Iraqi Kurdistan takes to the polls for historic independence referendum

Vote: A child rides a bicycle with Kurdistan flags outside a polling station during the referendum
EPA
Michael Howie25 September 2017

Iraqi Kurds went to the polls today in an independence referendum that has raised regional tensions and fears of instability.

Millions were expected to vote across the three provinces that make up the Kurdish autonomous region, as well as residents in disputed territories - areas claimed by both Baghdad and the Kurds.

The non-binding ballot was being held despite mounting regional opposition to the move. The United States has warned it is likely to destabilise the region amid the fight with the Islamic State group.

Baghdad has also come out strongly against the referendum, demanding that all airports and borders crossings in the Kurdish region be handed back to federal government control.

Historic: Women are seen waiting in line to cast their referendum vote
Getty Images

In a televised address last night, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said “the referendum is unconstitutional. It threatens Iraq, peaceful coexistence among Iraqis and is a danger to the region.”

“We will take measures to safeguard the nation’s unity and protect all Iraqis,” he added.

Vote: Millions were expected to vote across the three provinces that make up the Kurdish autonomous region
Getty Images

The Kurdish region’s president, Masoud Barzani, said during a press conference in Irbil that he believed the voting would be peaceful, though he acknowledged that the path to independence would be “risky”.

“We are ready to pay any price for our independence,” he said.

Baghdad: Iraqis sit at a popular coffee shop as a television screen is showing Masoud Barzani, the president of Kurdistan Region
EPA

In a strongly worded statement, Turkey today said it does not recognise the referendum and declared its results would be “null and void”.

Initial results from the poll are expected tomorrow, with the official results to be announced later in the week.

Iraqi Kurds have long dreamed of independence - something the Kurdish people were denied when colonial powers drew the map of the Middle East after the First World War. The Kurds form a sizeable minority in Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq.

In Iraq, they have long been at odds with the Baghdad government over the sharing of oil revenues and the fate of disputed territories like Kirkuk.

“I feel so great and happy, I feel we’ll be free,” said Suad Pirot, a Kurdish resident in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, after voting. “Nobody will rule us, we will be independent.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT