Kirkuk Turkmen demonstrate against decision to raise Kurdistan flag

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Turkmen Front Party supporters on Wednesday demonstrated in front of the Kirkuk Governorate office, protesting against the recent decision to raise the Kurdistan flag on all state buildings in the province.

The demonstrators sent a letter to the governorate office, stating the raising of the Kurdish flag on state buildings was “unconstitutional.”

The protestors held different Turkmen Front and Iraq flags alongside signs with slogans, calling Kirkuk “Iraqi, not Kurdistani.”

The demonstration began to intensify after the protestors prevented a Kirkuk official from entering the governorate office.

Previously, Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim decided to raise the Kurdistan flag on the historic citadel of Kirkuk along with the Iraqi one during the Kurdish New Year celebration.

Karim also requested the Kirkuk Provincial Council hold a session on raising the Kurdish flag on all state buildings in the province.

On Tuesday, the Council held the hearing, and the members approved the resolution with majority votes while some of the Turkmen and Arab members boycotted the meeting.

Both the Governor and head of the Kirkuk Council told reporters the move did not contradict the constitution of Iraq.

They mentioned Kirkuk was a disputed territory between Baghdad and Erbil where both flags should be raised until it was decided whether the province would be under the federal government of Iraq or the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Following the Council’s approval, Turkmen member of Iraqi Parliament Hassan Turan labeled the move “unconstitutional,” claiming the Council did not have the authority to decide on such a case.

Kurds view the recent decision as a “historical” vote to link the deprived Kurdish majority Kirkuk province back to the Kurdistan Region.

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, the province is a diverse area with different ethnic and religious backgrounds including Turkmen, Arabs, and Christians.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany