Families in Sulaymaniyah protest university transfer denials, urge ministry intervention

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — Families of university students in the city of Sulaymaniyah have protested outside the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, demanding that students who meet legal transfer requirements be allowed to change universities. Speaking at a press conference, family representative Kawan Salaheddin said the rejection of eligible transfer applications by the University of Sulaymaniyah was unacceptable. He cited ministry directives that grant transfer rights to children of martyrs, students who have lost a parent, those with serious illnesses who study far from family, and children of long-serving university staff. Salaheddin also noted that applications from medical school students have not been processed. He called on the ministry to intervene directly and ensure that the rules are applied equally to all applicants, and urged the University of Sulaymaniyah's administration to review the applications again and not obstruct students who meet the conditions. No immediate response from the university or the ministry was reported.