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2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum

October 21, 2023

An independence referendum for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was held on 25 September 2017, with preliminary results showing approximately 92.73 percent of votes cast in favour of independence. Despite reporting that the independence referendum would be non-binding, the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) characterised it as binding,[1][2][3][4] although they claimed that an affirmative result would trigger the start of state building and negotiations with Iraq rather than an immediate declaration of independence of Kurdistan.[5] The referendum's legality was rejected by the federal government of Iraq.

Kurdistan Region independence referendum
25 September 2017 (2017-09-25)
"Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Region to become an independent state?"
Location of Kurdistan Region in Iraq in September 2017.
  Recognized territory of the Kurdistan Region where the referendum was held
  Disputed territory of the Kurdistan Region where the referendum was held; Iraq recaptured much of this territory after the referendum
  Rest of Iraq
Outcome
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 2,861,471 92.73%
No 224,464 7.27%
Valid votes 3,085,935 93.35%
Invalid or blank votes 219,990 6.65%
Total votes 3,305,925 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 4,581,255 72.16%

It was originally planned to be held in 2014 amidst controversy and dispute between the regional and federal governments.[6] Calls for Kurdish independence had been going on for years, with an unofficial 2005 referendum resulting in 98.98% voting in favor of independence.[7] These longstanding calls gained impetus following the Northern Iraq offensive by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant during the Iraqi Civil War in which Baghdad-controlled forces abandoned some areas, which were then taken by the Peshmerga and controlled de facto by the Kurds.

The referendum was announced and delayed on several occasions[8][9] as Kurdish forces co-operated with the Iraqi central government for the liberation of Mosul,[10] but by April 2017, it was being seen as happening some time in 2017.[11] On 7 June 2017, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani held a meeting with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and other ruling parties, where the independence referendum was confirmed to be held on 25 September 2017.[12]

The referendum led to a military conflict with the Iraqi central government, in which the KRG lost 20 percent of its territory and its main source of revenue,[13] the Kirkuk oil fields. Following the referendum, Masoud Barzani resigned as president.

Background Edit

The Kurdistan Regional Government had criticised Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, claiming that his rule was divisive.[14] After the central government began withholding funding to the Kurdistan Regional Government in January 2014, the KRG attempted to export oil via the northern pipeline into Turkey in May,[15][16] but the Iraqi government lobbied international governments to block the export and sale of this oil.[17]

 
The flag of Kurdistan flies over the disputed city of Kirkuk after it was abandoned by Iraqi forces in June 2014 as the ISIL militant group approached.

As jihadis affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) took control of much of western and northern Iraq in June 2014, the Iraqi military in those areas largely disintegrated and abandoned their positions.[16] The Peshmerga stepped into this vacuum, taking control of the city of Kirkuk[16] and other northern areas long claimed by the Kurdistan Regional Government but until then outside its formal control. In these disputed areas, Kurdish forces under the regional government spearheaded a "concerted campaign" to displace Arab communities in northern Iraq, actions that could amount to war crimes, according to a report by Amnesty International.[18][19]

Al-Maliki's government was widely blamed for the failure of the security forces and for Sunni Arab dissatisfaction with the central government, and international and domestic calls for a new prime minister became widespread.[14][20] On 1 July, Kurdish president Masoud Barzani announced his intention to call a referendum on independence sometime in 2014 on the grounds that the country had been "effectively partitioned" already.[6]

In September 2014, after Maliki was replaced as prime minister by Haider al-Abadi, Kurdish leaders agreed to postpone the referendum while they focused on the fight against ISIL.[8]

On 3 February 2016, Rudaw.net reported that Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani told KRG legislators that the referendum would be held sometime before the 2016 American presidential election in early November.[9] On 23 March, Barzani said, in an interview with Al-Monitor media website, that the referendum would take place before October 2016.[21] However, in late October, Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani confirmed that the referendum would not be held until after Mosul had been liberated.[10]

In August 2016, Haider Al-Abadi said that he saw self-determination as an "undisputed right".[22]

News reports from December 2016 said Kurdistan's Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani had suggested the region could push for independence from Baghdad once the ongoing battle to liberate Mosul from ISIL was complete.[23]

In early April 2017, as the liberation of Mosul was progressing, the ruling political parties of Kurdistan Region, the KDP and PUK, announced their goal of holding an independence referendum in 2017.[11]

On 7 June 2017, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani announced that the referendum would take place on 25 September 2017.[24] Barzani's assistant Hemin Hawrami said the referendum will also take place in Kirkuk, Makhmour, Sinjar and Khanaqin regions. All of these areas are disputed and are claimed by the central government. Senior Kurdish official Hoshyar Zebari said a "Yes" vote in the referendum would not mean an automatic declaration of independence of Kurdistan, but will "strengthen the Kurds' hand" in talks on self-determination with the central government.[25]

On three separate occasions, Assyrians from Alqosh protested against the removal of their mayor by the KDP-dominated Nineveh Provincial Council. The residents of Alqosh rejected the idea of their town being a "disputed area" and demanded the immediate reinstatement of their former mayor. The removal, which occurred two months before the referendum, caused protests because the mayor was replaced by a KDP member from Alqosh.[26][27][28]

On 14 August, a delegation from the KRG met with Prime Minister Abadi and Vice-President Maliki in Baghdad to discuss the upcoming referendum and affairs between the KRG and Iraq. Romeo Hakkari, the Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac representative of the delegation and head of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party said that in addition to the meeting with Iraqi officials, they would meet with foreign missions in Baghdad.[29][30][31]

The KRG said referendum planning and implementation of the vote was up to the local councils of the disputed regions.[32] The Shingal District Council expressed its support on 30 July for the KRG's efforts to include the Shingal area in the referendum.[33] The Mayoral Council of Khanaqin on 16 August discussed the issue and decided to hold the referendum in their region.[34] The Bashiqa Town Council voted the next day and decided to take part in the referendum.[35]

 
Pro-Kurdistan independence rally in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, 22 September 2017

After a rare high-level meeting between the Iranian military chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on 16 August, a joint statement "voiced strong opposition" to the referendum.[36]

The local council of Mandali, whose population includes both Arabs and Kurds, had voted in favour of including the town in the referendum on 17 August. Arab residents however protested against the decision on 10 September.[37] A day later, the city council withdrew the decision of participation in the referendum while Mandali's mayor, Hoshiya Ismail, was dismissed from his position.[38]

On 29 August, the Kirkuk Provincial Council voted on the issue of holding the referendum in Kirkuk. Of the 41 council members, 24 attended with 23 voting in favor of holding the referendum while one abstained. The remaining 17 members, all of whom were Turkmen and Arabs, boycotted the vote.[32] On 14 September, the Iraqi parliament voted to dismiss Najmiddin Karim as the Governor of Kirkuk, a decision requested by al-Abadi after Kirkuk's provincial assembly voted to take part in the referendum.[39] Karim said he will not follow the dismissal order and will stay in office.[40] The provincial council meanwhile condemned the decision of the parliament with council head Ribwar al-Talabani claiming only the council had the power to remove him.[41]

Campaigning for the referendum officially began on 5 September. The region's electoral commission said campaigning would last for 18 days with the Iraqi Kurdish diaspora being able to vote on 23 September, two days ahead of the main poll.[42]

The Iraqi parliament rejected the referendum on 12 September.[43] The Kurdistan Region Parliament approved a plan to hold the referendum on 15 September. 68 out of 111 lawmakers attended the session with Gorran boycotting it.[44] Iraq's Supreme Court on 18 September ordered the suspension of the referendum to examine its constitutionality.[45] Barzani however vowed to go ahead with the referendum.[46]

 
Pro-independence rally in Erbil in September 2017

Media coverage Edit

It has been reported that pro-AKP news outlets in Turkey including Yeni Akit, Akşam, Internet Haber[47] and Yeni Safak[48] have been circulating a fake news story[48][49] about "Zionist support" for an "insidious Kurdish plan" by Barzani and Kurdish Jews to settle 200,000 Jews in the region should Kurdistan become independent.[47] The report has been disputed, including by Kurdish analysts, as baseless[49] and fake news,[48] and has been described as part of a media offensive by Turkey against Israel,[47] while Kurdish analyst Diliman Abdulkader considers the reports an attempt to "destroy Kurdish credibility in the region by associating them with Israel and playing on local prejudices against people of Jewish faith".[49]

Turkey decided to remove broadcaster Rudaw Media Network (Rudaw), which is affiliated to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, from its satellite broadcasting on the same day voting took place on the independence referendum in the KRG.[50]

Polling Edit

One poll, held between 25 and 27 August, which covered the provinces of Arbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja and Kirkuk, as well as the cities of Khanagin, Jalawla and Mandali within Diyala, showed intention to vote yes at 52.9%, intention to vote no at 25.6%, 3.6% not voting and the remainder of 17.9% being undecided with most of these indicating that they intended to vote yes but were also carefully watching the situation in case it deteriorated.[51]

Ballot Edit

The ballot was available in Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish and Assyrian.[52] The Rudaw Media Network translated the ballot question to English as "Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the Region to become an independent state?"[52]

Ballot question
Kurdish ئایا دەتەوێ هەرێمی كوردستان و ناوچە کوردستانییەکانی دەرەوەی هەرێم ببێتە دەوڵەتێکی سەربەخۆ؟
Aya detewê herêmî Kurdistan u nawçe Kurdistaniyekanî derewey herêm bibête dewlletêkî serbexo?
Arabic هل تريد أن يصبح اقليم كوردستان و المناطق الكوردستانية خارج الاقليم دولة مستقلة؟
Hal turīd an yaṣbaḥ iqlīm kūrdistān wal-manāṭaq al-kūrdistānīyah khārij al-iqlīm dawlah mustaqillah?
Turkish Kürdistan Bölgesi ve bölge idaresinin dışında kalan Kürdistanlı yörelerin bağımsız devlet olmasını istiyor musunuz?
Assyrian ܐܵܪܵܐ ܒܥܹܐ ܐܵܢܬ ܕܐܸܩܠܹܝܡܵܐ ܕܟܘܼܪܕܸܣܬܵܢ ܘܦܸܢ̈ܝܵܬ݂ܵܐ ܟܘܼܪ̈ܕܸܣܬܵܢܵܝܹܐ ܠܒܼܲܕܲܪ ܡܕܲܒܪܵܢܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ ܕܐܸܩܠܹܝܡܵܐ ܕܦܲܝܫܝܼ ܐܲܬ݂ܪܵܐ ܫܲܠܝܼܛ ܒܝܵܬܼܵܐ؟
Ārā bʿē ānt d'eqlēymā d'kūrdestān w'penyāṯā kūrdestānāyē l'ḇadar mdabrānūṯā d'eqlēymē d'payši aṯrē šaliṭ b'yāṯā?

Party stance Edit

Parties represented in Kurdistan Region Parliament
Choice Party Seats Leader Political position Ref.
 Y Yes KDP Kurdistan Democratic Party 38 Masoud Barzani Big tent [53]
PUK Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 18 Jalal Talabani Third way [54]
KIU Kurdistan Islamic Union 10 Salaheddine Bahaaeddin Far-right [55]
KSDP Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party 1 Mohammed Haji Mahmoud Centre-left [56]
KCP Communist Party of Kurdistan – Iraq 1 Kamal Shakir Far-left [57]
KTP Kurdistan Toilers' Party 1 Balen Mahmoud Left-wing [58]
KIM Kurdistan Islamic Movement 1 Erfan Ali Abdulaziz Right-wing [58]
TDL Turkmen Development List 2 Mohammad Sadaddin Centre-right [59]
CSAPC Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council 2 Sarkis Aghajan Centre-right [60]
ETL Erbil Turkmen List 1 Minority rights [58]
KIG Kurdistan Islamic Group 6 Ali Bapir Center-right [61]
Gorran Gorran Movement 24 Omar Said Ali Center [62]
 N No ITF Iraqi Turkmen Front
(Would support referendum if conditions were met)[63]		 1 Arshad al-Salihi Right-wing [64]
ADM Assyrian Democratic Movement
(Against referendum being held in the Nineveh plain)[65]		 2 Yonadam Kanna Minority rights [66]

Official reactions to the referendum Edit

UN member states Edit

Iraq and regional countries Edit

Iraq Edit
  •   Iraq: Saad al-Hadithi, a spokesman for the Iraqi Prime Minister, said, "Any decision concerning the future of Iraq must take into account the constitutional provisions, it is an Iraqi decision and not one party alone. All Iraqis must have a say in defining the future of their homeland. No single party can determine the future of Iraq in isolation from the others."[67]
Supporting Edit
  •   Israel: Prior to the referendum, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel "supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to achieve their own state".[68] Israel became the first state to endorse an independent Kurdistan.[69][70]
Opposing Edit
  •   Iran: In June 2017, the Iranian government said that the unilateral referendum was inconsistent with the Iraqi constitution and that "the Islamic Republic of Iran's principled and clear stance is supporting Iraq's territorial integrity and coherence".[71] The Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei then said, "Iran opposes holding talks of a referendum to partition Iraq and considers those who fuel the idea as opponents of Iraq's independence."[72] In early October 2017, during Turkey's president visit to Tehran, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called Iraqi Kurds' "secession vote an act of betrayal toward the entire region and a threat to its future" and urged Iran, Turkey, and Iraq to act decisively to prevent Kurdistan's independence.[73] Khamenei also accused the United States of "seeking to create a new Israel in the region" by supporting the independence vote in Iraq.[73]
  •   Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said through the Saudi Press Agency, "[Saudi Arabia] looks to the wisdom of President Barzani in not holding the referendum."[74]
  •   Syria: Adviser to the Council of Ministers Said Azzouz said any unilateral action is rejected and that Syria cannot accept the division of Iraq, and that independence needed legal provisions from the Iraqi constitution.[75]
  •   Turkey: In June 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey said that the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government's decision to hold an independence referendum was a "grave mistake".[76] Also in June, president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the referendum would not serve anyone's interests, calling it a threat to the territorial integrity of Iraq, and expressed regret over it.[77] On 14 September, the Foreign Ministry of Turkey threatened Kurdistan that it would "pay dearly" if the referendum was not abandoned.[78] On 26 September, Erdoğan called the referendum decision "treachery" and said economic and military measures could be used against the Iraqi Kurds.[79][80] Turkey halted the flights of the Turkish airline companies to northern Iraq from the evening of 29 September 2017, until further notice at the request of Baghdad, following the referendum.[81]
Neutral Edit

