San Diego’s Kurdish community rallies in support of referendum

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) – Kurds in San Diego rallied in support of the Sep. 25 independence referendum.

The event was organized by the Kurdish Community Center (KCC).

Some 4,000-5,000 Kurds live in San Diego. They are mostly from Iraq, and they mostly came after 1991 following Saddam Hussein’s crushing of the post-Gulf War revolt.

In recent years, they have been joined by Kurds from Syria fleeing the civil war there as well as the Islamic State (IS), which arose in the vacuum created by that conflict.

Dave Edick, a former President of San Diego’s World Affairs Council, attended the rally to show his support for the referendum.

Edick explained that the vote on independence would be “important for the United States and the region.”

“This is a very democratic movement, and I very much support the values and the aspirations of the Kurdish people.”

Ms. Chinar Hussein, President of San Diego’s KCC, explained to Kurdistan24 the organization’s guiding philosophy. The KCC is an umbrella group representing all Kurds, the political parties, as well as groups oriented toward youth, women, and others.

Representing the Kurdish community and helping to maintain its unity is a core mission, and the KCC is “very proud” of its achievements in that regard, she explained.

Editing by G.H. Renaud