Kurdish Official Warns Land Disputes, Arabization Pose ‘Major Threat’ in Khurmatu
Fahmi Burhan says Kurdish residents face mounting political and administrative pressure, while disputed land cases remain tied to Ba'ath-era policies and Article 140 of Iraq’s Constitution
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Fahmi Burhan, head of the General Board for the Kurdish Areas Outside the Kurdistan Region Administration, warned Wednesday that land disputes and the continuation of Arabization policies in Khurmatu district pose a major threat to the area’s residents.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Burhan said he had met with political representatives from Khurmatu, with administrative officials and an adviser to the Salahaddin governor also present, to discuss the district’s political and service conditions.
“Khurmatu faces several different problems, including land disputes, Arabization and the reconstruction of villages,” Burhan said.
He said the concerns of Kurdish residents in the area are being directly communicated to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and his deputy, while efforts are underway to break what he described as a “blockade” imposed on Khurmatu across various sectors.
Kurdish Language, Education Concerns
Burhan said discussions are also being held with Iraq’s education minister to address issues surrounding the Kurdish language and education in the district.
He stressed that resolving the education issue remains a priority, particularly amid concerns over the status of Kurdish-language education and the rights of Kurdish students and residents.
On disputed and occupied land, Burhan said the problem is rooted in decisions made during the Baath regime and was further aggravated by the events of October 16.
He said his board considers the land cases political issues and part of the broader implementation of Article 140 of Iraq’s Constitution, which provides for resolving the status of disputed territories.
Sharp Decline in Kurdish Officials
Burhan also expressed concern over what he described as a significant decline in the number of Kurdish officials and employees working in Khurmatu.
“The number of Kurdish employees in Khurmatu is very low and does not exceed the fingers of one hand, while the number of employees from other components is between 800 and 1,000,” he said.
He said the disparity reflects the broader political circumstances facing Kurds in the district.
Burhan added that a law addressing land disputes was approved by the Iraqi parliament in 2025 and that only its implementing instructions remain to be issued.
He said implementing the legislation could resolve a significant portion of the historical disputes between Kurdish and Turkmen residents.
Disputes Date Back to Baath Era
Burhan traced the origins of the land disputes to policies implemented during the rule of former Iraqi President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr in 1975, saying the legacy of those policies continues to affect the area.
He also warned that what he described as a “soft Arabization” process is currently affecting parts of the disputed territories.
Referring to developments in Khanaqin over the previous two days, Burhan said positions had been taken against the demands of local residents, describing the developments as part of broader concerns over the treatment of Kurdish communities in disputed areas.
Burhan concluded by calling on media outlets and political forces to work toward addressing the problems facing Khurmatu and supporting efforts to resolve its political, administrative and social challenges.