Statement by the Office of the Prime Minister on events in Kirkuk governorate

Earlier today, the Iraqi Army blocked Kurdish farmers from accessing their land in Kirkuk, particularly in Shanagha and four other villages near the town of Sargaran. This incident comes amid recent efforts to reverse decisions by the former Ba’ath regime that sought to forcefully change the demographics in Kurdish areas outside of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s administration, including the seizure of land and property from their original inhabitants. Last month, the Iraqi Council of Representatives passed a law to restore land and property to their rightful owners.

The Iraqi Army’s actions violate the Iraqi Constitution and the fundamental principles on which the new Iraq is built. Furthermore, using the army for such purposes contradicts both the law and the Constitution and must stop immediately to prevent unintended consequences.

Office of the Prime Minister