Officials reject rumors of excluding Kirkuk from Kurdistan referendum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Governor of Kirkuk reiterated that referendum in the province will be held as planned, calling on citizens to visit ballot stations on Sep. 25.

Kirkuk Governor, Najmaldin Karim, in a statement on Saturday, called upon the people of Kirkuk to go the ballot stations to cast their vote for the Kurdistan Region’s Referendum.

Karim said he has met with the Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission (IHERC), emphasizing that all the preparations for the referendum have been completed and the ballot boxes are ready.

The Governor revealed that the ballot boxes will be placed in the same ballot stations as the 2014 parliamentary election, calling upon the people of Kirkuk to cast their vote on a historic day not only for Kirkuk but for everyone who lives in the Kurdistan Region.

Rumors have been spread on social media networks claiming the referendum in Kirkuk province has been postponed.

On Saturday, the political parties in Kirkuk issued a statement reaffirming the participation of the province in the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum.

“The Kurdistani political parties reaffirm our commitment to decisions of the Kurdistan’s High Referendum Council and call upon the people of Kirkuk from all religious and ethnic backgrounds to proudly cast their vote on the referendum date,” the statement added.

Editing by Ava Homa