WATCH: Kirkuk Council approves raising Kurdistan flag on all governmental buildings

KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kirkuk Provincial Council (KPC) on Tuesday approved the raising of the Kurdistan flag on all governmental buildings in the province after a majority vote.

Turkmen and Arab members of the council boycotted the session after Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim rejected their request to postpone the meeting for the following week.

“The Kurdistan flag does not represent Kurds alone but is a symbol of coexistence between different ethnic and religious groups,” Rebwar Talabani, the head of the Kirkuk Provincial Council (KPC) said during the meeting.

Talabani also mentioned there were no articles in the constitution of Iraq contradicting such a move.

The meeting was held after the Kirkuk Governor requested to raise the Kurdish flag alongside the Iraqi one on the Kirkuk Citadel during the Kurdish New Year of Newroz on March 20.

Moreover, Karim previously requested the Kirkuk Council hold a session to vote on raising the Kurdistan flag on all governmental buildings in the province.

“Raising the Kurdistan flag on Kirkuk governmental buildings is not unconstitutional if it is approved by the council’s majority,” the Kirkuk Governor told reporters on Tuesday.  

Kirkuk is an oil-rich province located in the south of the Kurdistan Region and north of Iraq.

Although Kurds make up a majority of the population, Kirkuk is a diverse area with different ethnic and religious backgrounds including Turkmen, Arabs, and Christians.

Additionally, the province is one of the disputed territories between the federal government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

“From today on, the Kurdistan flag will be raised along with the Iraqi flag on all governmental buildings in Kirkuk Province,” Talabani announced in a press conference following the council session.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany