NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Kurds living in the American city of Nashville have begun a campaign to support the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum.
“We want the people of Kurdistan and the Peshmerga fighters who are on frontlines of war to feel that people outside the country, in America are behind them for the success of this referendum,” said Hikmat Bamarni, a Kurd living in Nashville.
Kurds would like to have US backing for their historic vote. In Washington, however, US officials fear the referendum will distract from efforts to defeat ISIS in the country and rebuild Iraq.
In a phone call with Masoud Barzani last week, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asked the Kurdistan president to postpone the vote and focus on negotiations with Baghdad.
Barzani declined, saying there is no other alternative available to Kurds. Relations with Iraq have failed, he said, laying blame on Baghdad’s doorstep.
Kurds in Nashville agree that they have the right to self-determination.
“We say yes. This is our right. This is not only for one party. It is for all the parts of Kurdistan,” said Rabiha Chalki.
Nashville hosts the biggest Kurdish diaspora in North America, more than 20,000, and has been nicknamed Little Kurdistan.
Kurds first started arriving in the Tennessee city in the 1970s. A second wave emigrated in the 1990s, fleeing Saddam Hussein’s Anfal campaign. Recent conflicts in Syria and against ISIS have brought more Kurds.
Many Kurdish shops, markets, and restaurants make the diaspora at home in the city, but some would not hesitate to move back to Kurdistan.
“I will go back to Kurdistan immediately after our Kurdistan becomes a state. We will go back to the place of our ancestors. This is our dream,” said Adil Galnaski.
Campaign organizers plan to travel around the country advocating for the referendum, ending in Washington.
Kurds living overseas will be able to vote electronically in the referendum. Registration will open September 1 through to September 7 in advance of the vote on September 25.
“We want the people of Kurdistan and the Peshmerga fighters who are on frontlines of war to feel that people outside the country, in America are behind them for the success of this referendum,” said Hikmat Bamarni, a Kurd living in Nashville.
Kurds would like to have US backing for their historic vote. In Washington, however, US officials fear the referendum will distract from efforts to defeat ISIS in the country and rebuild Iraq.
In a phone call with Masoud Barzani last week, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asked the Kurdistan president to postpone the vote and focus on negotiations with Baghdad.
Barzani declined, saying there is no other alternative available to Kurds. Relations with Iraq have failed, he said, laying blame on Baghdad’s doorstep.
Kurds in Nashville agree that they have the right to self-determination.
“We say yes. This is our right. This is not only for one party. It is for all the parts of Kurdistan,” said Rabiha Chalki.
Nashville hosts the biggest Kurdish diaspora in North America, more than 20,000, and has been nicknamed Little Kurdistan.
Kurds first started arriving in the Tennessee city in the 1970s. A second wave emigrated in the 1990s, fleeing Saddam Hussein’s Anfal campaign. Recent conflicts in Syria and against ISIS have brought more Kurds.
Many Kurdish shops, markets, and restaurants make the diaspora at home in the city, but some would not hesitate to move back to Kurdistan.
“I will go back to Kurdistan immediately after our Kurdistan becomes a state. We will go back to the place of our ancestors. This is our dream,” said Adil Galnaski.
Campaign organizers plan to travel around the country advocating for the referendum, ending in Washington.
Kurds living overseas will be able to vote electronically in the referendum. Registration will open September 1 through to September 7 in advance of the vote on September 25.
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