KRG Rep. to US calls diaspora Kurds to lobby support for Kurdistan referendum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurds in the diaspora can play a vital role in lobbying support for the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum set to be held on Sep. 25, 2017, said a Kurdish official on Tuesday.

The official said Kurds are set to hold a referendum on secession from Iraq, and there is no turning point in holding the event.

During a live interview with Kurdistan24, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representative to the US Bayan Sami Abdulrahman highlighted the government’s efforts in gaining more support for the referendum.

“The Kurdish people in the US and Canada can play a major role [in gaining support for the referendum],” Abdulrahman said.

“They are citizens and speak perfect English which enables them to send letters to the government and influence senators, congressmen, and parliament members,” she continued.

“I call on the Kurdish people in the US and Canada to take this as part of their national duty to work on influencing the public opinion in those countries and their governments,” Abdulrahman added.

The Kurdish representative also mentioned the Kurdish American Congressional Caucus, which is a bipartisan Congressional committee focusing on the US-Kurdish relations, contributed to the cause in the past years.

She stated the Kurds have support in the US Congress, but more effort should be put to increase the circle.

“I am very delighted to receive messages from many Kurds in the US, Canada, and Europe, asking how to contribute to the cause and lobby for the referendum,” she explained.

“Next week, we will hold a meeting in which part of it will be dedicated to discussing how to use the power of Kurds in the diaspora in favor of the referendum,” Abdulrahman concluded.

Kurds are believed to be the largest stateless nation in the world, estimated at over 40 million, mostly settled in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria.

The creation of a Kurdish state has long been a dream for most Kurds around the world.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany