Swedish Liberals: Let Iraq and Kurdistan go their separate ways

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A number of liberal politicians in Sweden are urging their government to welcome Kurdistan Region’s decision to hold an independence referendum in September, citing the failed Iraqi government, Kurdistan’s protection of minority groups, and the right to self-determination under international law.

“We liberals see that Iraq has become a so-called failed state and we think it would be better for all of its entities if Iraq and Kurdistan went separate ways such as Czechoslovakia in 1992 were divided into both the Czech Republic and Slovakia,” reads the collaborative statement co-signed by eight Swedish politicians.

The opinion article was first published in Svenska Dagbladet, a daily newspaper. The politicians believe a peaceful separation from Iraq is a practical one.

“If the people of Iraq cannot coexist within one and the same national boundary, they should, for democratic reasons, be able to proclaim independence and then live as good neighbors,” it read.

They argued “The central government has repeatedly shown inability to provide protection and care for the whole country. The new Iraq has been shown to pursue the same pan-Arabic policy towards Kurdistan that has always and undeniably failed.”

The politicians highlight the defense of the Kurdistan Region against ISIS militants “by a multicultural Peshmerga,” pointing out the protection of minority groups in Nineveh province including Assyrians, Syriacs and Chaldeans, who also “should be given the right to self-government.”

They say they are optimistic about the future of various groups in Kurdistan, which has hosted more than 1.5 million displaced Iraqis since 2014.

“We look forward to a Kurdistan where the various ethnic and religious groups continue to live in unity and with fundamental rights just as they do today in the autonomous region,” read the article.

The Swedes believe that “the right to self-determination is central.”

“We all shall be entitled to decide on our own future,” they added. “There are principles under international law and we support the Kurds' right to self-determination and the process that ensures this.”

Liberal support in Sweden for Kurdistan is deeply rooted, the politicians noted, citing expressed support and work by their party since 2010.

“Liberals have a long tradition of solidarity with the people of Kurdistan, and we therefore welcome the outcome of the referendum and look forward to the fact that the world is gaining a new state and the Middle East another democratic state,” they concluded.

The op-ed was co-signed by the Swedish Liberals Birgitta Ohlsson (MP, Foreign Policy Spokesman); Cecilia Wikström (European MP); Fredrik Malm (MP, Migration Policy Spokesman); Maria Leissner (Ambassador and former Party Chairperson); Olle Schmidt (Substitute city council in Malmö, former MEP and vice president of ALDE); Joar Forssell (Federal Chairman of the Liberal Youth League, Sukrî Demir (2nd Vice Chairman of the International Committee of Solna); Sirwan Dabagh (Preparation for Democracy, Equality & Human Rights, Malmö).

Translations by Biza Barzo

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