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Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum

25 September 2017 (2017-09-25)
Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Region to become an independent state?
Location of Kurdistan in Iraq in September 2017.   Recognized territory of the Kurdistan Region where the referendum was held   Disputed territory of the Kurdistan Region where the referendum was held; Iraq recaptured much of this territory after the referendum   Rest of Iraq
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 2,861,471 92.73% No 224,464 7.27% Valid votes 3,085,935 93.35% Invalid or blank votes 219,990 6.65% Total votes 3,305,925 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 4,581,255 72.16%
KHEC

An independence referendum for Iraqi Kurdistan was held on 25 September 2017, with preliminary results showing approximately 93.25 percent of votes cast in favour of independence. Despite reporting that the independence referendum would be non-binding, the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) characterised it as binding, although they claimed that an affirmative result would trigger the start of state building and negotiations with Iraq rather than an immediate declaration of independence of Kurdistan. The referendum's legality was rejected by the federal government of Iraq.

It was originally planned to be held in 2014 amidst controversy and dispute between the regional and federal governments. Calls for Kurdish independence had been going on for years, with an unofficial 2005 referendum resulting in 98% voting in favor of independence. These longstanding calls gained impetus following the Northern Iraq offensive by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant during the Iraqi Civil War in which Baghdad-controlled forces abandoned some areas, which were then taken by the Peshmerga and controlled de facto by the Kurds.

The referendum was announced and delayed on several occasions as Kurdish forces co-operated with the Iraqi central government for the liberation of Mosul, but by April 2017, it was being seen as happening some time in 2017. On 7 June 2017, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani held a meeting with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and other ruling parties, where the independence referendum was confirmed to be held on 25 September 2017.

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Ballot

The ballot was available in Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish and Assyrian. The Rudaw Media Network translated the ballot question to English as "Do you want the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistani areas outside the Region to become an independent state?"

Party stance

Parties represented in Kurdistan Region Parliament
Choice	Party			Seats	Leader	Political position	Ref.
Y Yes		KDP	Kurdistan Democratic Party	38	Masoud Barzani	Big tent
		PUK	Patriotic Union of Kurdistan	18	Jalal Talabani	Big tent
		KIU	Kurdistan Islamic Union	10	Salaheddine Bahaaeddin	Right-wing
		KSDP	Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party	1	Mohammed Haji Mahmoud	Centre-left
		KCP	Communist Party of Kurdistan – Iraq	1	Kamal Shakir	Far-left
		KTP	Kurdistan Toilers' Party	1	Balen Mahmoud	Left-wing
		KIM	Kurdistan Islamic Movement	1	Erfan Ali Abdulaziz	Big tent
		TDL	Turkmen Development List	2	Mohammad Sadaddin	Moderate Islamic
		CSAPC	Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council	2	Sarkis Aghajan	Minority-rights
		ETL	Erbil Turkmen List	1		Minority-rights
		KIG	Kurdistan Islamic Group	6	Ali Bapir	Big tent
		Gorran	Gorran Movement	24	Omar Said Ali	Centre-left
N No		ITF	Iraqi Turkmen Front (Would support referendum if conditions were met)	1	Erşad Salihi	Minority-rights
		ADM	Assyrian Democratic Movement (Against referendum being held in the Nineveh plain)	2	Yonadam Kanna	Minority-rights

Official reactions to the referendum

UN member states

nilateral referendum was inconsistent with the Iraqi constitution and that "the Islamic Republic of Iran's principled and clear stance is supporting Iraq's territorial integrity and coherence". The Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei then said, "Iran opposes holding talks of a referendum to partition Iraq and considers those who fuel the idea as opponents of Iraq's independence." Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Ali Khamenei on international affairs, said "President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani is a middleman for Zionists, who seeks to implement their plans for the division of Muslim states." In early October 2017, during Turkey′s president visit to Tehran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called Iraqi Kurds' ″secession vote an act of betrayal toward the entire region and a threat to its future″ and urged Iran, Turkey, and Iraq to act decisively to prevent Iraqi Kurdistan′s independence. Khamenei also accused the United States of ″seeking to create a new Israel in the region″ by supporting the independence vote in Iraq.

•  Israel: Prior to the referendum, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel "supports the legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to achieve their own state". Israel became the first state to endorse an independent Kurdistan.
•  Jordan: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the referendum was an internal Iraqi affair.
•  Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said through the Saudi Press Agency, " looks to the wisdom of President Barzani in not holding the referendum."
•  Syria: Adviser to the Council of Ministers Said Azzouz said any unilateral action is rejected and that Syria cannot accept the division of Iraq, and that independence needed legal provisions from the Iraqi constitution.
•  Turkey: In June 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey said that the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government's decision to hold an independence referendum was a "grave mistake". Also in June, president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the referendum would not serve anyone's interests, calling it a threat to the territorial integrity of Iraq, and expressed regret over it. On 14 September, the Foreign Ministry of Turkey warned Iraqi Kurdistan that it would "pay dearly" if the referendum was not abandoned. On 26 September, Erdoğan called the referendum decision "treachery" and said economic and military measures could be used against the Iraqi Kurds. Turkey halted the flights of the Turkish airline companies to northern Iraq from the evening of 29 September 2017, until further notice at the request of Baghdad, following the referendum.

Other states

•  Armenia: Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry Eduard Nalbandyan said it hopes for a peaceful settlement of the situation in connection with the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum on independence. He also states that Armenia expects the Iraqi authorities and the regional authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan to be able to avoid tension, and find avenues for resolving the matters.
•  Australia: A spokeswoman for the foreign affairs department said in a statement, "Holding a referendum at this time risks causing further instability in Iraq that would weaken both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan regional government."
•  Belgium: In an interview with NRT News after meeting Deputy Prime Minister of KRG Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium Jan Jambon said all nations have the right to self-determination. Belgian ambassador to Iraq Hendrik Van de Velde said Belgium did not have an official stance on this issue.
•  Bulgaria: Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Bulgaria had listened to President Barzani when he visited the country in May 2017, but had no official stance on this issue.
•  Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained neutral about the referendum process and did not get involved, citing the Quebec sovereignty issue. Trudeau said he is sensitive to other countries getting involved in another country's internal decisions and that he will respect the process established by the Kurds.
•  China: Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang expressed support of Iraq's territorial integrity but asked for an open dialogue in a daily news briefing.
•  France: President Emmanuel Macron said, "If this referendum is held, I hope it leads to the proper representation of Kurds in government and within the framework of the Constitution." After the referendum, Macron offered to help ease tensions between the Iraqi and Kurdistani governments, stating that "'s territorial integrity is essential".
•  Germany: Germany warned against Kurdistan making a unilateral decision in a "one-sided" referendum.
•  Greece: Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said Iraq's unity should be desired by the people themselves and that the Kurdish referendum is a right under the Iraqi constitution. During a meeting discussing the upcoming referendum, Greek Ambassador to Iraq Dionyssios Kyvetos announced that Greece was upgrading its diplomatic representation in Erbil to a consulate.
•  Ireland: Dublin South-West Teachta Dála and Sinn Féin Foreign Affairs spokesman Seán Crowe issued a statement saying "The people of Iraqi Kurdistan have the right to self-determination and the right to democratically decide their own future." He said the referendum "should lead to future discussions with Baghdad". Crowe criticized Iraq for suspending flights to and from Erbil and also criticized Iraq and its neighbors for threatening blockades against Kurdistan.
•  Italy: Rezan Qader, the Kurdistan Region's representative to Italy, said some Italian officials expressed their support for the Kurdish referendum in a meeting.
•  Netherlands: Dutch Consul General to Kurdistan Region Janet Alberda said the referendum would be more accepted, if it was coordinated with Baghdad.
•  Poland: Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Stanisław Tyszka said Poland would approve the referendum. Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said he "perfectly understand the ambitions of Kurds", but urged Kurdish officials to cooperate with others.
•  Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the issue by stating that Russia understands the sensitivity around the Kurdish cause and that their position is that the referendum should be within international law.
•  Spain: The Spanish Foreign Ministry released a statement saying "This referendum is illegal in accordance with the Iraqi constitution of 2005, which received broad support from the population. Now all the people of Iraq must join forces to defeat ISIL once and for all, to build the country for the benefit of the entire population."
•  Sweden: Both governmental parties, the Social Democratic Party and the Green Party, have expressed their support for the referendum. Opposition parties Sweden Democrats and the Left Party have also expressed their support.
•  United Kingdom: On behalf of the British government, British consul to Kurdistan Region Frank Baker said the United Kingdom recognises "the inalienable right of everybody around the world to be free and to decide on their own governments", but that it is not the right time for this. He said a referendum should be held with Iraqi consent. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson echoed the position, stating that "a referendum at this time will distract from the more urgent priorities of defeating Daesh, stabilising liberated areas and addressing the long-term political issues that led to Daesh's rise".
•  United States: US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said: "We support a unified, stable and a federal Iraq. We appreciate and understand the legitimate aspirations of the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan." Nauert warned that the referendum could distract from the final defeat of ISIL. She said: "We have expressed our concerns to the authorities in the Kurdistan Region, but holding a referendum or even a non-binding resolution at this time would distract from urgent priorities and that be the defeat of ISIS, the stabilization, the return of displaced people, managing of the region's economic crisis, and resolving the region's internal political disputes." Negative reaction from the U.S. State Department is likely due to the United States' military alliance with Turkey. On September 27, Democratic United States Senator for New York and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer became the first senator to call for US support for Kurdish independence following the results of the referendum, releasing a resolution calling for the US government to change its policy to "support a political process that addresses the aspirations of the Kurds for an independent state", reasoning that the KRG had been "our most supportive partners on the ground in the fight against terrorism", and said that "neighboring countries ... led by despots, who oppose a Kurdish state because it threaten's their self-interests, need to respect the need for the Kurds – and the Iraqis – to determine their own future". He called upon Iraq to "engage in a dialogue and peacefully determine the best way to accommodate the well-deserved and legitimate aspirations of the Iraqi Kurds". On September 30, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated, "The United States does not recognize the ... unilateral referendum. ... The vote and the results lack legitimacy, and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq."

