Kurdish resident exposes alleged bias in Kirkuk census operations
Speaking to Kurdistan24 on Monday, Rebwar, a local resident, alleged that Arab census workers are selectively counting Kurdish households in predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods.

Nov. 19, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A Kurdish resident from Kirkuk's Rahimawa neighborhood has raised serious concerns about alleged discriminatory practices in the ongoing census operations, highlighting what he claims to be systematic undercounting of Kurdish families.
Speaking to Kurdistan24 on Monday, Rebwar, a local resident, alleged that Arab census workers are selectively counting Kurdish households in predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods.
"They count one house but skip four others," he claimed, suggesting this practice could lead to significant undercounting of the Kurdish population.
"Through your channel, I appeal to the Kurdish political leadership to send Kurdish rather than Arab census workers to our areas," Rebwar stated, adding that visiting family members are also being excluded from the count.
He further alleged that Arab census workers are attempting to artificially reduce household numbers, insisting on recording multiple-family homes as single-family residences.
According to the Iraqi Planning Minister's decision, more than 5,000 observers will oversee the census teams in Kirkuk.
The census in Kurdish areas outside the Kurdistan Region's administration is supposed to be based on the 1957 census framework, though Kurdish representatives have expressed skepticism about the process.
Kirkuk's demographic composition has been a contentious issue for decades, with its Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen communities each claiming historical rights to the oil-rich city.
The current census operation is particularly sensitive as it could influence future political representation and resource allocation. The 1957 census, which is considered the last reliable population count before significant demographic changes occurred, has been proposed as a baseline for resolving disputes in contested areas.
However, concerns about the integrity of the current census process reflect deeper tensions over Kirkuk's status and administration.