Luqman Najm is a teacher and civil society activist from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Najm was first detained on 23 November 2024 following his participation in teachers protests over delayed salaries and criticised the Kurdistan Regional Government. He was sentenced by the Erbil Criminal Court on 25 August 2024 to one and a half years imprisonment on charges of “collaborating” with the PKK, allegedly for giving biscuits to a guerrilla. Najm was held illegally for nine months and faced repeated temporary arrests during demonstrations and saw his civil service rights revoked under pressure from the KDP authorities. Najm’s conviction sparked outrage with protests in court by his family and lawyers. On 18 March 2025 the Erbil Court of Appeals dropped all charges and ordered his immediate release, ending his detention. Najm remains an opposition activist advocating for educators rights and civil liberties in Kurdistan.