Kurdistan
Kurds dressed in traditional clothing on Newroz in March 2022. File photo: Bilind T. Abdullah/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - On the 53rd anniversary of a historic agreement that saw Kurds for the first time receive some recognition of their rights from Baghdad, Kurdish leaders called for the constitution to be central to peacefully resolving long-standing problems between the federal and regional governments.
“Let us work together to protect the rights of all Iraqi communities, to safeguard the federal system, sovereignty, peace and stability of the country. Let us all work together to build a prosperous, and strong country and a better future through mutual acceptance, tolerance, coexistence, unity and solidarity,” read a statement from Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.
On March 11, 1970, Kurds under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani reached a 15-point agreement with the Iraqi government that brought an end to the September Revolution that had raged in the 1960s. Under the agreement, three Kurdish provinces and their neighbouring areas with Kurdish majority populations gained autonomy from the Iraqi government and the Kurdish language was officially recognized in these areas, alongside Arabic.
President Barzani called on Iraqi and Kurdistani groups and parties “to learn from history and the mistakes of the past” and use national resources for the development of the country and the welfare of the people.
Despite the promises of the March 11 agreement, the Iraqi state did not keep its word. Not long after the accord was inked, Baghdad began the policy of Arabization to change the demography in areas such as Kirkuk and Khanaqin. In 1975, Kurds launched another revolution.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also released a statement celebrating the anniversary of the historic day. He hailed the March 11 agreement as an important achievement for the people of Kurdistan and their peaceful message.
"On this day, we reaffirm our stance on defending and not abandoning our constitutional rights and solving the problems fundamentally and peacefully on the basis of the constitution," he stated.
He also noted that the Iraqi government has not compensated Kurdish victims of the Iraqi state.
Masoud Barzani, head of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and son of Mustafa Barzani, released a statement highlighting the importance of the March 11 agreement in achieving recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people that had been denied since the inception of the Iraqi state.
The regional and federal governments have had rocky ties over the years, frequently sparring on issues like the budget and oil sales. Articles in the 2005 Iraqi constitution meant to address historical grievances of Kurds have never been fully implemented.
“Let us work together to protect the rights of all Iraqi communities, to safeguard the federal system, sovereignty, peace and stability of the country. Let us all work together to build a prosperous, and strong country and a better future through mutual acceptance, tolerance, coexistence, unity and solidarity,” read a statement from Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.
On March 11, 1970, Kurds under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani reached a 15-point agreement with the Iraqi government that brought an end to the September Revolution that had raged in the 1960s. Under the agreement, three Kurdish provinces and their neighbouring areas with Kurdish majority populations gained autonomy from the Iraqi government and the Kurdish language was officially recognized in these areas, alongside Arabic.
President Barzani called on Iraqi and Kurdistani groups and parties “to learn from history and the mistakes of the past” and use national resources for the development of the country and the welfare of the people.
Despite the promises of the March 11 agreement, the Iraqi state did not keep its word. Not long after the accord was inked, Baghdad began the policy of Arabization to change the demography in areas such as Kirkuk and Khanaqin. In 1975, Kurds launched another revolution.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also released a statement celebrating the anniversary of the historic day. He hailed the March 11 agreement as an important achievement for the people of Kurdistan and their peaceful message.
"On this day, we reaffirm our stance on defending and not abandoning our constitutional rights and solving the problems fundamentally and peacefully on the basis of the constitution," he stated.
He also noted that the Iraqi government has not compensated Kurdish victims of the Iraqi state.
Masoud Barzani, head of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and son of Mustafa Barzani, released a statement highlighting the importance of the March 11 agreement in achieving recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people that had been denied since the inception of the Iraqi state.
The regional and federal governments have had rocky ties over the years, frequently sparring on issues like the budget and oil sales. Articles in the 2005 Iraqi constitution meant to address historical grievances of Kurds have never been fully implemented.
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