Iraq to impose nationwide curfew for general census on November 20-21

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Tahseen al-Khafaji, the head of the Iraqi Security Media Cell, told Kurdistan24 on Sunday that a nationwide curfew will be enforced across Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, on Nov. 20-21 as part of measures for the country’s general population census.

The curfew aims to facilitate the smooth execution of Iraq’s first comprehensive population census in over two decades. Al-Khafaji noted that security forces have devised a specialized plan for these two days, ensuring census workers can conduct their activities without interruption.

"The security plan is extensive, with census workers briefed on the presence and support of security forces throughout the country," al-Khafaji told Kurdistan24. He added that collaboration between Iraqi and Kurdistan Region security forces is well-coordinated to back census workers across all regions.

This coordinated effort underscores the significance of the census, which is expected to provide essential demographic data to guide future government policies and resource allocation.

Historically, demographic records like the 1957 census have shown significant Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen populations across Iraq, with Kurds accounting for 16% of the population at that time. Today, Iraq's population is projected to reach 51.5 million, underscoring the need for a comprehensive and precise census to address ongoing issues in the country's multicultural regions.

The Kurdistan Regional Government hopes that the upcoming census will better reflect the true demographic makeup of Iraq, including the status of disputed territories, ensuring that the process respects the historical presence and rights of its Kurdish population.