KHANAQIN, Kurdistan Region—Religious and political differences are not at play in the town of Khanaqin when it comes to the question of Kurdistan Region’s planned referendum on September 25, locals say, and that they are for an independent Kurdish state.
“Yes” will be his ballot on the voting day, says Abu Ali without hesitation. “We are Kurdish and will vote for Kurdistan.”
Abu Ali had just stepped out of his local Husseiniyah—Shiite prayer hall—where he had performed his noon prayers.
He said voting for an independent Kurdistan was a historical chance for the Kurds and people in his town.
“We have for many years been asking to be part of Kurdistan, so yes we will vote in the referendum,” he said, wiping drops of sweat from his forehead. “And Kurdistan will succeed by God’s will.”
Most Kurds in Khanaqin practice the Shiite faith of Islam, but they have long been considered some of the most patriotic Kurds and Hawkar Hoshyar, 27, says that there is a misconception about his town that due to their faith they may not be interested in independence.
“On the contrary, people here pay a great deal of attention to the referendum, and all of my friends think the same as I do,” Hoshyar said.
“We consider ourselves part of the Kurdistan Region,” he added, “though the projects and prosperity of Kurdistan have not reached here.”
Dr. Karzan Abdulrahman who has PhD in history believes the majority in Khanaqin will vote “Yes” in the referendum, meanwhile advising Kurdish political leaders to show unity and bring public services to the town to further encourage people.
Dr. Abdulrahman says as the Kurds approach the referendum deadline there might be efforts from Iraq and the Diyala province in particular to dissuade locals from the vote, but, he adds, Khanaqin has sided with the Kurds in all previous elections.
“We have the experience of unity and coordination with Kurdistan political parties in previous Iraqi parliamentary and provincial elections which helped the Kurdistan parties in Diyala to gain most of the votes of the people of Khanaqin.” Abdulrahman said.
Amer Hussein, another resident says that his family is a microcosm of the town’s religious and political diversity but that they are united on the Kurdish quest for independence.
“My father is a Sunni Kurd and my mother is a Shiite Kurd,” said Hussein. “But I swear to God my mother talks more about Kurdistan than my father,”
“She likes to return to Kurdistan forever. People here are like brothers, no one thinks about religious sects or that kind of stuff.”
