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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — An American observer of Kurdistan’s independence referendum process on Monday trusts “what the results are,” and he has “good reason to believe” a letter he drafts will be on US President Donald Trump’s desk soon.
"I was thrilled with what I saw today. I went to several voting booths with some other people. Everything was peaceful. Nobody was fighting. There were no guns, no uproar of any kind,” Terry Law, the founder of World Compassion Ministries told Rudaw in an interview.
The Christian pastor called what he witnessed on Monday "very well managed and organized.”
"I went to various voting places. Everything I saw was class-action, it was well done… I will believe what the results are. I think everyone in the world should believe on what is voted on here today in Erbil,” said Law.
"What I saw today indicated to me that you had a true election and I am excited about the fact that this may be the beginning of Kurdish freedom in every sense of the word.”
He hopes the White House changes its position, describing a previous recent visit to Kurdistan with 13 other pastors and his interactions with local officials and clergy of different Christian denominations.
“It matters very much that my people, my friends are protected and that the new constitution looks after their rights as well,” said Law.
Since 2003, the Christian population in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region has dwindled from an estimated 1.5 million to 400,000 before ISIS in 2014. Local organizations now estimate that about 200,000 Christians remain — nearly all of whom now live in the Kurdistan or the Nineveh Plains, which is a disputed or Kurdistani area claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil.
“I was told by Nechirvan Barzani and Karim Sinjari that their aims are to protect all Christians in the land, so that they will be able to participate in freedom in their country and everybody will live happily together,” he said, referring to the Kurdish PM, as well as the Interior Minister who is also the acting Peshmerga Minister.
He explained he is in the process of drafting a letter of what he has seen in Kurdistan.
“I have good reason to believe that will be on the President’s desk within the next week to two weeks,” Law said. “America’s military has got to realize that Kurdistan is sitting on the border of Iran.”
The United States has opposed the timing of the referendum and has expressed it lacks international legitimacy.
The State Department released a statement after voting ended on Monday night saying it was “deeply disappointed that the Kurdistan Regional Government decided to conduct today a unilateral referendum on independence.”
It particularly was concerned that the vote took place in the disputed areas, stating “this step will increase instability and hardships for the Kurdistan Region and its people.”
The statement encouraged all sides to engage “constructively in a dialogue to improve the future of all Iraqis.”
The State Department added that “the United States’ historic relationship with the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region will not change…”
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