Idris Masoud is the owner of a bakery in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. On 08 January 2024, he participated in a demonstration organised by bakery owners in the city in protest against the Kurdistan Regional Government’s decision to reduce bread prices without providing support to bakers, reducing the prices of flour and fuel, or reducing taxes. During the demonstration, he made critical comments against the government. Hours later, he was arrested by a force affiliated with the Asayish (Kurdish internal security forces). His arrest sparked an uproar across Kurdistan, which led to his release the next day.