The people of Kurdistan were grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic in this time of fasting when another pandemic struck. The pandemic of discrimination.
Baghdad’s cut of the Kurdistan Region’s budget does not align with any moral or religious principle; it can only be described as the logic of enmity.
Since becoming prime minister, Adil Abdul-Mahdi has repeatedly said that the salaries of Kurdistan Region’s civil servants would not be cut again during his reign. In fact, Adil Abdul-Mahdi is one of the last Iraqi politicians that still enjoys the confidence of the people of Kurdistan. Therefore, the people of Kurdistan still do not believe that the salaries’ share has been cut by Abdul-Mahdi, although some analysis implies that Abdul-Mahdi became angry with Kurds for supporting the candidacy of prime minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
Iraqi Finance minister Fuad Hussein has said several times on Iraqi TV channels that based on the 2019 budget law, if Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) fails to hand over the 250,000 barrels per day that was agreed upon, Baghdad would still provide half of the KRG’s budget. This is what happened, as 453 billion dinar ($380 million) was sent monthly to the Kurdistan Region throughout 2019. As per Iraqi government data, last year’s oil sale revenues were more than $78 billion. This means Baghdad gained more than six billion dollars a month.
It is noteworthy that a portion of the money Baghdad sent to the KRG was sent to areas under federal control.
The Kurdistan Region pays the salaries of 7,600 teachers and 1,405 employees, and pays for the expenses of 535 schools and 32 nurseries in Kirkuk province alone. It also pays the salaries of 1,772 teachers and employees and pays for the running of 69 schools in Makhmour. In Khanaqin, it pays the salaries of 3,850 teachers and employees and pays for the expenses of three institutions and 32 Kurdish schools. This is in addition to a number of other employees in disputed areas like Shingal. This is because, since the collapse of Saddam’s regime, the Iraqi federal government has refused to pay Kurdish employees who teach Kurdish children literacy and science in the Kurdish language, despite Kurdish being listed as one of the two official languages of Iraq in the Iraqi constitution.
The people of Kurdistan do not see any changes in Baghdad’s approach towards them, because those in power in Baghdad or those who speak to Iraqis on television channels every night always speak with the logic of “us” versus “them.” This logic does not leave any path open for national coexistence in national consciousness and practice.
It was by this logic that the Kurdish linguist, Tofiq Wahbi, who did not consider Sheikh Mahmoud’s call for the boycott [of the Iraqi state] and served as a minister for eight years, finally said after moving to Britain that “anything that carries the Iraqi label, has no benefit for Kurds.”
If this logic prevails in its dealings, it is only fair if the Iraqi government asks the United Nations to separate the Kurdistan Region from Iraq. If not, it has to treat an employee in Sulaimani like it sees an employee in Basra, and perceive a medical doctor in Erbil like it sees a medic doctor in Najaf. Because the logic of “us” versus “them” is between two states. If this is not the case, the logic should be different. Thus, in this time of fasting and coronavirus, Baghdad should be conscientious and not deprive the people of Kurdistan of their salaries.
Ako Mohammed is the CEO of Rudaw Media Network.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.
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