LAST NEWS ABOUT KIRKUK/ KURDISTAN

[Anthea]

Land return law finalized within 2 days

The land restitution law recently ratified by the Iraqi presidency that seeks to return properties confiscated under the Baath regime to its original owners is set to be implemented imminently as all obstacles have been addressed, Iraq’s second deputy parliament speaker said on Monday

“I spoke with the justice minister three days ago, and the Official Gazette will publish it. When it is implemented, the first step will be to cancel the contracts for Arab settlers, and the government will take measures to return the lands,” Shakhawan Abdullah told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda in Washington.

The Iraqi parliament in January passed amendments to three controversial laws demanded by the Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. The laws in question were general amnesty, personal status, and a bill proposed by the federal government aimed at returning land confiscated under the Baath regime to its original owners.

The land restitution law, a key Kurdish demand, aims to return properties to their original Kurdish and Turkmen owners. These lands were taken from them and given to Arab settlers by the Baath Revolutionary Command Council decades ago

“The law will be published within the next two days and there are no longer any obstacles to its implementation,” Abdullah said.

Last week, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging the validity of the voting procedures and paved the way for President Abdul Latif Rashid to ratify the laws.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/17022025

[Anthea]

Kurdish bloc of Iraqi parliament

gathers with Kirkuk farmers

A delegation from the Kurdish blocs in the Iraqi parliament visited villages northwest of Kirkuk province on Tuesday to express solidarity with Kurdish farmers who were forcibly prevented from accessing their confiscated lands the previous day

The delegation included representatives from the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, the Justice Group, the Kurdistan Communist Party, and the New Generation blocs in the Iraqi Parliament.

“We strongly condemn the unjustified attack on Kurdish farmers in Shinagha [village] and Sargaran [subdistrict] yesterday by a group of Iraqi army personnel, who prevented them from cultivating their lands which they inherited from their ancestors,” the Kurdish lawmakers told reporters on Tuesday.

Tensions in the regions northwest of Kirkuk escalated on Monday when Iraqi security forces blocked Kurdish farmers from accessing their farmland. Raw footage filmed by Rudaw showed Iraqi army and anti-riot forces clashing with civilians. In one instance, an Iraqi security officer is seen as trying to forcibly remove a local from his tractor.

The lawmakers emphasized that the forced prevention of Kurdish farmers from entering their lands “is a clear violation of the [Iraqi] constitution, applicable laws and human rights standards.”

The recent clashes come despite recent advancements in Iraq’s legislature, including the passage of the Property Restitution Law last month, which notably went into effect on Tuesday.

The law aims to return lands seized, in Kirkuk and other disputed areas, during the Baath era to their original Kurdish and Turkmen owners. These lands were previously given to Arab settlers, a tactic believed to have been part of the Baathist regime’s efforts to alter the demographic makeup in disputed regions.

The lawmakers argued that the Iraqi forces’ actions contradict the recently-passed land restitution law, which guarantees citizens the right to work on their lands without restrictions.

The Kurdish blocs also called on the Iraqi political forces to take a “clear and firm position” on these violations and to address the incident responsibly, stressing that such violations “pose a direct threat to peace and societal stability in Kirkuk.” They also emphasized they will be resorting to all constitutional and legal means to follow up on this issue.

This is not the first such incident. In November, Iraqi armed forces also blocked farmers from preparing their fields for the winter season. At that time, Kurdish farmers accused Arab settlers of preventing them from accessing their lands.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/180220254

[Anthea]

Recent violations against

Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani presided over a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, with Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani in attendance, according to an official statement from the KRG

At the outset, Prime Minister Barzani addressed recent violations against indigenous Kurdish farmers in the villages of Sargaran district, Kirkuk province. Condemning the reported incidents of rape and obstruction, he stated, “This behavior is unconstitutional, illegal, and unacceptable. We oppose all forms of oppression against farmers who are the rightful owners of their land and must have the right to freely cultivate and use their property, as well as that of their ancestors.”

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the prime minister emphasized that all obstacles faced by farmers should be removed in accordance with Law No. 3 of 2025, recently passed by the Iraqi House of Representatives. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the lands are returned to their rightful owners through legal channels

The meeting also covered the KRG delegation’s recent participation in the World Government Summit in Dubai, held from February 11th to 13th. The high-level delegation, led by Prime Minister Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Talabani, engaged in discussions on governance, economic development, and cooperation with international partners.

In the second segment of the meeting, a joint committee report between the KRG and the Federal Government was presented. The report focused on regulatory quality control measures and the classification of contractors, with relevant ministries outlining their recommendations for improvements in these sectors.

Additionally, Acting Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammad Salih provided an update on a joint meeting held in Erbil regarding the implementation of Law No. 5 of 2025, the first amendment to the federal budget law concerning oil exports

The Council of Ministers reaffirmed its support for the implementation of the amendment to Article 12 of the Federal Budget Law and reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s demand for the resumption of oil exports.

Officials highlighted that the ongoing halt in oil exports since March 2023 has resulted in billions of dollars in lost revenue for Iraq. To expedite a resolution, the Council instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources to collaborate closely with the Federal Ministry of Oil to finalize procedures and mechanisms for the immediate resumption of oil exports.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/82 ... -in-kirkuk

[Anthea]

Farmers Must Access Ancestral Lands

Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss various topics, including the situation of Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk, who have faced aggressive military action by the Iraqi army

During the meeting, the Council of Ministers denounced recent aggression against Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk’s Sargaran town and called the acts unconstitutional and illegal. It also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting landowners’ rights.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting alongside Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, PM Barzani stressed that indigenous farmers must be allowed to cultivate their ancestral lands without interference. “We oppose all forms of oppression against farmers, who are the rightful owners of their lands,” he said.

The prime minister reiterated the KRG’s commitment to enforcing Law No. 3 of 2025, which repeals Ba’ath-era land confiscation policies and mandates the return of seized properties. He called for an end to obstacles preventing farmers from reclaiming their land.

[Anthea]

We Never Left Kirkuk
The KDP Has Always Been Here

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In an address, Fazil Mirani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Politburo’s Administrative Body, declared during the reopening of the KDP’s Kirkuk-Garmiyan organizational office that the party never abandoned Kirkuk—even during the city’s most turbulent times

His remarks underscored the party’s long-standing presence and commitment to the diverse communities of Kirkuk and to the broader Kurdish national cause.

“We did not return to Kirkuk—because we never left,” Mirani proclaimed, drawing resounding applause. “The KDP has always been in Kirkuk, and we continue to be here. We must look at ourselves through the eyes of the people, not only politically but also in terms of administration and national responsibility.”

The ceremony, held on Saturday at the newly reopened office on Arafah Street, marked the KDP’s formal return to Kirkuk after an eight-year hiatus following the October 16, 2017 events. Yet, for Mirani, the party’s essence and presence never departed—only its physical offices did.

Mirani used the occasion to reflect on the deep roots of Kurdish identity in Kirkuk. He emphasized that Kurdish nationalism, a pillar of the KDP’s vision, is not merely tied to party structures but lives on through the people’s growing awareness and sense of belonging. “Inside the Kurdistan Region, we speak of party activity,” he said, “but outside it, our discourse is national.”

He urged political actors to focus on the substance of governance, rather than superficial optics. “We must judge ourselves based on the essence of our actions, not just their surface. We must be accountable to our people—politically, administratively, and nationally.”

Highlighting the KDP’s historical and military role in defending Kirkuk, Mirani recalled how the province turned to President Masoud Barzani and the Peshmerga during the fight against ISIS. “When ISIS threatened Kirkuk, it was the people of this province who called on President Barzani to send Peshmerga forces. They defended Kirkuk all the way until the battle for Mosul,” he noted.

He took a critical tone when addressing attempts to marginalize the Kurdish presence in Kirkuk, warning that some political actors are building influence on the back of Kurdish fragility. “Those who think themselves powerful today are standing on the fragility of the Kurds. If they were truly strong, they wouldn’t need to violate the constitution or monopolize salaries and food distribution,” he said pointedly

Must be referring to the TRAITOR Bafel Talabani

Mirani also offered a message of self-reflection to the Kurdish political establishment. “We must ask ourselves why our rights are being denied. Why have we succeeded in some areas? We often focus on the outcomes but ignore the underlying causes. We must understand the roots, not just the results.”

In a stirring conclusion, he stressed the KDP’s dedication to unity, reconciliation, and internal accountability. “We believe in returning to ourselves, because unity and reconciliation are essential to rebuilding Kurdish strength and revitalizing the parliament and government of the Kurdistan Region. Only then can we bring back those who have turned away from the alliance.”

The reopening of the Kirkuk-Garmiyan Office—attended by senior party leaders and local supporters—was more than a symbolic gesture. It was a reaffirmation of the KDP’s enduring role in Kirkuk and its ongoing mission to promote national unity, constitutional rights, and inclusive governance in one of Iraq’s most contested and culturally rich regions.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... zil-mirani

[Anthea]

Kurdish Defiance Turns to
Victory in Kirkuk Land Case

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a landmark decision underscoring the complex and often fraught dynamics of land ownership in Kurdistani territories that are outside the Kurdistan Region’s administrative control, the Court of Dibis District in Kirkuk Province issued a ruling on Sunday affirming the rightful ownership of a contested plot of land by three Kurdish farmers from the village of Shenagha in the Sargaran subdistrict

The case had drawn significant local attention, stemming from a legal complaint lodged four months earlier by Arab settlers who alleged that the farmers had illegally seized the land.

The dispute, rooted in longstanding tensions over property rights and demographic engineering, saw the Kurdish farmers detained for several days by local Kirkuk authorities before being released on bail. However, following a thorough legal review and presentation of key evidence, the court concluded that the land indeed belongs to the Kurdish claimants.

Youssef Hassan Shawani, a volunteer lawyer representing the farmers, confirmed the outcome in a statement to Kurdistan24. “The court reviewed all the evidence and testimonies and ruled in favor of the Kurdish farmers,” he stated. “Witness accounts and land documents clearly demonstrated that they had legitimate ownership, while the Arab plaintiffs were found to have registered the land illegally.”

Shawani further noted that the Arab individuals who filed the lawsuit were not original inhabitants of Kirkuk, adding weight to allegations that they were part of a broader trend of post-2003 Arab settlement aimed at altering the region’s demographic composition.

The ruling has been hailed as a significant victory for Kurdish residents in the area, many of whom have faced legal and physical pressure amid ongoing disputes over land once confiscated under Saddam Hussein’s Arabization policies. Although some of that land has since been returned to its original owners, unresolved property claims continue to stoke tensions between communities.

This ruling also comes against a tense backdrop in the same village. As previously reported by Kurdistan24, tensions escalated in February when the Iraqi army attempted to forcibly prevent Kurdish farmers in Shenagha from accessing and cultivating their land.

Visual documentation captured by Kurdistan24 showed Iraqi soldiers confronting unarmed farmers, with one widely shared video showing a soldier attempting to drag a farmer off his tractor. The farmer defiantly responded, “Even if I die, I will not get down from the tractor!” — a moment that quickly became emblematic of the farmers’ resilience.

In response to the Iraqi army’s intervention, the Kurdistan Region’s leadership, including President Masoud Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, condemned the actions as unconstitutional and reminiscent of the Ba’ath-era injustices.

President Barzani, in a powerful statement, warned that such behavior evokes “painful memories of the Anfal campaign and chemical attacks.” The Kurdistan Region Presidency and the KRG Prime Minister's Office also issued statements condemning the military interference and calling for immediate accountability

Amid the military escalation back in February, Kurdish farmers in Shenagha issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Iraqi army to withdraw from the village, vowing to resume cultivation even if it meant risking their lives. Local and national leaders rallied to their defense, with Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Shakhawan Abdullah relaying President Barzani’s support directly to the affected farmers.

Mohammed Ismail, a representative of the Sargaran farmers, had earlier highlighted the difficult conditions faced by local agricultural workers. “Restrictions imposed by military forces have made farming increasingly difficult,” he told Kurdistan24. “This ruling is a step in the right direction, but the broader environment remains hostile and uncertain.”

The broader implications of the Shenagha standoff and subsequent court ruling cannot be overstated. As Kurdistan24 previously reported, the Iraqi Parliament recently passed a bill aimed at returning lands confiscated under Ba’athist policies to their rightful Kurdish owners—a significant step toward reversing decades of demographic manipulation. Yet, as recent events demonstrate, legal reforms alone are insufficient without enforcement and institutional restraint.

The court’s decision is expected to set an important legal precedent for future land disputes in Kirkuk and other disputed areas. It also underscores the critical need for continued vigilance, media scrutiny, and legal advocacy in ensuring justice for communities historically marginalized by state policies.

While the case may be closed in court, the larger question of land justice in Kirkuk remains unresolved, with many Kurdish families still seeking restitution for lands lost during decades of forced displacement and demographic manipulation. Kurdistan24 remains committed to reporting these developments and giving voice to the communities on the front lines of this enduring struggle.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... -land-case

[Anthea]

Iraqi defense ministry sues Kirkuk Kurdish

farmer over insult allegation

Iraq’s defense ministry has filed a lawsuit against a Kurdish farmer in Kirkuk, who went viral for being pulled off his tractor, for allegedly insulting the Iraqi army, his lawyer said on Monday

Farmer Mohammed Amin, who is also the head of the farmers’ defense committee in Kirkuk’s northwestern Sargaran district, was forcefully pulled from his tractor by his scarf during a confrontation with the Iraqi army in mid-February. He was detained and later released on bail.

“The Iraqi defense ministry has officially filed a complaint against Mohammed Amin, claiming that he threw stones at soldiers and insulted the army,” his lawyer, Bashdar Hassan, told Rudaw.

“What is being claimed has no factual or legal basis,” Hassan added.

In February, tensions escalated in Sargaran when Iraqi security forces barred Kurdish farmers from accessing lands previously confiscated under the Baath regime.

Footage filmed by Rudaw showed Iraqi army and anti-riot forces clashing with residents of Shanagha village as they attempted to enter their farmland. In one scene, a security officer is seen trying to forcibly remove Amin from his tractor, pulling him by the scarf.

The farmer has given his statement at the local court and police station and is now awaiting the judge's decision on whether he will be released or remain in detention, according to Hassan.

The soldier who pulled Amin by his scarf also filed a complaint against him. Hassan said that the defense ministry has submitted a separate complaint in addition to the soldier’s.

Following the incident, Amin filed a complaint against the soldier, who was detained for several days before being released.

The crackdown on farmers drew sharp reactions from officials in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, prompting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to task a special committee with probing the incident.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency at the time slammed the Iraqi forces’ crackdown on Kurdish farmers as “completely rejected and unacceptable.”

The Iraqi presidency in mid-February ratified the land restitution law aimed at returning lands confiscated under the Baath regime to their original owners.

The law pertains to 300,000 dunams of land belonging to Kurdish and Turkmen owners in Kirkuk and other disputed areas. The Sargaran sub-district includes 42 villages, five of which are at the center of the dispute.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/050520251

[Anthea]

Kurdish Parties Meeting to Address
Census Concerns in Kirkuk

At the request of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), all Kurdish political parties in Kirkuk are holding a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue of the upcoming census in the province

Iraq is expected to hold a general census on November 20 and 21. Earlier this week, the head of the KDP branch in Kirkuk announced opposition to conducting the census in the disputed province, citing demographic changes in recent years due to an influx of Arabs from central and southern provinces.

Kurdish political parties are anticipated to express their stance on the census in Kirkuk, particularly as observers stress its importance and decisiveness.

The Iraqi constitution, according to Article 140, mandates that the census be conducted following a normalisation process under the article’s implementation

Iraq last conducted a census in 1997, excluding the Kurdistan Region provinces.

The last census to include the Kurdistan Region was in 1987.

Iraq began the first phase of this census in September, surveying and counting buildings.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/866325

Would you like my opinion?

Well you will get it anyway:

Kick out all the Arabs along with their traitorous friend Bafel Talabani

Kirkuk is, and hopefully always be KURDISH

Everyone knows that the traitor Bafel Talabani gave Kurdish land to the Iraqi Arabs

Bafel Talabani does NOT even deserve to be called Kurdish

Bafel Talabani is a vile, lying, treasonous pig and the WORST Kurd who every lived

[Anthea]

One injured after a rocket hit Kirkuk Airport

On Monday, a new rocket attack struck Kirkuk International Airport, a security source told Shafaq News

The source stated that the munition was identified as a long-range 122mm Grad rocket produced in 2023.

Earlier, the airport administration stated that three unidentified projectiles that struck caused a minor injury but no disruption to flight operations.

Kirkuk Operations Command and military units responded promptly by enhancing security around the airport. Officials stated that there is no direct threat at present.

https://shafaq.com/en/Security/One-inju ... uk-Airport

Question:

Who fired rockets at Kirkuk Airport?

[Anthea]

Turkmen protests appointment of Kurdish official

The main Erbil-Kirkuk highway reopened on Thursday after supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front blocked it for over an hour in protest of recent administrative appointments in the disputed (not disputed stolen) subdistrict of Prde (Altun Kupri) in Kirkuk provinc

The protest follows Monday’s demonstration, when Turkmen Front supporters stormed the Prde municipality building in objection to the appointment of a Kurdish woman as the new municipal mayor. The demonstrators demanded that one of three key positions in the town - municipal mayor, subdistrict administrator, or police chief - be given to a Turkmen representative.

Some protesters, reportedly armed, smashed windows and broke down doors before being dispersed by security forces. Others lit fires and briefly shut down the Erbil-Kirkuk highway.

Protests resumed on Thursday, once again blocking the highway. Security forces reopened the road after about an hour. A committee was formed by the provincial council later that day to follow up on the protesters’ demands.

Prde’s administrative posts remain a point of contention. The local mayor told Rudaw that Turkmens currently hold 12 out of 17 local positions but are now seeking one of the top roles.

Kirkuk provincial council member Abdullah Mirwais told Rudaw that political factions are stoking unrest for electoral gain in the upcoming federal elections scheduled for November.

“At a time when elections are approaching, some politicians are getting involved in these affairs,” he said. “Turkmen, Kurds, and Arabs as ethnicities have no problems with each other, but [political] parties sometimes stir up these issues for their own gains.”

The Iraqi Turkmen Front has reportedly been divided over how to respond to recent appointments, amid a rift between its former leader Hassan Turan - who resigned in April - and Arshad al-Salihi, the party’s parliamentary leader and Turan’s predecessor.

The party remains a key player in Kirkuk’s politics and has repeatedly claimed that the city, disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, belongs to the Turkmen people.

In addition to supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Turkmen members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) and cadres from the Badr Organization also joined the protest, according to Rudaw’s reporter on the ground and accompanying footage.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/030720254

[Anthea]

Kurdish farmer disappears in Kirkuk

ISIS suspected

A Kurdish farmer disappeared Wednesday night in Iraq’s disputed Kirkuk province, leaving his family and authorities perplexed after his cash and phone were found untouched in his truck. The suspected abduction of the father of four underscored the critical security vacuum in the region

Forty-year-old Ari Ramazan disappeared in Prde (Altun Kupri) sub-district, 40 kilometers northwest of Kirkuk city, while returning from his orchard, according to his family who suspect the Islamic State (ISIS) is responsible.

“He is a farmer and all farmers this year are not doing well and their crops haven't made money. He was at his orchard and when he was leaving, they kidnapped him. He is married and has four children. This has become his daily route,” Shwan Baqir, a relative of Ramazan, told Rudaw on Saturday.

Ramazan’s truck was found near the village of Kalur between Prde and Kirkuk city. His phone and six million Iraqi dinars were left untouched, according to information obtained by Rudaw.

Similar disappearances have happened in the past

“This is not the first time. Some time ago another man was kidnapped here and another was killed because there is no proper and good checkpoint in the area to prevent such acts,” Ahmed Yasin, another relative of Ramazan, said at the site where his truck was found.

“The area has fallen into a security vacuum between Peshmerga and the army. Both have neglected it and the people here have been harmed,” he added.

Iraqi security forces started searching the area on Thursday

ISIS continues to pose a threat in disputed territories where there is an unclear division of responsibility between Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga. The militants periodically abduct people for ransom.

Tensions are also high in the area this week after a Kurdish woman was named mayor of Prde sub-district. Supporters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have staged protests.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/04072025

[Anthea]

Kurdish Farmer Punished for
Building on His Own Land

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A Kirkuk court has sentenced a Kurdish citizen to six months in prison in a contentious land dispute after the Iraqi army filed a complaint against him for building a house on property he asserts is his ancestral land, a case he describes as the direct implementation of "Baath-era decisions" and which highlights a persistent pattern of military pressure against Kurdish landowners in the disputed (stolen) territory

According to information from Soran Kamaran, a Kurdistan24 correspondent in Kirkuk, the case involves Ibrahim Tobzawayi, a resident of Tobzawa village. After Tobzawayi built a house on his own land, the Iraqi army came to his property, evicted him, and then filed a legal complaint. The army claims the land belongs to them and is demanding that he demolish the house and pay compensation.

Speaking directly to Kurdistan24, Ibrahim Tobzawayi detailed his legal ordeal. "A while ago, the 11th Division of the Iraqi army filed a complaint against me. I was released on bail for three million dinars," he said. "Today, the police brought me another notification...

The judge asked me why I had encroached on this land. I told him I had not encroached and that it is my grandfather's land. He said, 'No, this is Ministry of Defense land, and you have encroached on state property.' Therefore, they issued a six-month prison sentence for me, but it is not being enforced [is a suspended sentence] because I have no prior criminal record."

The suspended sentence comes with the condition that if he gets into any trouble, the court can imprison him for three years. "I call on the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to come to the aid of the people of Tobzawa," he pleaded.

The situation in Tobzawa is not isolated. The report indicates that 20 other farmers in the area are also being told they must vacate their 300 donums of land. Tobzawayi framed the actions as a continuation of historical injustices: "Only the faces have changed; otherwise, all the decisions are from the Baath era. They are implementing the Baathist decisions word for word, without any fear or hesitation."

This incident is the latest in a series of documented confrontations between the Iraqi military and Kurdish residents in Kirkuk province since federal forces were given control in Oct. 2017 by the traitor Bafel Talabani.

In June 2025, Kurdistan24 reported that the Iraqi Army had ordered a Kurdish family in Hasari village to vacate their home, to which they held the legal deed, for the construction of a military base. At the time, a resident told Kurdistan24, "Even Saddam Hussein didn’t go this far... They’re driving us out by force."

Military pressure has also been economic. In May, Kurdish farmers reported that military units were preventing them from working their land, even after the Iraqi government had included their farms in a wheat subsidy program. Farmers stated they were being blocked from harvesting their crops by military interference and threats from resettled Arab populations backed by the army.

However, Kurdish residents have also shown powerful resilience. A legal dispute in Shenagha village in May ended in a landmark victory when a court ruled in favor of three Kurdish farmers, affirming their ownership of land claimed by Arab settlers. That case followed a tense standoff in February, where an Iraqi soldier was filmed trying to drag a farmer off his tractor. The farmer’s defiant cry, “Even if I die, I will not get down from the tractor!” became a symbol of Kurdish resistance.

The February incident in Shenagha drew swift condemnation from the highest levels of the Kurdistan Region. President Masoud Barzani stated the scenes were reminiscent of "the Anfal, chemical attacks, and genocide," while Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s office called the army’s actions "unconstitutional." The military’s actions at the time also led to a temporary reporting ban on Kurdistan24, which had provided extensive coverage of the farmers' protests.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... -injustice

[Anthea]

Kirkuk Launches Citywide Green
Initiative to Combat Rising Heat

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Due to a shortage of green spaces and increasing heat in the city of Kirkuk, the mayor has issued a directive requiring every household to plant two trees in front of their homes. For residents unable to afford trees, the municipality will provide them at no cost

On Saturday, Kirkuk Mayor Ahmed Omar told Kurdistan24 that the municipality has adopted two major decisions to improve the city’s environment and climate. “One of the key decisions is that anyone building a new home must commit to planting two trees in front of their property,” he said.

The initiative also extends to older homes. Mayor Omar explained that a committee has been formed to visit existing houses to inform residents of the new requirement. “If anyone cannot afford to purchase two trees due to financial constraints, the municipality will evaluate the situation and provide the trees themselves,” he added.

Regarding suitable tree types for Kirkuk’s climate, the mayor stated that due to the city’s extreme heat, only two tree species are considered effective and appropriate: Acacia and Albizzia. “These two types are not only affordable but are also capable of withstanding high temperatures,” he noted.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to combat climate change effects and promote environmental awareness in a city that has long struggled with limited greenery and rising summer temperatures. The municipality hopes the campaign will not only cool the city but also enhance its aesthetic and ecological appeal.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... ising-heat

[Anthea]

Kirkuk landowners face arrests and
lawsuits despite land restitution law

Several months after Iraq’s parliament passed the long-awaited land restitution law, Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk say they are still facing arrests, lawsuits, and harassment from the Iraqi army, with no signs of meaningful change on the ground

Iraq’s parliament passed the land restitution bill on January 21, aiming to return properties confiscated from Kurds and Turkmen under former dictator Saddam Hussein’s Arabization program. The law applies to around 300,000 dunams of land in Kirkuk and other disputed (stolen) areas and follows a July 2023 decision by the Council of Ministers to revoke Baath-era decrees.

During an episode of Rudaw’s Legel Ranj program, a Kurdish farmer from Kirkuk said that “it is the same military rule over us… Nothing has changed.”

Another farmer, Ibrahim Topzawayi, said he has received no support from Kurdish lawmakers. “I am very dissatisfied with them.”

In late July, Topzawayi was sentenced to six months in prison after the Iraqi army accused him of building a house on land it claims belongs to the defense ministry. His sentence was suspended due to his age and clean criminal record. Topzawayi maintains the disputed land was originally owned by his family before being seized under the Baath regime’s Arabization policy.

Topzawa, his village in Kirkuk province, was one of many areas targeted for Arab settlement by decree of the Baath Supreme Revolutionary Court.

Another man from Dibis district’s Taq Taq area said, “My grandfather has been in that village since 1889… none of the [Arab settlers] were there at the time.”

Some families hold title deeds dating back centuries. “Our household has a title deed belonging to our grandfather dating back to 1815. We have hung it in our living room,” one villager said

Farmers also accused settlers of exploiting political connections to renew land contracts, effectively bypassing existing laws.

“It is ridiculous that we are implementing laws from the defunct [Baath] regime,” said Sozan Mansour, a Kurdish lawmaker from Diyala province, who was a guest on the show. She added that similar problems persist in disputed areas of Salahaddin province.

Political and administrative obstacles

“The Arab people should not have moved to own [laws from] the Baathist fascist regime. Now some of them consider themselves its inheritors,” said Abdullah Mirwais, head of Kirkuk’s agriculture committee. “Never in this country has there been a good will for coexistence.”

In mid-March, the Iraqi justice ministry announced the formation of a “specialized committee” to implement the land restitution law, suspending all land dealings in Kirkuk until the process begins. Committee member Saadiya Abbas said the guidelines would benefit farmers and could be implemented within a month of approval by the Council of Ministers and the prime minister.

However, Mirwais warned that “the problem is that laws are issued but not implemented,” citing a lack of “good intention for coexistence.”

Mansour agreed, saying that enforcement requires both domestic and international political pressure.

Sati' Nasih, representing Topzawa farmers, pointed out that residents have been waiting for Article 140 of the constitution to be implemented for 18 years, making them skeptical of Baghdad’s promises.

“Please, let the Kurdish parties in Kirkuk be united,” one farmer urged. “If we are united, no one can occupy a single piece of our land.”

Mohammed Amin, head of the farmers’ defense committee in Kirkuk’s Sargaran district, said, “Any decision will be implemented if there is a strong political will behind it.”

In March, Amin was released on bail after a soldier accused him of insulting the Iraqi army, following a viral February video showing the soldier forcefully removing him from his tractor.

Tensions have flared repeatedly in Sargaran, particularly in mid-February when Iraqi security forces blocked Kurdish farmers from accessing Baath-era seized lands now held by Arab settlers, a move seen as an attempt to alter Kirkuk’s demographics.

The land restitution law

Ratified by the presidency in mid-February, the land restitution law was championed by Kurdish and Turkmen parties who have long sought to reverse demographic changes imposed in the 1970s, when land was seized under the pretext of being in restricted oil zones and redistributed to Arab settlers.

Justice Minister Khalid Shwani announced in March that implementation would begin within two months. However, as the situation in Kirkuk shows, farmers are still waiting.

The oil-rich, multiethnic province remains a flashpoint in the disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government, with Article 140’s mandate to reverse Baathist demographic changes still unfulfilled more than two decades after Hussein’s fall.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/110820252

[Anthea]

Intensifying Arabization Campaign

Kurdish Farmers in Khurmatu Defy Arrest Warrants Amid Intensifying Arabization Campaign

Kurdish farmers in Khurmatu's Tapa Sawz village defy arrest warrants and land seizure attempts by settlers using Ba'ath-era contracts, vowing not to give up their ancestral lands amid a wider pattern of state-backed Arabization.

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdish farmers in the Khurmatu district are facing a renewed and systematic campaign of Arabization, culminating in the issuance of arrest warrants and attempts by settlers, backed by state security forces, to seize agricultural lands using defunct Ba'ath-era contracts.

In the village of Tapa Sawz, farmers have vowed to defend their ancestral properties, refusing to surrender to legal and physical intimidation in what they describe as the latest chapter of a long and painful struggle for their land and identity

The village of Tapa Sawz, home to approximately 120 Kurdish households that remained after the events of Oct. 2017, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing demographic conflict.

In the past two days, a tense standoff unfolded after Arab settlers, supported by the Iraqi army, attempted to occupy 1,800 donums of farmland belonging to local Kurdish families. The settlers presented contracts issued during the former Ba'ath regime as justification for their claim.

The Kurdish farmers collectively refused to yield and successfully prevented the occupation, thwarting the settlers' plan. However, the confrontation has now moved to the legal arena.

In the latest development, arrest warrants have been issued for four Kurdish landowners from the village, with the court demanding they surrender themselves, sign a pledge, and relinquish their lands.

One of the targeted farmers, speaking to Kurdistan24, expressed unwavering defiance. "I will not go before the court in any way, nor will I sign any pledge. We will not give up the land of our forefathers," he declared, issuing a direct appeal to Kurdish officials to intervene and resolve their problem to prevent the Arabization of their village and soil.

This follows the arrest warrants issued last month for 24 other farmers from Tapa Sawz amid similar tensions, who were later released on bails of five million Iraqi dinars each.

Ahmed Jumaa, the representative of the farmers of Tapa Sawz, provided crucial context to the dispute in an interview with Kurdistan24.

"These contracts we have are like title deeds, but they are not being honored now. The imported Arabs have occupied our lands," he explained. Jumaa recounted a painful history, stating, "We were displaced in 1987 under the pretext of being saboteurs, and our villages were destroyed."

He noted that the Arab settlers have held contracts on the 1,800 donums of land since 1990. "From 2003 until 2014, we had no problems, but since 2014, they evacuated the area because most of them were ISIS. However, after October 16th, they are increasingly going to court and filing complaints," he said.

Jumaa also alleged political motivations behind the settlers' actions, claiming a local council member supports them in exchange for votes. He asserted that the renewal of some of these old contracts was illegal, as the law requires prior cultivation and testimony from neighboring landowners, conditions that were not met.

Critically, he revealed that the farmers have received a letter from the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture stating that the area falls under Article 140 of the Constitution and no contracts should be renewed until a parliamentary decision is made, with the letter stipulating that the contracts should revert to their pre-Ba'athist status.

The events in Tapa Sawz are not an isolated incident but are reflective of a persistent and troubling pattern of pressure against Kurdish landowners in Kirkuk and other Kurdistani territories outside the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) administration.

As previously reported by Kurdistan24, a Kirkuk court in July 2025 sentenced Ibrahim Tobzawayi, a Kurdish farmer, to a six-month suspended prison term after the Iraqi army filed a complaint against him for building a house on his own ancestral land.

Tobzawayi described the ruling as the direct implementation of "Baath-era decisions," part of a wider campaign of military pressure.

The military’s actions have not been confined to legal challenges. In May 2025, Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk reported that military units were actively preventing them from working their land and harvesting crops, even after the Iraqi government had included their farms in a wheat subsidy program.

This systematic pressure has been met with powerful displays of Kurdish resilience and, at times, significant legal victories.

A landmark case in May 2025 saw a court in Kirkuk's Dibis District rule in favor of three Kurdish farmers from Shenagha village, affirming their ownership of land claimed by Arab settlers. That victory followed a tense standoff in February 2025, where an Iraqi soldier was filmed trying to drag a farmer off his tractor

The farmer’s defiant cry, “Even if I die, I will not get down from the tractor!” became a potent symbol of Kurdish resistance and was widely circulated by Kurdistan24, whose extensive coverage led to a temporary reporting ban by the Iraqi army.

The plight of the farmers has drawn strong condemnation from the highest levels of the Kurdistan Region's leadership.

In response to the events in Shenagha, President Masoud Barzani issued a powerful statement, warning that the scenes of harassment "remind us of the Anfal, chemical attacks, and genocide committed against our people."

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has also been a vocal advocate, stating in March 2025 during a visit with Peshmerga and farmers in Kirkuk that these regions are "not disputed; they are occupied and separated territories."

He reaffirmed the KRG's unwavering commitment to defending farmers' rights through constitutional means. His office, along with the Kurdistan Region Presidency, has consistently condemned the Iraqi army's actions as unconstitutional and a threat to coexistence.

This long-running struggle is rooted in the systematic Arabization policies of Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime, which forcibly displaced hundreds of thousands of Kurds and other minorities and resettled Arab tribes in their place.

Article 140 of the 2005 Iraqi Constitution was designed to reverse these demographic changes through a three-stage process of normalization, a census, and a referendum. However, its implementation has been repeatedly stalled, leaving land ownership in a state of perpetual dispute.

While the Iraqi Parliament recently passed a law aimed at annulling Ba'ath-era land confiscation decisions, the events in Tapa Sawz and elsewhere demonstrate a profound disconnect between legislation in Baghdad and the reality on the ground, where military forces and politically-backed settlers continue to enforce a bygone legal order

As the farmers of Tapa Sawz brace for their legal battle, their message remains one of steadfast resolve. "We will not give up a single inch of our lands," representative Ahmed Jumaa stressed to Kurdistan24. Their defiance encapsulates the enduring fight of an entire community to reclaim its history, protect its heritage, and secure its future on the land of its forefathers against the tide of historical injustice.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/86 ... n-campaign