“Removing me and appointing Hassan Zain al-Abadin is illegal and we will appeal it in the Iraqi Federal Court,” former Kurdish mayor Shalal Abdul told Rudaw. He was removed from his post after the events of October 16 when the disputed areas were forcefully brought under Iraqi control.
Abdul accused Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militias of being behind the move, forcefully bringing Arab members of the council from Kirkuk to take part in Thursday’s session in Tuz Khurmatu.
“Badr Organization forces and another force that has named itself ‘The Martyr of Sadr,’ which is not associated with Sadr Movement, had gone to Kirkuk forcing five Arab members of Tuz Khurmatu council to take part in today’s council meeting,” Abdul claimed.
Abadin is a Shiite Turkmen and member of the Badr Organization.
The council session voting him in met quorum with 11 members attending, including Turkmen and Arab councilors. The council has 21 members, seven of whom are Kurds.
Abdul claimed that Kurdish members of the council had not been called for the meeting.
Iraqi forces and Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries took control of the disputed areas in October 2017. Tens of thousands of Kurds were displaced as the multi-ethnic town of Tuz Khurmatu saw a wave of looting, arson, and violence. Kurdish houses and businesses were targeted.
A division of Iraq’s Rapid Response Force was deployed to Tuz Khurmatu last week to replace the Iraqi Army and Hashd forces in an effort to restore security in the town and allow Kurdish residents to return.
