Kurdish MPs call for Kurdistan Parliament session in Kirkuk

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Two members of the Kurdistan Region Parliament suggested the Assembly hold a meeting in Kirkuk after the province’s council approved the raising of the Kurdistan flag on all state buildings in the region.

Salar Mahmoud and Goran Azad, two Kurdish MPs from the Kurdistan Region Parliament, published a joint statement on their social media accounts regarding the recent events in Kirkuk.

Both MPs suggested Kurdish factions hold a parliament session in Kirkuk as support for the recent decision of the Kirkuk Provincial Council regarding raising the Kurdish flag on all government buildings in the province.

“From there, we can start addressing our political issues and disagreements,” the MPs stated.

They also called on Kurdish parties to discuss the case and take necessary measures to hold the session in the province, similar to the parliament session held in Halabja Province.

The Kurdistan Region Parliament has not held any sessions since October 2015 due to the political disagreement and tensions between Kurdish parties.

“We can make Kirkuk the place of rebuilding trust between the parties and protect the rights, freedom, and coexistence of ethnic and religious groups,” the joint report read.

“With this step, [we can] manifest peace and ultimately bring Kirkuk back to the Kurdistan Region forever,” the statement added.

On Tuesday, the Kirkuk Provincial Council, at the request of Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim, held a session to vote on raising the Kurdistan flag on all governmental buildings along with the Iraqi one.

The resolution was approved by majority votes from the council members.

However, the meeting was boycotted by some Turkmen and Arab members of the Council.

Kirkuk is an oil-rich province located in the south of the 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.

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

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany