Kirkuk’s Palkana residents blocked by Iraqi Army amid census efforts

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdish families attempting to return to their homes in Palkana village, Kirkuk, for the purpose of participating in Iraq’s ongoing census, were prevented from doing so by the Iraqi Army on Tuesday, Kurdistan24 reporter Hemin Dalo revealed. 

A resident of Palkana village told Kurdistan24 that around 30 families, who had been displaced to Erbil following the events of Oct. 16, 2017, sought to temporarily return to their homes to register for the census. However, they were met with resistance. 

“The Iraqi army prevented us from returning to our houses, which had been occupied. They only gave us a few hours to leave the village,” one resident said, adding that the army had threatened imprisonment for those who refused to comply. 

Despite these challenges, residents expressed their determination to remain in the village to ensure their participation in the census. “We insist on staying in the village and must register here,” another villager emphasized. 

The displaced families called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and local Kirkuk authorities to intervene and address the situation. They stressed the need for action to prevent further impediments by the Iraqi Army, allowing them to contribute fully to the national census. 

This is not the first time tensions have arisen between the Iraqi Army and Kurdish residents of the disputed territories. Farmers in the area have repeatedly reported being blocked from harvesting their lands, prompting public outcry.    

The KRG and the Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament have been in communication with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to resolve these ongoing disputes. The issue underscores the need for a comprehensive resolution to the longstanding territorial and administrative challenges in Kirkuk.