Zakho attacking liquor stores, beauty salons, a Chinese massage parlor, and several hotels. The sale of alcohol in Iraq is often the preserve of Christians and Yezidis, who were disproportionate victims of the arson attacks. The violence quickly spread throughout the Bahdinan area of Iraqi Kurdistan, to nearby Dohuk, and eventually as far as way as the south-eastern city of Sulaymaniyah. At least 30 people were injured. Government spokesmen for the Kurdistan Democratic Party blamed the violence on a cleric associated with the Kurdistan Islamic Union. But the KIU and the cleric himself refuted these allegations. The KIU has a strong support base in the region - although not as strong as the KDP. Subsequent to the attacks, KDP supporters set fire to more than four KIU political and media offices throughout the Bahdinan area of Kurdistan Region. See Also Salahaddin Bahaaddin References External links 1994 establishments in Iraq Islamic political parties in Iraq Kurdish Islamic organisations Kurdish Islamism Kurdish nationalist political parties Kurdish political parties in Iraq Muslim Brotherhood Political parties established in 1994 Political parties in Kurdistan Region Sunni Islamic political parties