #KRG #HumanRights #KurdishPolitics #Detention #BafelTalabani #QubadTalabani

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