Survey: 84.3 percent of Kurds favor independence

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A survey conducted in the Kurdistan Region revealed on Saturday that 84.3 percent of people support Kurdish independence, and 87 percent of people in the disputed territories want their areas to join the Kurdistan Region.

The survey was conducted by both the American University of Kurdistan (AUK) at Duhok's Center for Peace and Human Security and the Institute of Media and Political Research (IMPR).

The objective of the survey was to evaluate the level of public support for Kurdistan’s independence referendum intended to be held by the end of 2016.

KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT (KRG) PROVINCES

According to the poll report, 6,065 samples were collected in both population and geographic areas in the Kurdistan Region and disputed territories.

The survey showed that 83.1 percent of people in the Region (excluding the disputed areas) would participate in the referendum, and 82.8 percent would vote for Kurdish independence.

The charts also show that 78.9 percent of the participants would support the initiative of independence regardless of the Kurdish political parties’ stance.

The survey includes ethnic and religious minorities in the Kurdistan Region.

90 percent of the Christians in the district of Ainkawa in Erbil stated that they would vote for independence.

DISPUTED TERRITORIES (KURDS ONLY)

According to the results, 87 percent want their areas to join Kurdistan. The survey also revealed that 89.4 percent would participate in the referendum, and 89.1 percent would vote for Kurdistan independence.

“It is worth noting that over 98 percent of Ezidis in the IDP [internally displaced persons] camps in Duhok province stated that they want their region to join Kurdistan,” according to the survey’s report.

“[The 98 percent] would vote in favor of an independent Kurdistan, compared to 51 percent in Shangal Mountain and 69 percent in Sinune,” the report added.

KRG AND KURDISH AREAS IN DISPUTED ZONE

The supermajority of the Kurdish participants all over the Kurdistan Region supported the call for independence.

“87 percent wants their areas to join Kurdistan. Moreover, 84.6 percent would participate in the referendum, while 84.3 percent would vote in favor of independence,” the report stated

“Additionally, 68.2 percent believe that the timing for declaring independence is right, and 79.8 percent would support the call for independence alone should some political parties not support the initiative,” the statement continued.

NON-KURDISH SAMPLES IN DISPUTED TERRITORIES

The survey’s report added that a total of 595 samples were collected from ethnic and religious groups including Christians, Turkmen, and Arabs (excluding Kurds) in Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Nineveh Plains.

“The vast majority, 76 percent, want their areas to join Kurdistan. 80.1 percent would participate in the referendum, and 78.6 percent would vote in favor of independence,” the survey revealed.

“Additionally, 53.5 percent believe that the timing for declaring independence is right,” according to the survey.

Click here to view the survey in full detail.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany