Iraqi government spokesperson: Raising Kurdistan flag in Kirkuk unconstitutional

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi government disapproved the motion that was passed in the Kirkuk Provincial Council to hoist Kurdistan flag over government offices across the province.

Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesperson of the Iraqi government, in a phone call with Kurdistan24 on Tuesday said that the two-flag decision is against the Iraqi Constitution, stating that Kirkuk Provincial Council lacks the authority to make such a decision.

Hadithi added that no party is authorized to decide on hoisting a flag or forming a new federal region in Kirkuk.

On Tuesday, Kirkuk Provincial Council approved the raising of the Kurdistan flag on all governmental buildings in the province after a majority vote.

The unilateral act to raise Kurdistan flag in the government office in Kirkuk would be harmful, Hadithi warned, adding that the views of all components of Kirkuk should be taken into consideration.

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.

On March 14, Governor Karim asked the head of the Kirkuk Provincial Council to hold a special session on this issue to vote on a motion to allow Kurdistan flag to be raised alongside with the Iraqi flag.

Regarding the possibility of cutting the salaries of government employees of Kirkuk province, Hadithi said that Kirkuk’s financial dues were provided by Baghdad.