VIDEO: As historic day approaches, Kurdish father in Kirkuk names his son ‘Referendum’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdish man in the province of Kirkuk has named his newly born son 'Referendum', after the upcoming vote on independence for the Kurdistan Region scheduled for September 25.

“I am excited about the referendum as we are approaching the historic vote day by day. The purpose behind naming him that was to show our support for the important step we as a nation are taking toward independence for the Kurdistan Region,” Daban, Referendum's father told Kurdistan 24.

“Everyone in the Kurdistan Region should know that the referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region is not exclusively for the benefit of one person or one political party, but for all its citizens. Let us show mothers their sons were not martyred for nothing.  They sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this land, Kurdistan,” he said.

He mentioned that when he first suggested the name ‘Referendum’, his mother and wife endorsed it.

Daban noted he will not regret naming his son ‘Referendum’ and that he feels proud. He added that once his son is older, he would explain in detail to him why he chose that name.

The father also said that if God gave him two more sons in the future, he would name them ‘Gishtpirsi’ and ‘Sarbakhoyi,' the Kurdish words for ‘Referendum’ and ‘Independence.'

Daban’s son was born on September 5, coinciding with the first day of the official campaign promoting the upcoming referendum, which will run until Sep. 22.

Daban hoped that Referendum would soon see independence for the Kurdistan Region.

An independent and sovereign state of Kurdistan has been the dream for nearly all 40 million Kurds across the globe. Kurds have been labeled the largest stateless nation in the world.

Editing by G.H. Renaud

(Additional reporting by Hemin Dalo from Kirkuk)