A court in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq has sentenced opposition leader Shaswar Abdulwahid to five months in prison following a conviction for defamation.

This development is set against the backdrop of intensifying political rivalries leading up to November's legislative elections in Iraq.

Abdulwahid, who heads the New Generation party, holds 15 out of 100 seats in the regional parliament and nine out of 329 seats in Iraq’s parliament.

His party serves as a significant opposition force to the two historic parties of the Kurdish region: the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

The court's ruling, which includes a five-month prison sentence for Abdulwahid, was conveyed by his lawyer, Bashdar Hasan, who has stated that an appeal will be lodged.

In response to this decision, New Generation announced its intention to increase its political activities, especially in opposition to the KDP and PUK, while also preparing for the upcoming elections.

Abdulwahid's party is part of the electoral alliance led by Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

This alliance is indicative of the complex political landscape that often involves heated competition during election periods in Iraq.

The arrest of Abdulwahid occurred on August 12 at his residence in Sulaimaniyah, which is a stronghold for the PUK.

Since founding his party in 2017, Abdulwahid has been detained several times and even survived an assassination attempt.

His latest legal troubles stem from a defamation case brought by a former member of parliament.

The incident highlights broader issues within Iraqi Kurdistan concerning allegations of corruption, arbitrary detentions, violations of press freedom, and the suppression of protest rights.

These tensions were further inflamed ten days prior when clashes erupted in Sulaimaniyah during the attempted arrest of another opposition figure, Lahur Sheikh Jangi, a former senior leader with the PUK.