Asayish, the Kurdish security apparatus, also referred to as the secret police, is overseeing the internal security of the Kurdish provinces. Its main task is to deal with threats to the KRG-provinces’ security, such as terror threats, drug trafficking and economic crime. All serious threats to the Kurdish provinces are to be dealt with by the Asayish.

The Asayish is a vast organization consisting of a formal security apparatus with departments spread around the three provinces of Dohouk, Erbil and Sulemaniya. There are also some facilities in areas in Tameem and Ninewa where the Kurds are in control. In addition, the organization holds a large number of undercover agents.

There are two parallel Asayish structures; one for the Kurdish Democratic Party-controlled areas and one for the areas where the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is in charge. None of them answer to the Ministry of Interior as is the case for the ordinary police force. Thus, they could be seen as primarily party branches.

Most of the available information about the Asayish regards breaches of human rights in connection to alleged use of torture and other unlawful detention practices. Less is publicly known about recruitment procedures, salary levels and ranks