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Kirkuk
- After three weeks of deployment, the Iraqi forces conducted search operations in three Kurdish neighborhoods: Kurdistan, Imam Qasim, and Shoreja. The military presence in the Kurdish areas raised anger among the citizens since the security issues are primarily in the western and southern parts of the province. Since October 16, 2017, Kirkuk has been placed under material laws by Baghdad.
- On October 23, Kirkuk University awarded prizes to women for wearing the Shiite religious uniform at the University. Religious leaders attended the ceremony. The event sparked strong protests from activists, especially as the wave of changes in Iran is against the Hijab and women’s rights. The dean of Kirkuk’s University, Omran Hassan, is a member of the Iranian-backed Badr organization.
- On October 27, Turkish Airlines started its first flight from Istanbul to Kirkuk. The Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, Ali Riza Guney, participated in the welcoming ceremony at Kirkuk airport. So far, only Iraqi and Turkish airlines have flights to Kirkuk airport, but the province’s security prevents western and regional countries from starting flights. Observers note Turkey’s backing of the opening of the Kirkuk airport is part of its expansion policies in the disputed territories and the Sunni provinces.
- On October 23, leaders of the Turkish-backed Turkmen Front held a press conference in Baghdad demanding the post of vice president. Arshad Salihi and Hassan Torun appeared together for the first time after a year of fierce political competition that led to the division of their party last year.
- On October 22, residents of Kirkuk’s Darwaza neighborhood demonstrated against unpaved roads. Likewise, a main road between the Barutkhana-Rahima neighborhoods has been demolished for renovation for three years. The project has been awarded to three companies and has yet to be completed.
- On October 24, several Kirkuk police officers of the Qara Hanjir were arrested after a prisoner escaped during a transposition to Baghdad. The prisoner faced financial fraud charges, leading the ministry of interior to arrest the officers for investigations.
- The Kirkuk Criminal Court sentenced former directors of Oil Products Distribution Company, Kawa Rashid and Mohammed Fayeq, to six months in prison for not “taking legal action” against private gas stations when they did not distribute gas to citizens. The lawsuit said nearly seventeen billion Iraqi dinars were wasted without actions from the directions. Separately, a team from the Integrity Commission raided the Men’s Social Welfare Office in Kirkuk and arrested Wathis al Jabouri, the office’s director. Al Jabouri is accused of giving benefits to unqualified people and taking bribes. He was taken into custody and replaced by a new director.
Shingal (Sinjar)
- The Kidnapped Yazidi Rescue Office of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced the freeing of six more Yazidis from Shingal. According to the Rescue Office, 2713 Yazidis have remained missing since the Yazidi Genocide by ISIS (Da’esh)terrorists in 2014. Separately, on October 24, the Baghdad forensic medical examiners completed the identification of sixteen Yazidi victims and handed their corpses to their relatives. The results of the DNA tests will be revealed, aiming to identify the victims.
- On October 27, Hazim Tahsin Beg, the religious leader of the Yazidis, visited the Sinjar district for the first time since his election. Several community leaders and public figures received Beg. The visit comes at a time when some of the Yazidi tribes and personalities refused to recognize him as a new leader.