KIRKUK, Iraq – The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has raised the flag of Kurdistan in the disputed city of Kirkuk, in defiance of a ban on the banner.
"The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has raised Kurdistan’s flag at all its offices in Kirkuk,” Ghafour Salih, deputy head of the party in the city, told Rudaw.
At Newroz celebrations for the new year two years ago, the provincial council first made the decision to raise the Kurdistan flag alongside the Iraqi one in the province that is claimed by both the federal and regional governments.
The controversial move, condemned by Baghdad, was done a few months before Kirkuk took part in Kurdistan’s independence referendum.
Iraqi forces took control of the province in the weeks after the vote and took down the Kurdistan flag. Then-Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim was ousted from his position because of his backing the referendum and the flag-raising.
Since October 2017, federal forces have confiscated Kurdistan flags and prohibited them being hoisted publicly.
The PUK denied there has been any “legal obstacle” to raising the Kurdistan flag in Kirkuk, saying that they had lowered the colours at all their offices after the death of their founder Jalal Talabani on October 3, 2017.
"Today, once again we formally re-raised Kurdistan, Iraqi, and PUK flags over our offices as a normal and legal thing,” the PUK office in Kirkuk said in a statement carried by their party’s media.
A jubilant crowd gathered in the streets of Kirkuk to celebrate.
“It feels so good. We are very glad to see the Kurdistan flag being hoisted over offices in Kirkuk," said one man.
"This flag has given thousands of matyrs," said another, hoping the banner will stay at the top of the flagpole.
"Thanks be to God, now our flag is high. Kirkuk will always prevail," said another man.
Tensions over the disputed province appear to be easing with the new government in place in Baghdad. Kurdish and Iraqi leaders recently agreed that the Hashd al-Shaabi will withdraw from Kirkuk, meaning the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) can return.
"The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has raised Kurdistan’s flag at all its offices in Kirkuk,” Ghafour Salih, deputy head of the party in the city, told Rudaw.
At Newroz celebrations for the new year two years ago, the provincial council first made the decision to raise the Kurdistan flag alongside the Iraqi one in the province that is claimed by both the federal and regional governments.
The controversial move, condemned by Baghdad, was done a few months before Kirkuk took part in Kurdistan’s independence referendum.
Iraqi forces took control of the province in the weeks after the vote and took down the Kurdistan flag. Then-Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim was ousted from his position because of his backing the referendum and the flag-raising.
Since October 2017, federal forces have confiscated Kurdistan flags and prohibited them being hoisted publicly.
The PUK denied there has been any “legal obstacle” to raising the Kurdistan flag in Kirkuk, saying that they had lowered the colours at all their offices after the death of their founder Jalal Talabani on October 3, 2017.
"Today, once again we formally re-raised Kurdistan, Iraqi, and PUK flags over our offices as a normal and legal thing,” the PUK office in Kirkuk said in a statement carried by their party’s media.
A jubilant crowd gathered in the streets of Kirkuk to celebrate.
“It feels so good. We are very glad to see the Kurdistan flag being hoisted over offices in Kirkuk," said one man.
"This flag has given thousands of matyrs," said another, hoping the banner will stay at the top of the flagpole.
"Thanks be to God, now our flag is high. Kirkuk will always prevail," said another man.
Tensions over the disputed province appear to be easing with the new government in place in Baghdad. Kurdish and Iraqi leaders recently agreed that the Hashd al-Shaabi will withdraw from Kirkuk, meaning the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) can return.
Updated at 11:53 pm
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