Inspired by the Arab Spring, the Movement for Change, a major opposition party, called for the resignation of the Cabinet and the disbanding of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

[2] Qubad Talabani said that there was no need for the government to disband because "unlike Tunisia and Egypt, there is an open political process with a viable opposition in Kurdistan.

The demonstrations turned violent when a group of protesters tried to storm the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and threw rocks at the building.

The security guards responded by shooting into the crowd several times to disperse them, during the protest Rezhwan Haji Ali was killed and 57 were wounded.

About 400 protesters gathered in Sulaimaniya's central square, but at least 50 were hurt when some demonstrators allegedly began to attack police with sticks and stones, leading to a riot.