Other states Edit

  •   Armenia: Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry Eduard Nalbandyan said it hopes for a peaceful settlement of the situation in connection with the Kurdish referendum on independence. He also states that Armenia expects the Iraqi authorities and the regional authorities of Kurdistan to be able to avoid tension, and find avenues for resolving the matters.[83]
  •   Azerbaijan: A spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, "The Republic of Azerbaijan recognizes and fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq. Azerbaijan supports the peaceful resolution of matters between the Central Government of Iraq and Iraq Kurdistan Regional Government within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq through the mutual understanding and dialogue."[84]
  •   Australia: A spokeswoman for the foreign affairs department said in a statement, "Holding a referendum at this time risks causing further instability in Iraq that would weaken both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan regional government."[85]
  •   Belgium: In an interview with NRT News after meeting Deputy Prime Minister of KRG Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Jan Jambon said all nations have the right to self-determination.[86] Belgian ambassador to Iraq Hendrik Van de Velde said Belgium did not have an official stance on this issue.[87]
  •   Bulgaria: Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Bulgaria had listened to President Barzani when he visited the country in May 2017, but had no official stance on this issue.[88]
  •   Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained neutral about the referendum process and did not get involved, citing the Quebec sovereignty issue. Trudeau said he is sensitive to other countries getting involved in another country's internal decisions and that he will respect the process established by the Kurds.[89]
  •   China: Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang expressed support of Iraq's territorial integrity but asked for an open dialogue in a daily news briefing.[90]
  •   France: President Emmanuel Macron said, "If this referendum is held, I hope it leads to the proper representation of Kurds in government and within the framework of the [Iraqi] Constitution."[91] After the referendum, Macron offered to help ease tensions between the Iraqi and Kurdistani governments,[92] stating that "[Iraq]'s territorial integrity is essential".[93]
  •   Germany: Germany warned against Kurdistan making a unilateral decision in a "one-sided" referendum.[94]
  •   Greece: Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said Iraq's unity should be desired by the people themselves and that the Kurdish referendum is a right under the Iraqi constitution.[95] During a meeting discussing the upcoming referendum, Greek Ambassador to Iraq Dionyssios Kyvetos announced that Greece was upgrading its diplomatic representation in Erbil to a consulate.[96]
  •   Ireland: Dublin South-West Teachta Dála and Sinn Féin Foreign Affairs spokesman Seán Crowe issued a statement saying "The people of Iraqi Kurdistan have the right to self-determination and the right to democratically decide their own future." He said the referendum "should lead to future discussions with Baghdad". Crowe criticized Iraq for suspending flights to and from Erbil and also criticized Iraq and its neighbors for threatening blockades against Kurdistan.[97]
  •   Netherlands: Dutch Consul General to Kurdistan Region Janet Alberda said the referendum would be more accepted, if it was coordinated with Baghdad.[98]
  •   Poland: Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Stanisław Tyszka said Poland would approve the referendum.[99] Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said he "perfectly understand the ambitions of Kurds", but urged Kurdish officials to cooperate with others.[100]
  •   Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the issue by stating that Russia understands the sensitivity around the Kurdish cause and that their position is that the referendum should be within international law.[101]
  •   Spain: The Spanish Foreign Ministry released a statement saying "This referendum is illegal in accordance with the Iraqi constitution of 2005, which received broad support from the population. Now all the people of Iraq must join forces to defeat ISIL once and for all, to build the country for the benefit of the entire population."[102]
  •   Sweden: Both governmental parties, the Social Democratic Party and the Green Party, have expressed their support for the referendum. Opposition parties Sweden Democrats and the Left Party have also expressed their support.[103]
  •   United Kingdom: On behalf of the British government, British consul to Kurdistan Region Frank Baker said the United Kingdom recognises "the inalienable right of everybody around the world to be free and to decide on their own governments", but that it is not the right time for this. He said a referendum should be held with Iraqi consent.[104] Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson echoed the position, stating that "a referendum at this time will distract from the more urgent priorities of defeating Daesh, stabilising liberated areas and addressing the long-term political issues that led to Daesh's rise".[105]
  •   United States: US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said: "We support a unified, stable and a federal Iraq. We appreciate and understand the legitimate aspirations of the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan." Nauert warned that the referendum could distract from the final defeat of ISIL. She said: "We have expressed our concerns to the authorities in the Kurdistan Region, but holding a referendum or even a non-binding resolution at this time would distract from urgent priorities and that be the defeat of ISIS, the stabilization, the return of displaced people, managing of the region's economic crisis, and resolving the region's internal political disputes."[106] Negative reaction from the U.S. State Department is likely due to the United States' military alliance with Turkey. On 27 September, Democratic United States Senator for New York and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer became the first senator to call for US support for Kurdish independence following the results of the referendum, releasing a resolution calling for the US government to change its policy to "support a political process that addresses the aspirations of the Kurds for an independent state", reasoning that the KRG had been "our most supportive partners on the ground in the fight against terrorism", and said that "neighboring countries ... led by despots, who oppose a Kurdish state because it threaten's their self-interests, need to respect the need for the Kurds – and the Iraqis – to determine their own future". He called upon Iraq to "engage in a dialogue and peacefully determine the best way to accommodate the well-deserved and legitimate aspirations of the Iraqi Kurds".[107] On 30 September, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated, "The United States does not recognize the ... unilateral referendum. ... The vote and the results lack legitimacy, and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq."[108]

Other political entities Edit

Regional actors Edit

Results Edit

Totals Edit

Referendum results
Choice Votes %
  Yes 2,861,471 92.73
No 224,464 7.27
Valid votes 3,085,935 93.35
Invalid or blank votes 219,990 6.65
Total votes 3,305,925 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 4,581,255 72.16
Source: KHEC
92.73% 7.27%
Yes No

Aftermath Edit

Immediate reaction from Kurdistan and Iraq Edit

 
Demonstration in support of the independence of Kurdistan at Schuman in Brussels, Belgium, 25 October 2017

Following the referendum, wild celebrations erupted in Iranian Kurdistan and two days of pro-independence demonstrations, which included the singing of the anthem of the Republic of Mahabad, occurred in the Kurdish cities of Baneh, Sanandaj and Mahabad, leading to mass arrests.[125]

The Kurdistan Regional Government started making plans for state building and future negotiations with Iraq before a declaration of independence for the Republic of Kurdistan would be issued. Barzani created a new "political leadership" body to prepare for independence; however, three Kurdish parties, including the PUK, have refused to join it.[126]

The Iraqi government threatened to send troops to Kirkuk, a city with rich oil deposits. Troops also blocked routes between Mosul and Dahuk on the day prior to the referendum.[108]

Four days after the referendum, the Iraqi government stopped most international flights into the two international airports of Irbil and Sulaimaniya. Humanitarian, military and diplomatic flights were not included in the ban.[127] This action followed Iraq's demand that the Kurdistan Regional Government hand over control of the airports.[5]

Five days after the referendum, the Iraqi and Iranian governments announced that the Iraqi and Iranian armies would hold joint border drills at crossings on Iran's border with the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.[128] Iranian tanks were deployed near the border with Kurdistan Region, but the move has been seen as mere posturing.[126] Iran also closed its common border with the Kurdistan Region.[129]

Kurdish businesses across Iraq suffered retaliatory attacks.[129]

Iraqi–Kurdish conflict and Barzani steps down Edit

Main articles: Battle of Kirkuk (2017) and 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict

On 15 October 2017, Iraqi forces launched an operation to take Kirkuk. While Iraqi state media reported that Iraqi units had initially encountered no opposition in taking areas near Kirkuk, the fall of Kirkuk gave impetus to capitulation across northern Iraq, with Baghdad-backed forces facing no resistance.[130]

On 25 October 2017, in the light of avoiding the escalation of conflict with the Iraqi central government, Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region offered to "freeze" the result of September's referendum on independence and begin dialogue with Baghdad. A statement also proposed a ceasefire "in order to prevent further violence and clashes" triggered by the launch of an Iraqi military operation.[131]

On 29 October 2017, Masoud Barzani announced his intentions to step down as President of Kurdistan Region, effective 1 November, after being in power for 12 years. His gamble of pushing through with the unofficial referendum ended with the disputed territories being recaptured by Iraq and with the Kurdish statebuilding project being left abandoned.[132] Pro-Barzani protesters broke into the building across Iraqi Kurdistan and attacked lawmakers and journalists.[133]

On 6 November, Iraq's Supreme Federal Court ruled that no Iraqi province was allowed to secede in order to preserve the unity of Iraq.[134] The KRG announced it would respect the Supreme Federal Court's ruling, stating that "this decision must become a basis for starting an inclusive national dialogue between (Kurdish authorities in) Erbil and Baghdad to resolve all disputes".[135]

See also Edit

References Edit

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  2. ^ "Masoud Barzani: Why It's Time For Kurdish Independence". Foreign Policy. 15 June 2017.
  3. ^ . ARA News. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Turkey warns Iraqi Kurdish referendum will 'have a cost'". Al Arabiya. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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  7. ^ Kurdistan Referendum Movement – International Committee (8 February 2005). "98 percent of the people of South Kurdistan vote for independence". KurdMedia.
  8. ^ a b "Kurds agree to postpone independence referendum". The Star. 5 September 2014.
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  12. ^ "UPDATES: Kurdistan Region to hold independence referendum on Sept 25". Rudaw. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  13. ^ "PUK's latest statement on the attacks against Kirkuk". ANF News. from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Iraq crisis: Incumbent PM Maliki left out as country moves on". BBC News. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
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  18. ^ Morris, Loveday (19 January 2016). "Report: Kurds displacing Arabs in Iraq in what could be 'war crimes'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  19. ^ "Peshmerga forces from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Kurdish militias in northern Iraq have bulldozed, blown up and burned down thousands of homes in an apparent effort to uproot Arab communities in revenge for their perceived support for the so-called Islamic State (IS), said Amnesty International in a new report published today". Amnesty International USA. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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Further reading Edit

  • Zucchino, David (September 24, 2017). "Iraqi Kurds Will Vote on Independence, Recalling Tortured Past". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.

