Iraqi Shia cleric urges Baghdad ‘rush’ to help ‘brothers in Kurdistan’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A senior Shia cleric on Friday called on Iraqi leaders to “rush” to help the Kurdistan Region and resolve differences with its leaders before the tensions between Erbil and Baghdad worsen.

“We call on officials in Iraq to rush to help our brothers in the region, to resolve outstanding issues between [Erbil and Baghdad],” Shia cleric Mohammad Taqi al-Modarrasi said in a statement.

Modarrasi also addressed the aftermath of the Kurdistan Region’s Sep. 25 independence referendum, adding “everyone should demonstrate patience to contain the situation.”

The relationship between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi government has considerably deteriorated following the referendum.

The historic vote received overwhelming support for secession from Iraq, but Baghdad refused to recognize the results and instead responded by imposing collective punitive measures against Kurdistan, including the use of military force in disputed areas.

The KRG has shown its flexibility, offering to freeze the results of the referendum, but Baghdad demands a full annulment as well as the handover of airports and border crossings as a precondition for the start of negotiations.

Senior Kurdish officials have often said Baghdad’s decades-long exclusionary policies forced the KRG to hold a referendum to begin negotiations for “a peaceful divorce” from Iraq.

Erbil and Baghdad share a history of disagreements, especially those related to energy, budget, and the status of disputed territories.

Baghdad cut the Kurdistan Region’s 17 percent share of the national budget for nearly three years after, and have said they would reduce it to 12 percent.