Kirkuk Minute July 13, 2023

A weekly brief of events and news occurred in the disputed territories.

Kirkuk

Renewal of Voter Registration

On July 9, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Kirkuk held a press conference to announce the voter registration renewal process. During the conference, Loay Arkan, the director of the commission, provided details on how citizens could update their information and encouraged them to visit the commission for this purpose. Arkan emphasized the importance of first-time eligible voters registering before the upcoming elections. The Provincial Council elections in Kirkuk are scheduled to take place on December 18, 2023, marking a significant gap of 18 years since the last elections held in 2005. Division seen widely internally among Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Christians. In another development, Wasfi al Asey, a Sunni tribal leader, called for Arab parties to unite under one list for the provincial elections. Al Asey expressed frustration with the low level of Arab participation in elections. The Arab Council responded positively to Al Asey’s remarks, recognizing the significance of the current period and stressing the need for all forces to work together. Al Asey has been backed by Shitte parties in Baghdad.

The Seizure of Kurdish Lands

The issue of seizing agricultural Kurdish lands by the Defense Ministry, as well as Arabization policies, were discussed on July 11 in Baghdad. Fahmi Burhan, Chairman of the Kurdistan Areas Outside the Kurdistan Regional Administration, presented the outcomes of his visit to Baghdad, having met with various Iraqi political leaders. Burhan emphasized the need for Kurdish political parties to establish a unified stance and present a cohesive narrative in order to address all outstanding issues and implement Article 140 of the Constitution. He also mentioned discussions with senior Iraqi officials regarding the annulment of decisions made by the former dictator’s Revolutionary Leadership Council through the Iraqi parliament.

Birth and Death Statistics

Regarding birth and death statistics, on July 7, the Kirkuk Health Department released semi-annual data indicating an average daily birth rate of 76 newborns. From the beginning of 2023 until June 30, 2023, a total of 13,921 children were born, while 1,033 deaths were recorded during the same period, averaging six deaths per day: an indication of massive population growth and youth bulge.

Governor’s Sibling Jailed for Corruption

On July 12, the Integrity Commission disclosed that the Kirkuk Court of Investigation had issued summons to Ali Hammadi, the Assistant Governor for Technical Affairs, and Suzan Suliman, the Director of the Property Department of the Kirkuk Governorate. Both officials are accused of deliberately violating their duties, including allegations of gifting land to employees. Additionally, Farhan al Jabouri, the sibling of the acting governor, was arrested on corruption charges and allegations of misusing public funds. The acting governor, Rakan al Jabouri, who took office on October 16, 2017, is currently facing numerous corruption cases.

Faili Kurds Demand Identity Cards

On July 12, Faili Kurds residing in the Khanaqin district organized a rally to demand identity cards. The Failis, an indigenous community in Iraq, have been assigned foreign status faced a since the formation of the Iraqi state under British rule. In the 1980s, the Ba’ath regime deported them to Iran, claiming they held Iranian citizenship. The Failis have found themselves caught between two familiar identities after the decline of the Ottoman Empire: Ottoman and Iranian citizens. They lack official recognition, employment rights, and basic rights in Iraq.

Garmian University Students Demand Recognition

On July 9, students and graduates of Garmian University in Kalar staged a rally, urging the federal government to acknowledge their university. This marks the second demonstration within a span of 20 days by students and graduates from Khanaqin, who are predominantly affiliated with Garmian University. While Garmian University is a public institution under the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the Iraqi government refuses to recognize it, resulting in the denial of access to federal employment opportunities for Kurds. Due to the absence of a Kurdish-language university provided by the Iraqi government for the residents of Khanaqin, they have turned to Garmian University as an alternative.

Yazidi Girls Rescued

On July 11, the Yazidi Hostages Rescue Office reported the successful rescue of two Yazidi girls, Alia Khalaf Khadr and Base Khalaf Khadr. These sisters were abducted by ISIS (Da’esh) terrorists on August 3, 2014 during the genocide perpetrated against Yazidi Kurds in the Sinjar Region. Still, the fate of 2,763 Yazidi women and children who were enslaved by terrorists remains unknown.