October 21, 2023
2017, kurdistan, region, independence, referendum, independence, referendum, kurdistan, region, iraq, held, september, 2017, with, preliminary, results, showing, approximately, percent, votes, cast, favour, independence, despite, reporting, that, independence,. An independence referendum for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was held on 25 September 2017 with preliminary results showing approximately 92 73 percent of votes cast in favour of independence Despite reporting that the independence referendum would be non binding the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government KRG characterised it as binding 1 2 3 4 although they claimed that an affirmative result would trigger the start of state building and negotiations with Iraq rather than an immediate declaration of independence of Kurdistan 5 The referendum s legality was rejected by the federal government of Iraq Kurdistan Region independence referendum25 September 2017 2017 09 25 Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Region to become an independent state Location of Kurdistan Region in Iraq in September 2017 Recognized territory of the Kurdistan Region where the referendum was held Disputed territory of the Kurdistan Region where the referendum was held Iraq recaptured much of this territory after the referendum Rest of IraqOutcomeYes vote winsMilitary conflict between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government leading to the latter losing 20 of its territoryKurdish President Masoud Barzani resignsResultsChoice Votes Yes 2 861 471 92 73 No 224 464 7 27 Valid votes 3 085 935 93 35 Invalid or blank votes 219 990 6 65 Total votes 3 305 925 100 00 Registered voters turnout 4 581 255 72 16 KHECIt was originally planned to be held in 2014 amidst controversy and dispute between the regional and federal governments 6 Calls for Kurdish independence had been going on for years with an unofficial 2005 referendum resulting in 98 98 voting in favor of independence 7 These longstanding calls gained impetus following the Northern Iraq offensive by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant during the Iraqi Civil War in which Baghdad controlled forces abandoned some areas which were then taken by the Peshmerga and controlled de facto by the Kurds The referendum was announced and delayed on several occasions 8 9 as Kurdish forces co operated with the Iraqi central government for the liberation of Mosul 10 but by April 2017 it was being seen as happening some time in 2017 11 On 7 June 2017 Kurdish President Masoud Barzani held a meeting with the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK and other ruling parties where the independence referendum was confirmed to be held on 25 September 2017 12 The referendum led to a military conflict with the Iraqi central government in which the KRG lost 20 percent of its territory and its main source of revenue 13 the Kirkuk oil fields Following the referendum Masoud Barzani resigned as president Contents 1 Background 1 1 Media coverage 1 2 Polling 2 Ballot 3 Party stance 4 Official reactions to the referendum 4 1 UN member states 4 1 1 Iraq and regional countries 4 1 1 1 Iraq 4 1 1 2 Supporting 4 1 1 3 Opposing 4 1 1 4 Neutral 4 1 2 Other states 4 2 Other political entities 4 2 1 Regional actors 5 Results 5 1 Totals 6 Aftermath 6 1 Immediate reaction from Kurdistan and Iraq 6 2 Iraqi Kurdish conflict and Barzani steps down 7 See also 8 References 9 Further readingBackground EditThe Kurdistan Regional Government had criticised Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki claiming that his rule was divisive 14 After the central government began withholding funding to the Kurdistan Regional Government in January 2014 the KRG attempted to export oil via the northern pipeline into Turkey in May 15 16 but the Iraqi government lobbied international governments to block the export and sale of this oil 17 nbsp The flag of Kurdistan flies over the disputed city of Kirkuk after it was abandoned by Iraqi forces in June 2014 as the ISIL militant group approached As jihadis affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL took control of much of western and northern Iraq in June 2014 the Iraqi military in those areas largely disintegrated and abandoned their positions 16 The Peshmerga stepped into this vacuum taking control of the city of Kirkuk 16 and other northern areas long claimed by the Kurdistan Regional Government but until then outside its formal control In these disputed areas Kurdish forces under the regional government spearheaded a concerted campaign to displace Arab communities in northern Iraq actions that could amount to war crimes according to a report by Amnesty International 18 19 Al Maliki s government was widely blamed for the failure of the security forces and for Sunni Arab dissatisfaction with the central government and international and domestic calls for a new prime minister became widespread 14 20 On 1 July Kurdish president Masoud Barzani announced his intention to call a referendum on independence sometime in 2014 on the grounds that the country had been effectively partitioned already 6 In September 2014 after Maliki was replaced as prime minister by Haider al Abadi Kurdish leaders agreed to postpone the referendum while they focused on the fight against ISIL 8 On 3 February 2016 Rudaw net reported that Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani told KRG legislators that the referendum would be held sometime before the 2016 American presidential election in early November 9 On 23 March Barzani said in an interview with Al Monitor media website that the referendum would take place before October 2016 21 However in late October Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani confirmed that the referendum would not be held until after Mosul had been liberated 10 In August 2016 Haider Al Abadi said that he saw self determination as an undisputed right 22 News reports from December 2016 said Kurdistan s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani had suggested the region could push for independence from Baghdad once the ongoing battle to liberate Mosul from ISIL was complete 23 In early April 2017 as the liberation of Mosul was progressing the ruling political parties of Kurdistan Region the KDP and PUK announced their goal of holding an independence referendum in 2017 11 On 7 June 2017 Kurdish President Masoud Barzani announced that the referendum would take place on 25 September 2017 24 Barzani s assistant Hemin Hawrami said the referendum will also take place in Kirkuk Makhmour Sinjar and Khanaqin regions All of these areas are disputed and are claimed by the central government Senior Kurdish official Hoshyar Zebari said a Yes vote in the referendum would not mean an automatic declaration of independence of Kurdistan but will strengthen the Kurds hand in talks on self determination with the central government 25 On three separate occasions Assyrians from Alqosh protested against the removal of their mayor by the KDP dominated Nineveh Provincial Council The residents of Alqosh rejected the idea of their town being a disputed area and demanded the immediate reinstatement of their former mayor The removal which occurred two months before the referendum caused protests because the mayor was replaced by a KDP member from Alqosh 26 27 28 On 14 August a delegation from the KRG met with Prime Minister Abadi and Vice President Maliki in Baghdad to discuss the upcoming referendum and affairs between the KRG and Iraq Romeo Hakkari the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac representative of the delegation and head of the Bet Nahrain Democratic Party said that in addition to the meeting with Iraqi officials they would meet with foreign missions in Baghdad 29 30 31 The KRG said referendum planning and implementation of the vote was up to the local councils of the disputed regions 32 The Shingal District Council expressed its support on 30 July for the KRG s efforts to include the Shingal area in the referendum 33 The Mayoral Council of Khanaqin on 16 August discussed the issue and decided to hold the referendum in their region 34 The Bashiqa Town Council voted the next day and decided to take part in the referendum 35 nbsp Pro Kurdistan independence rally in Erbil Iraqi Kurdistan 22 September 2017After a rare high level meeting between the Iranian military chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on 16 August a joint statement voiced strong opposition to the referendum 36 The local council of Mandali whose population includes both Arabs and Kurds had voted in favour of including the town in the referendum on 17 August Arab residents however protested against the decision on 10 September 37 A day later the city council withdrew the decision of participation in the referendum while Mandali s mayor Hoshiya Ismail was dismissed from his position 38 On 29 August the Kirkuk Provincial Council voted on the issue of holding the referendum in Kirkuk Of the 41 council members 24 attended with 23 voting in favor of holding the referendum while one abstained The remaining 17 members all of whom were Turkmen and Arabs boycotted the vote 32 On 14 September the Iraqi parliament voted to dismiss Najmiddin Karim as the Governor of Kirkuk a decision requested by al Abadi after Kirkuk s provincial assembly voted to take part in the referendum 39 Karim said he will not follow the dismissal order and will stay in office 40 The provincial council meanwhile condemned the decision of the parliament with council head Ribwar al Talabani claiming only the council had the power to