“No student should be allowed onto the university campus without university student uniform during official hours,” reads a letter from the head of the university Abbas Hassan Taqi, arguing that that the aim was to “prevent any security breach.”
The letter prohibits marking “official national or popular clothes dates” at the university and all colleges.
The missive, signed on March 5, was addressed to the deans of all the colleges of the university on March 6, two days prior to March 8 – when Kurds celebrate Kurdish Clothes Day.
Taqi also decreed that DJ equipment was banned from campus, unless the university president gives personal consent.
Music is a central element of Kurdish celebrations, including the day for traditional clothing when Kurds get together and dance.
The ethnically diverse city of Kirkuk came under Iraqi control on October 16 and has subsequently seen the removal of many Kurdish symbols. The Kurdistan flag was taken down – after being officially raised in the province earlier last year – and pictures of Peshmerga killed fighting ISIS have been removed.
Kurds have accused the interim administration of reviving the policy of Arabization. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has ordered an investigation into specific alleged incidents of demographic change.
