They were instigated by Friday prayers' sermons by Ismail Osman Sindai,[2] a Kurdish imam, calling for attacks against stores selling alcohol and massage parlours in Zakho.

[3] The riots ended after Kurdistan Regional Government security forces intervened and began a massive crackdown on demonstrators.

As a result of the riots, a group of secular Kurds attacked a number of buildings belonging to the Kurdistan Islamic Union party.

[6] Angry youth mobs attacked businesses such as stores, hotels, casinos, and massage parlors in the northern town of Zakho.

On December 3, the Kurdish intelligence agency Asaish arrested 20 KIU members of parliament and high officials within the party.