Presidency Spokesperson: Baghdad violates 55 articles, Kurdistan referendum constitutional

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region Presidency spokesperson stated that the non-adherence to the Iraqi Constitution by the federal government has encouraged the Kurdistan Region to seek independence referendum.

Omed Sabah, the spokesperson of the Kurdistan Region Presidency (KRP) in a panel about Kurdistan independence in Erbil revealed the number of the Articles of the Iraqi Constitution that the federal government has violated or has refused to abide by since its endorsement in 2005.

The political and legal agreement between the Kurdistan Region--which is the Constitution--has been violated; therefore, it is the right of the Kurdistan Region to seek other means, Sabah said.

There are 55 articles in the Constitution that have not been implemented or have been violated by Baghdad, Sabah said, stating that in the case of non-adherence to the Constitution, the unity of Iraq would not be guaranteed.

Sabah referred to the Article 1 that says “this Constitution is a guarantor of the unity of Iraq.”

By violating the Constitution, the Iraqi government has put the unity of Iraq in jeopardy, pushing the regions, including the Kurdistan Region, to seek the right to self-determination through consulting the population, Sabah explained.

Sabah revealed that a Kurdistan Region delegation is to visit Baghdad in the near future to discuss the constitution breaches and some other issues with the Iraqi officials.

Editing by Ava Homa