remove him 41 Campaigning for the referendum officially began on 5 September The region s electoral commission said campaigning would last for 18 days with the Iraqi Kurdish diaspora being able to vote on 23 September two days ahead of the main poll 42 The Iraqi parliament rejected the referendum on 12 September 43 The Kurdistan Region Parliament approved a plan to hold the referendum on 15 September 68 out of 111 lawmakers attended the session with Gorran boycotting it 44 Iraq s Supreme Court on 18 September ordered the suspension of the referendum to examine its constitutionality 45 Barzani however vowed to go ahead with the referendum 46 nbsp Pro independence rally in Erbil in September 2017Media coverage Edit It has been reported that pro AKP news outlets in Turkey including Yeni Akit Aksam Internet Haber 47 and Yeni Safak 48 have been circulating a fake news story 48 49 about Zionist support for an insidious Kurdish plan by Barzani and Kurdish Jews to settle 200 000 Jews in the region should Kurdistan become independent 47 The report has been disputed including by Kurdish analysts as baseless 49 and fake news 48 and has been described as part of a media offensive by Turkey against Israel 47 while Kurdish analyst Diliman Abdulkader considers the reports an attempt to destroy Kurdish credibility in the region by associating them with Israel and playing on local prejudices against people of Jewish faith 49 Turkey decided to remove broadcaster Rudaw Media Network Rudaw which is affiliated to the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG in northern Iraq from its satellite broadcasting on the same day voting took place on the independence referendum in the KRG 50 Polling Edit One poll held between 25 and 27 August which covered the provinces of Arbil Sulaymaniyah Duhok Halabja and Kirkuk as well as the cities of Khanagin Jalawla and Mandali within Diyala showed intention to vote yes at 52 9 intention to vote no at 25 6 3 6 not voting and the remainder of 17 9 being undecided with most of these indicating that they intended to vote yes but were also carefully watching the situation in case it deteriorated 51 Ballot EditThe ballot was available in Kurdish Arabic Turkish and Assyrian 52 The Rudaw Media Network translated the ballot question to English as Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the Region to become an independent state 52 Ballot question Kurdish ئایا دەتەوێ هەرێمی كوردستان و ناوچە کوردستانییەکانی دەرەوەی هەرێم ببێتە دەوڵەتێکی سەربەخۆ Aya detewe heremi Kurdistan u nawce Kurdistaniyekani derewey herem bibete dewlleteki serbexo Arabic هل تريد أن يصبح اقليم كوردستان و المناطق الكوردستانية خارج الاقليم دولة مستقلة Hal turid an yaṣbaḥ iqlim kurdistan wal manaṭaq al kurdistaniyah kharij al iqlim dawlah mustaqillah Turkish Kurdistan Bolgesi ve bolge idaresinin disinda kalan Kurdistanli yorelerin bagimsiz devlet olmasini istiyor musunuz Assyrian ܐ ܪ ܐ ܒܥ ܐ ܐ ܢܬ ܕܐ ܩܠ ܝܡ ܐ ܕܟܘ ܪܕ ܣܬ ܢ ܘܦ ܢ ܝ ܬ ܐ ܟܘ ܪ ܕ ܣܬ ܢ ܝ ܐ ܠܒ ܕ ܪ ܡܕ ܒܪ ܢܘ ܬ ܐ ܕܐ ܩܠ ܝܡ ܐ ܕܦ ܝܫܝ ܐ ܬ ܪ ܐ ܫ ܠܝ ܛ ܒܝ ܬ ܐ Ara bʿe ant d eqleyma d kurdestan w penyaṯa kurdestanaye l ḇadar mdabranuṯa d eqleyme d paysi aṯre saliṭ b yaṯa Party stance EditParties represented in Kurdistan Region ParliamentChoice Party Seats Leader Political position Ref nbsp Y Yes KDP Kurdistan Democratic Party 38 Masoud Barzani Big tent 53 PUK Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 18 Jalal Talabani Third way 54 KIU Kurdistan Islamic Union 10 Salaheddine Bahaaeddin Far right 55 KSDP Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party 1 Mohammed Haji Mahmoud Centre left 56 KCP Communist Party of Kurdistan Iraq 1 Kamal Shakir Far left 57 KTP Kurdistan Toilers Party 1 Balen Mahmoud Left wing 58 KIM Kurdistan Islamic Movement 1 Erfan Ali Abdulaziz Right wing 58 TDL Turkmen Development List 2 Mohammad Sadaddin Centre right 59 CSAPC Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council 2 Sarkis Aghajan Centre right 60 ETL Erbil Turkmen List 1 Minority rights 58 KIG Kurdistan Islamic Group 6 Ali Bapir Center right 61 Gorran Gorran Movement 24 Omar Said Ali Center 62 nbsp N No ITF Iraqi Turkmen Front Would support referendum if conditions were met 63 1 Arshad al Salihi Right wing 64 ADM Assyrian Democratic Movement Against referendum being held in the Nineveh plain 65 2 Yonadam Kanna Minority rights 66 Official reactions to the referendum EditUN member states Edit Iraq and regional countries Edit Iraq Edit nbsp Iraq Saad al Hadithi a spokesman for the Iraqi Prime Minister said Any decision concerning the future of Iraq must take into account the constitutional provisions it is an Iraqi decision and not one party alone All Iraqis must have a say in defining the future of their homeland No single party can determine the future of Iraq in isolation from the others 67 Supporting Edit nbsp Israel Prior to the referendum Israel s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to achieve their own state 68 Israel became the first state to endorse an independent Kurdistan 69 70 Opposing Edit nbsp Iran In June 2017 the Iranian government said that the unilateral referendum was inconsistent with the Iraqi constitution and that the Islamic Republic of Iran s principled and clear stance is supporting Iraq s territorial integrity and coherence 71 The Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei then said Iran opposes holding talks of a referendum to partition Iraq and considers those who fuel the idea as opponents of Iraq s independence 72 In early October 2017 during Turkey s president visit to Tehran Iran s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called Iraqi Kurds secession vote an act of betrayal toward the entire region and a threat to its future and urged Iran Turkey and Iraq to act decisively to prevent Kurdistan s independence 73 Khamenei also accused the United States of seeking to create a new Israel in the region by supporting the independence vote in Iraq 73 nbsp Saudi Arabia The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said through the Saudi Press Agency Saudi Arabia looks to the wisdom of President Barzani in not holding the referendum 74 nbsp Syria Adviser to the Council of Ministers Said Azzouz said any unilateral action is rejected and that Syria cannot accept the division of Iraq and that independence needed legal provisions from the Iraqi constitution 75 nbsp Turkey In June 2017 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey said that the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government s decision to hold an independence referendum was a grave mistake 76 Also in June president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the referendum would not serve anyone s interests calling it a threat to the territorial integrity of Iraq and expressed regret over it 77 On 14 September the Foreign Ministry of Turkey threatened Kurdistan that it would pay dearly if the referendum was not abandoned 78 On 26 September Erdogan called the referendum decision treachery and said economic and military measures could be used against the Iraqi Kurds 79 80 Turkey halted the flights of the Turkish airline companies to northern Iraq from the evening of 29 September 2017 until further notice at the request of Baghdad following the referendum 81 Neutral Edit nbsp Jordan Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the referendum was an internal Iraqi affair 82 Other states Edit nbsp Armenia Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry Eduard Nalbandyan said it hopes for a peaceful settlement of the situation in connection with the Kurdish referendum on independence He also states that Armenia expects the Iraqi authorities and the regional authorities of Kurdistan to be able to avoid tension and find avenues for resolving the matters 83 nbsp Azerbaijan A spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement The Republic of Azerbaijan recognizes and fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq Azerbaijan supports the peaceful resolution of matters between the Central Government of Iraq and Iraq Kurdistan Regional Government within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq through the mutual understanding and dialogue 84 nbsp Australia A spokeswoman for the foreign affairs department said in a statement Holding a referendum at this time risks causing further instability in Iraq that would weaken both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan regional government 85 nbsp Belgium In an interview with NRT News after meeting Deputy Prime Minister of KRG Qubad Talabani Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Jan Jambon said all nations have the right to self determination 86 Belgian ambassador to Iraq Hendrik Van de Velde said Belgium did not have an official stance on this issue 87 nbsp Bulgaria Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Bulgaria had listened to President Barzani when he visited the country in May 2017 but had no official stance on this issue 88 nbsp Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained neutral about the referendum process and did not get involved citing the Quebec sovereignty issue Trudeau said he is sensitive to other countries getting involved in another country s internal decisions and that he will respect the process established by the Kurds 89 nbsp China Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang expressed support of Iraq s territorial integrity but asked for an open dialogue in a daily news briefing 90 nbsp France President Emmanuel Macron said If this referendum is held I hope it leads to the proper representation of Kurds in government and within the framework of the Iraqi Constitution 91 After the referendum Macron offered to help ease tensions between the Iraqi and Kurdistani governments 92 stating that Iraq s territorial integrity is essential 93 nbsp Germany Germany warned against Kurdistan making a unilateral decision in a one sided referendum 94 nbsp Greece Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said Iraq s unity should be desired by the people themselves and that the Kurdish referendum is a right under the Iraqi constitution 95 During a meeting discussing the upcoming referendum Greek Ambassador to Iraq Dionyssios Kyvetos announced that Greece was upgrading its diplomatic representation in Erbil to a consulate 96 nbsp Ireland Dublin South West Teachta Dala and Sinn Fein Foreign Affairs spokesman Sean Crowe issued a statement saying The people of Iraqi Kurdistan have the right to self determination and the right to democratically decide their own future He said the referendum should lead to future discussions with Baghdad Crowe criticized Iraq for suspending flights to and from Erbil and also criticized Iraq and its neighbors for threatening blockades against Kurdistan 97 nbsp Netherlands Dutch Consul General to Kurdistan Region Janet Alberda said the referendum would be more accepted if it was coordinated with Baghdad 98 nbsp Poland Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Stanislaw Tyszka said Poland would approve the referendum 99 Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said he perfectly understand the ambitions of Kurds but urged Kurdish officials to cooperate with others 100 nbsp Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the issue by stating that Russia understands the sensitivity around the Kurdish cause and that their position is that the referendum should be within international law 101 nbsp Spain The Spanish Foreign Ministry released a statement saying This referendum is illegal in accordance with the Iraqi constitution of 2005 which received broad support from the population Now all the people of Iraq must join forces to defeat ISIL once and for all to build the country for the benefit of the entire population 102 nbsp Sweden Both governmental parties the Social Democratic Party and the Green Party have expressed their support for the referendum Opposition parties Sweden Democrats and the Left Party have also expressed their support 103 nbsp United Kingdom On behalf of the British government British consul to Kurdistan Region Frank Baker said the United Kingdom recognises the inalienable right of everybody around the world to be free and to decide on their own governments but that it is not the right time for this He said a referendum should be held with Iraqi consent 104 Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson echoed the position stating that a referendum at this time will distract from the more urgent priorities of defeating Daesh stabilising liberated areas and addressing the long term political issues that led to Daesh s rise 105 nbsp United States US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said We support a unified stable and a federal Iraq We appreciate and understand the legitimate aspirations of the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Nauert warned that the referendum could distract from the final defeat of ISIL She said We have expressed our concerns to the authorities in the Kurdistan Region but holding a referendum or even a non binding resolution at this time would distract from urgent priorities and that be the defeat of ISIS the stabilization the return of displaced people managing of the region s economic crisis and resolving the region s internal political disputes 106 Negative reaction from the U S State Department is likely due to the United States military alliance with Turkey On 27 September Democratic United States Senator for New York and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer became the first senator to call for US support for Kurdish independence following the results of the referendum releasing a resolution calling for the US government to change its policy to support a political process that addresses the aspirations of the Kurds for an independent state reasoning that the KRG had been our most supportive partners on the ground in the fight against terrorism and said that neighboring countries led by despots who oppose a Kurdish state because it threaten s their self interests need to respect the need for the Kurds and the Iraqis to determine their own future He called upon Iraq to engage in a dialogue and peacefully determine the best way to accommodate the well deserved and legitimate aspirations of the Iraqi Kurds 107 On 30 September Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated The United States does not recognize the unilateral referendum The vote and the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united federal democratic and prosperous Iraq 108 Other political entities Edit nbsp Catalonia Artur Mas leader of the Catalan European Democratic Party and former president of Catalonia said that he supported Kurdistan s bid for independence and applauded Kurdistan s leadership for defending democracy 109 A Catalan independence referendum happened on 1 October 2017 just 6 days after the Kurdish referendum nbsp Kosovo Visar Ymeri the leader of the largest opposition party Vetevendosje said Nobody has the right to deny the Kurdish people their will of being free and living in freedom and peace in solidarity with the other peoples of the world 110 nbsp Republic of Artsakh The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh said it welcomes the results of the independence referendum 111 Regional actors Edit nbsp nbsp The Kurdish Islamist parties of Iraqi Kurdistan supported the independence stating that it was their national and religious right 112 nbsp Assyrian Democratic Movement ADM has rejected the Kurdish referendum in the disputed area of the Nineveh Plain and instead calls for an Assyrian self governed province part of Iraq 113 nbsp Bet Nahrain Democratic Party Romeo Hakkari leader of the Bet Nahrain Democratic Party has come in support for a Kurdish independent state while also maintaining a strong stance for a Christian governed province in the districts of Tel Keppe Al Hamdaniya and Al Shekhan in the Nineveh Plain He insists that there should be a separate referendum or option to elect for a Nineveh Plains province in the disputed area 114 115 nbsp Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council Loay Mikhael a representative from the CSAPC said the council was supportive of the referendum as the Kurds have a right to self determination The council also calls for an Assyrian governed province in the Nineveh Plain to geographically join the KRG 60 Iraqi Communist Party expressed support for the referendum and said it is a fundamental right of the Kurdistan Region to hold a referendum and hopes for Iraqi support 116 The Chieftain of the Arab tribe Jubur in Kirkuk has expressed support for the referendum and urged members of the tribe to vote yes 117 nbsp Iraqi Turkmen Front said The referendum decision is clearly against the constitution In addition the participation of non Kurdish regions in the referendum is unilateral and the Arabs Turkmens decisions are against the wishes of the Kurds The Iraqi Turkmen Front said it would not recognize the referendum 118 Iraqi Turkmen leader Arshad al Salihi said Holding this referendum at such a sensitive time is dangerous the ITF is deeply concerned about this The Kurds could end up forfeiting the significant political and military gains they have achieved in recent years Kurdish political parties don t even seem to agree on the issue while Kurdistan Islamic Group along with the Movement for Change oppose the referendum altogether 119 nbsp Kurdistan Workers Party Cemil Bayik Referendum is a democratic right no one should stand against it 120 nbsp President of the Iraqi National Accord Ayad Allawi warned Kurdistan Region not to ponder separation 121 nbsp Palestine Liberation Organization Secretary General Saeb Erekat is opposed to Kurdish self determination Kurdish independence would be a poisoned sword against the Arabs 122 Taysir Khalid member of DFLP and Executive Committee of the PLO stated that the comparison between Kurdistan and Israel is unjust in reference to Nouri al Maliki who said that Kurdistan will be a second Israel in northern Iraq 123 The left wing Peoples Democratic Party in Turkey supported the referendum 124 Results EditTotals Edit Referendum results Choice Votes nbsp Yes 2 861 471 92 73No 224 464 7 27Valid votes 3 085 935 93 35Invalid or blank votes 219 990 6 65Total votes 3 305 925 100 00Registered voters turnout 4 581 255 72 16Source KHEC92 73 7 27 Yes NoAftermath EditImmediate reaction from Kurdistan and Iraq Edit nbsp Demonstration in support of the independence of Kurdistan at Schuman in Brussels Belgium 25 October 2017Following the referendum wild celebrations erupted in Iranian Kurdistan and two days of pro independence demonstrations which included the singing of the anthem of the Republic of Mahabad occurred in the Kurdish cities of Baneh Sanandaj and Mahabad leading to mass arrests 125 The Kurdistan Regional Government started making plans for state building and future negotiations with Iraq before a declaration of independence for the Republic of Kurdistan would be issued Barzani created a new political leadership body to prepare for independence however three Kurdish parties including the PUK have refused to join it 126 The Iraqi government threatened to send troops to Kirkuk a city with rich oil deposits Troops also blocked routes between Mosul and Dahuk on the day prior to the referendum 108 Four days after the referendum the Iraqi government stopped most international flights into the two international airports of Irbil and Sulaimaniya Humanitarian military and diplomatic flights were not included in the ban 127 This action followed Iraq s demand that the Kurdistan Regional Government hand over control of the airports 5 Five days after the referendum the Iraqi and Iranian governments announced that the Iraqi and Iranian armies would hold joint border drills at crossings on Iran s border with the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region 128 Iranian tanks were deployed near the border with Kurdistan Region but the move has been seen as mere posturing 126 Iran also closed its common border with the Kurdistan Region 129 Kurdish businesses across Iraq suffered retaliatory attacks 129 Iraqi Kurdish conflict and Barzani steps down Edit Main articles Battle of Kirkuk 2017 and 2017 Iraqi Kurdish conflict On 15 October 2017 Iraqi forces launched an operation to take Kirkuk While Iraqi state media reported that Iraqi units had initially encountered no opposition in taking areas near Kirkuk the fall of Kirkuk gave impetus to capitulation across northern Iraq with Baghdad backed forces facing no resistance 130 On 25 October 2017 in the light of avoiding the escalation of conflict with the Iraqi central government Iraq s autonomous Kurdistan Region offered to freeze the result of September s referendum on independence and begin dialogue with Baghdad A statement also proposed a ceasefire in order to prevent further violence and clashes triggered by the launch of an Iraqi military operation 131 On 29 October 2017 Masoud Barzani announced his intentions to step down as President of Kurdistan Region effective 1 November after being in power for 12 years His gamble of pushing through with the unofficial referendum ended with the disputed territories being recaptured by Iraq and with the Kurdish statebuilding project being left abandoned 132 Pro Barzani protesters broke into the building across Iraqi Kurdistan and attacked lawmakers and journalists 133 On 6 November Iraq s Supreme Federal Court ruled that no Iraqi province was allowed to secede in order to preserve the unity of Iraq 134 The KRG announced it would respect the Supreme Federal Court s ruling stating that this decision must become a basis for starting an inclusive national dialogue between Kurdish authorities in Erbil and Baghdad to resolve all disputes 135 See also Edit2005 Kurdistan Region independence referendum non binding Kirkuk status referendum Kurdish nationalism 2017 Catalan independence referendumReferences Edit Kurdish Referendum Yekta Uzunoglu Retrieved 5 July 2018 Masoud Barzani Why It s Time For Kurdish Independence Foreign Policy 15 June 2017 Senior Kurdish Official Says Kurdistan Independence Referendum Going Ahead Despite Opposition ARA News 26 July 2017 Archived from the original on 26 September 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 Turkey warns Iraqi Kurdish referendum will have a cost Al Arabiya 14 September 2017 Retrieved 14 September 2017 a b David Zucchino 26 September 2017 Iraq Orders Kurdistan to Surrender Its Airports The New York Times Retrieved 27 September 2017 a b Iraq Kurdistan independence referendum planned BBC News 1 July 2014 Retrieved 13 August 2014 Kurdistan Referendum Movement International Committee 8 February 2005 98 percent of the people of South Kurdistan vote for independence KurdMedia a b Kurds agree to postpone independence referendum The Star 5 September 2014 a b Iraqi Kurdish Leader Calls For Nonbinding Vote on Independence Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 3 February 2016 Retrieved 3 February 2016 a b Ali Sangar PM Barzani Mosul could be liberated within three months Kurdistan24 a b Kurdistan will hold independence referendum in 2017 senior official Rudaw 2 April 2017 Retrieved 2 April 2017 UPDATES Kurdistan Region to hold independence referendum on Sept 25 Rudaw 7 June 2017 Retrieved 7 June 2017 PUK s latest statement on the attacks against Kirkuk ANF News Archived from the original on 26 October 2017 Retrieved 26 October 2017 a b Iraq crisis Incumbent PM Maliki left out as country moves on BBC News 12 August 2014 Retrieved 13 August 2014 Eli Lake 15 June 2014 Practically Speaking Iraq Has Broken Apart The Daily Beast Retrieved 13 August 2014 a b c Iraqi Kurdistan profile Timeline BBC News 12 August 2014 Retrieved 13 August 2014 Keith Wallis 31 July 2014 Kurdish oil cargo unloaded at sea destination a mystery Reuters Retrieved 12 December 2016 Morris Loveday 19 January 2016 Report Kurds displacing Arabs in Iraq in what could be war crimes Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 14 September 2017 Peshmerga forces from the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG and Kurdish militias in northern Iraq have bulldozed blown up and burned down thousands of homes in an apparent effort to uproot Arab communities in revenge for their perceived support for the so called Islamic State IS said Amnesty International in a new report published today Amnesty International USA Retrieved 14 September 2017 Iraqi media broadly welcome new premier BBC News 12 August 2014 Retrieved 13 August 2014 Barzani Kurdistan will hold referendum before October Kurdistan24 23 March 2016 Iraq s PM sees Kurdish referendum as undisputed right Rudaw 26 August 2016 Retrieved 3 April 2017 Iraqi Kurdistan renews call for post IS independence The New Arab 12 December 2016 Retrieved 12 December 2016 UPDATES Kurdistan Region to hold independence referendum on Sept 25 Rudaw 8 June 2017 Retrieved 8 June 2017 Iraqi Kurds plan independence referendum on Sept 25 Reuters 13 June 2017 Retrieved 7 June 2017 Iraqi Christians fear Kurdish agenda behind removal of mayor World Watch Monitor 28 July 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 Iraqi Kurdistan govt removes Alqosh mayor Assyrians protest 22 July 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 Assyria Crowds Gather to Protest Mayor s Unfounded Expulsion UNPO Retrieved 24 September 2017 UPDATED Kurdistani referendum delegation to meet with PM Abadi VP Maliki www rudaw net Kurdistan24 Kurdistan delegation arrives in Baghdad to negotiate independence with Iraqi officials Kurdistan24 Retrieved 24 February 2019 You are being redirected www nrttv com Retrieved 24 September 2017 a b Jalabi Raya 29 August 2017 Iraq s Kirkuk province to vote in Kurdish independence referendum Reuters Retrieved 3 September 2017 Shingal District Council support Kurdistan s independence referendum Kurdistan24 30 July 2017 Retrieved 6 September 2017 Khanaqin Mayoral Council Calls for Including the City in Independence Vote Basnews 16 August 2017 Retrieved 6 September 2017 Yezidi town of Bashiqa votes second to join Kurdistan independence referendum Rudaw 17 August 2017 Retrieved 6 September 2017 Turkey Iran Voice Opposition To Kurdish Independence Vote in Rare Visit Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty 17 August 2017 Retrieved 21 August 2017 Arabs in Iraq town reject inclusion in Kurd region poll Anadolu Agency 10 September 2017 Retrieved 11 September 2017 Mandali district withdraws from KRG referendum Daily Sabah 11 September 2017 Retrieved 15 September 2017 Erika Solomon 14 September 2017 Iraq fires Kirkuk governor in Kurdish referendum stand off Financial Times Retrieved 15 September 2017 Raya Jalabi Ulf Laessing 14 September 2017 Western powers press Iraq Kurd leaders to shelve very risky independence vote Reuters Retrieved 15 September 2017 Mahmoud Barakat Hussein al Amir 19 September 2017 Kirkuk council blasts parliament bid to remove governor Anadolu Agency Retrieved 19 September 2017 Aldroubi Mina 5 September 2017 Iraqi Kurds launch independence vote The National Retrieved 6 September 2017 Aldroubi Mina 12 September 2017 Iraqi parliament rejects Kurdistan independence referendum The National Retrieved 18 September 2017 Jalabi Raya 12 September 2017 Iraq s Kurdish parliament backs Sept 25 independence referendum The National Retrieved 18 September 2017 Iraq s Supreme Court orders suspension of Kurdish independence referendum France24 18 September 2017 Retrieved 18 September 2017 Kurdish president vows to press on with independence referendum CNN 19 September 2017 Retrieved 21 September 2017 a b c Barin Kayaoglu 13 September 2017 200 000 Jewish Kurds headed for Iraqi Kurdistan howls Turkish press Al Monitor Retrieved 18 September 2017 a b c Azad Laskari 15 September 2017 200 000 Jews Will Settle Kurdistan Turkey Turns to Fake News to Discourage Kurdish Referendum Haaretz Retrieved 18 September 2017 a b c Tom O Connor 15 September 2017 Turkey Tries to Scare Voters with Warnings About Jews ahead of Kurdish Referendum Newsweek Retrieved 18 September 2017 Turkey s top media watchdog removes broadcaster Rudaw based in northern Iraq from satellite Hurriyet Daily News 25 September 2017 Retrieved 27 September 2017 Polling Survey on The Upcoming Referendum on The Independence of Kurdistan Kurdish Consultancy Archived from the original on 22 September 2017 Retrieved 18 September 2017 a b Kurdistan referendum commission reveals four language sample ballot Rudaw Retrieved 24 February 2019 President Barzani to discuss independence referendum with Kurdistan parties Rudaw 6 June 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 PUK referendum should be held for independence PUK Leadership Council 21 June 2017 Archived from the original on 6 August 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 Kurdish Islamic body calls referendum national and religious right Rudaw 13 July 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 No party owns project of independence referendum Kurdish Official Iraqi News 6 April 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 Kirkuk working to form committee on independence referendum Rudaw 19 July 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 a b c Iraq s Kurds question motives behind independence vote Al Monitor 27 June 2017 Archived from the original on 6 August 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 Turkmens Prefer Kurds to Shi ite Dominated Baghdad Govt Leader Basnews 24 July 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 a b Interview with Loay Mikhael the Representative of the Christian Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council to Washington 25 July 2017 Retrieved 9 September 2017 FLAS Komela Islami pistgiri da referandume in Kurdish Rudaw 24 September 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 Gorane biryara xwe da Pistgiri da referandume in Kurdish 24 September 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 Partiya Tirkmeneli Mafe tirkmenan garanti be em nabine dijbere serxwebune in Kurdish Rudaw 29 July 2017 Retrieved 29 July 2017 Vote on Kurdish independence risky Turkmen leader Anadolu Agency 9 June 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 You are being redirected www nrttv com Archived from the original on 11 September 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 Holding of Kurdish referendum in Nineveh Plain is unacceptable Zowaa Official Website 1 September 2017 Archived from the original on 5 September 2017 Retrieved 5 September 2017 Iraq criticizes plan of Kurds independence referendum Xinhua 9 June 2017 Archived from the original on 4 August 2017 Israel endorses independent Kurdish state Reuters 13 September 2017 Israel becomes first state to back an independent Kurdistan The Telegraph 14 October 2017 Israel Endorses Kurdish Independence in Lone Show of Support Bloomberg 13 September 2017 Iraqi Kurdistan s Unilateral referendum plan only to cause new problems Iran The Iran Project 10 June 2017 Retrieved 10 June 2017 Khamenei says Iran Turkey must act against Kurdish secession TV Reuters 4 October 2017 a b Khamenei says Iran Turkey must act against Kurdish secession Reuters 4 October 2017 Saudi Arabia says hopes Kurdistan vote will not take place Reuters 20 September 2017 مسؤول سوري عملية استقلال إقليم كوردستان تحتاج إلى نصوص قانونية في الدستور Rudaw 14 June 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2017 Turk Disisleri IKBY referandumu vahim bir hata 9 June 2017 Erdogan says Iraqi Kurds independence referendum does not serve anybody s interest Hurriyet Daily News 13 June 2017 Turkey threatened Iraqi Kurdistan Front News 14 September 2017 Kurdistan referendum Erdogan says Iraqi Kurds risk ethnic war and threatens military response to vote The Independent 26 September 2017 Archived from the original on 1 May 2022 Iraqi Kurdish leader says yes vote won independence referendum Reuters 26 September 2017 Turkey halts flights to northern Iraq issues travel warning Hurriyet Daily News 28 September 2017 Jordan FM Kurdistan referendum Iraq s domestic affair Kurdistan24 10 August 2016 Retrieved 10 August 2017 Armenia MFA hopes for peaceful settlement regarding Iraqi Kurdistan referendum on independence News am Retrieved 28 September 2017 No 276 17 Comments by Hikmat Hajiyev MFA Spokesperson in response to media inquiries on referendum in Iraq Kurdistan Regional Government and the developments in this context in Iraq mfa gov az Retrieved 15 November 2017 Australia says it s not the right time for Kurdish independence referendum SBS 18 September 2017 Retrieved 26 September 2017 Belgian Deputy PM says all nations have the right to self determination NRT 14 June 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2017 Belgian Diplomats Visit MERI to Discuss Current Challenges in Iraq MERI Retrieved 15 June 2017 Bulgarian PM Bulgaria has not Given Stance on Iraqi Kurdistan Independence Referendum novinite 9 June 2017 Retrieved 9 June 2017 Justin Trudeau stays mum on Iraq referendum citing Quebec as a lesson Retrieved 27 September 2017 China says supports Iraq s unity as Kurds vote in referendum Reuters 25 September 2017 Retrieved 27 September 2017 France does not oppose Kurdistan referendum Macron Rudaw 20 September 2017 Macron offers mediation between Baghdad and Kurds Al Jazeera 5 October 2017 Retrieved 5 October 2017 France s Macron says Iraqi unity essential offers to mediate with Kurds France 24 5 October 2017 Iraqi and foreign reactions to Kurdish referendum plan Kurdistan24 9 June 2017 Synentey3h Ypoyrgoy E3wterikwn N Kotzia sto Radiofwno toy Alpha Proswpa toy S K me th dhmosiografo M Nikoltsioy in Greek MFA of Greece 10 June 2017 Retrieved 12 June 2017 Athens upgrades diplomatic representation in Erbil Greek Observer 19 September 2017 Retrieved 2 October 2017 Crowe TD Sean 28 September 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum must lead to negotiations not war Crowe sinnfein ie Sinn Fein Retrieved 4 October 2017 Dutch consul Referendum to receive support if done with Iraq NRT 20 June 2017 Archived from the original on 22 November 2017 Retrieved 20 June 2017 KRG Envoy Seeks Poland s Support for Kurdistan Independence Basnews 25 April 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 Polish FM Kurds supposed to have more autonomy inside Iraq Kurdistan24 22 September 2017 Retrieved 22 September 2017 Putin to Kurdistan24 We understand sensitivity of Kurdish cause Kurdistan24 15 June 2017 Retrieved 15 June 2017 Spain expressed concern over referendum of Iraqi Kurdistan Front News International 18 September 2017 Archived from the original on 21 September 2017 Retrieved 19 September 2017 Brett politiskt stod for folkomrostning om kurdisk sjalvstandighet in Swedish 20 September 2017 Retrieved 21 September 2017 Kurdistan UK Now is not right time for referendum Baghdad first must authorize Rudaw 12 June 2017 Retrieved 12 June 2017 Foreign Secretary statement on the Kurdistan Regional Government s intention to hold a referendum on independence from Iraq Foreign and Commonwealth Office 12 June 2017 Retrieved 13 June 2017 US says it understands legitimate aspirations of people in Iraqi Kurdistan 9 June 2017 Joyce Karam 28 September 2017 US Senate Democratic leader declares support for Kurdish independence The National a b Salim Mustafa DeYoung Karen El Ghobashy Tamer 29 September 2017 Tillerson says Kurdish independence referendum is illegitimate The Washington Post Retrieved 30 September 2017 Catalonia Kurdistan defending democracy former Catalan leader Defense News Nobody has the right to deny the Kurds independence Leader of Kosovo party Kurdistan24 14 August 2017 Retrieved 14 August 2017 Comment by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh Retrieved 28 September 2017 Kurdish Islamic body calls referendum national and religious right www rudaw net Retrieved 25 May 2022 Iraq s Christians wary of planned Kurdish regional poll 22 August 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 Ali Sangar IS destroyed over 70 percent of Nineveh Plain Assyrian Party Leader Kurdistan24 English Basnews Christians Seeking a Province in Nineveh Plains Official Retrieved 24 September 2017 Kurdistan Has the Right to Hold Independence Referendum Iraqi Communist Party Basnews 13 June 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2017 Kirkuk Arabs Vote Yes to Kurdistan Referendum Chieftain Basnews Retrieved 13 June 2017 Irak Turkmen Cephesi nden Kurtlerin referandum kararina tepki 9 June 2017 Archived from the original on 21 September 2017 Retrieved 9 June 2017 Vote on Kurdish independence risky Turkmen leader 9 June 2017 PKK Leader Referendum a democratic right no one should stand against it Kurdistan 24 13 June 2017 Iraqi delegation under Allawi to visit Erbil about Kurdish referendum plan 11 June 2017 Retrieved 13 June 2017 Avraham Rachel PLO opposes Kurdish self determination Archived from the original on 27 September 2017 Retrieved 27 September 2017 English Basnews Palestine s Fath Official to Maliki Kurdistan Is Different from Israel Retrieved 18 September 2017 HDP offers congratulations support for Kurdistan independence vote Rudaw 12 June 2017 Retrieved 13 June 2017 Iran s Kurds are growing restless too The Economist 30 September 2017 a b Jalal Talabani s mediating skills will be much missed The Economist 5 October 2017 Iraq halts flights to Kurdistan Region BBC News 29 September 2017 Iran and Iraq to hold joint border drills Al Jazeera 30 September 2017 a b A new war in Iraq now between Shia Arabs and Kurds The Economist 16 October 2017 Martin Chulov Kurdish forces abandon long held lands to Iraqi army and Shia fighters The Guardian 17 October 2017 Statement from Kurdistan Regional Government Archived from the original on 1 April 2019 Retrieved 5 November 2017 Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani to step down BBC News 29 October 2017 Retrieved 30 October 2017 Abadi Calls for Calm in Kurdistan After Barzani Resignation VOA 30 October 2017 Retrieved 24 February 2019 Iraq court rules no region can secede after Kurdish independence bid Reuters 6 November 2017 Retrieved 14 November 2017 Iraq s Kurdistan says to respect court decision banning secession Reuters 14 November 2017 Retrieved 14 November 2017 Further reading EditZucchino David September 24 2017 Iraqi Kurds Will Vote on Independence Recalling Tortured Past The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum amp oldid 1168289865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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