Other political entities

•  Catalonia: Artur Mas, leader of the Catalan European Democratic Party and former president of Catalonia, said that he supported Kurdistan's bid for independence and applauded Kurdistan's leadership for "defending democracy". A Catalan independence referendum happened on 1 October 2017, just 6 days after the Kurdish referendum.
•  Kosovo: Visar Ymeri, the leader of the largest opposition party Vetëvendosje, said: "Nobody has the right to deny the Kurdish people their will of being free and living in freedom and peace in solidarity with the other peoples of the world."
•  Khalistan: Sikhs For Justice a party fighting for the independent Punjab was made the international observer of the Kurdish referendum.
•  Québec: Stéphane Bergeron, a member from the provincial opposition Parti Québécois, has expressed support for Kurdish people to express their right to self-determination.
•  Republic of Artsakh: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh said it welcomes the results of the independence referendum.

Regional actors

• Assyrian Democratic Movement: ADM has rejected the Kurdish referendum in the disputed area of the Nineveh Plain and instead calls for an Assyrian self-governed province part of Iraq.
• Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party: Romeo Hakkari, leader of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party, has come in support for a Kurdish independent state while also maintaining a strong stance for a Christian-governed province in the districts of Tel Keppe, Al-Hamdaniya and Al-Shekhan in the Nineveh Plain. He insists that there should be a separate referendum or option to elect for a Nineveh Plains province in the disputed area.
• Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council: Loay Mikhael, a representative from the CSAPC, said the council was supportive of the referendum as the Kurds have a right to self-determination. The council also calls for an Assyrian governed province in the Nineveh Plain to geographically join the KRG.
• Iraqi Communist Party expressed support for the referendum and said it is "a fundamental right of the Kurdistan Region" to hold a referendum and hopes for Iraqi support.
• The Chieftain of the Arab tribe Jubur in Kirkuk has expressed support for the referendum and urged members of the tribe to vote yes.
• Iraqi Turkmen Front said, "The referendum decision is clearly against the constitution. In addition, the participation of non-Kurdish regions in the referendum is unilateral and the Arabs', Turkmens' decisions are against the wishes of the Kurds." The Iraqi Turkmen Front said it would not recognize the referendum. Iraqi Turkmen leader Arshad al-Salihi said: "Holding this referendum at such a sensitive time is dangerous, the ITF is deeply concerned about this. The Kurds could end up forfeiting the significant political and military gains they have achieved in recent years. Kurdish political parties don't even seem to agree on the issue, while Kurdistan Islamic Group, along with the Movement for Change oppose the referendum altogether."
• Kurdistan Workers' Party: Cemîl Bayik: "Referendum is a democratic right, no one should stand against it."
• President of the Iraqi National Accord Ayad Allawi warned Kurdistan Region "not to ponder separation".
• Palestine Liberation Organization Secretary General Saeb Erekat is opposed to Kurdish self-determination: "Kurdish independence would be a poisoned sword against the Arabs." Taysir Khalid, member of DFLP and Executive Committee of the PLO, stated that the comparison between Kurdistan and Israel is "unjust", in reference to Nouri al-Maliki who said that Kurdistan will be a "second Israel" in northern Iraq.
• The left-wing Peoples' Democratic Party in Turkey supported the referendum.

Results

Totals

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Referendum results

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	2,861,471	92.73
No	224,464	7.27
Valid votes	3,085,935	93.35
Invalid or blank votes	219,990	6.65
Total votes	3,305,925	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	4,581,255	72.16
Source: KHEC

Aftermath

Immediate reaction from Kurdistan and Iraq

Following the referendum, wild celebrations erupted in Iranian Kurdistan and two days of pro-independence demonstrations, which included the singing of the anthem of the Republic of Mahabad, occurred in the Kurdish cities of Baneh, Sanandaj and Mahabad, leading to mass arrests.

The Kurdistan Regional Government started making plans for state building and future negotiations with Iraq before a declaration of independence for the Republic of Kurdistan would be issued. Barzani created a new "political leadership" body to prepare for independence; however, three Kurdish parties, including the PUK, have refused to join it.

The Iraqi government threatened to send troops to Kirkuk, a city with rich oil deposits. Troops also blocked routes between Mosul and Dahuk on the day prior to the referendum.

Four days after the referendum, the Iraqi government stopped most international flights into the two international airports of Irbil and Sulaimaniya. Humanitarian, military and diplomatic flights were not included in the ban. This action followed Iraq's demand that the Kurdistan Regional Government hand over control of the airports.

Five days after the referendum, the Iraqi and Iranian governments announced that the Iraqi and Iranian armies would hold joint border drills at crossings on Iran's border with the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region. Iranian tanks were deployed near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan, but the move has been seen as mere posturing. Iran also closed its common border with Iraqi Kurdistan.

Kurdish businesses across Iraq suffered retaliatory attacks.

Iraqi–Kurdish conflict and Barzani steps down

On 15 October 2017, Iraqi forces launched an operation to take Kirkuk. While Iraqi state media reported that Iraqi units had initially encountered no opposition in taking areas near Kirkuk, the fall of Kirkuk gave impetus to capitulation across northern Iraq, with Baghdad-backed forces facing no resistance.

On 25 October 2017, in the light of avoiding the escalation of conflict with the Iraqi central government, Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region has offered to "freeze" the result of September's referendum on independence and begin dialogue with Baghdad. A statement also proposed a ceasefire "in order to prevent further violence and clashes" triggered by the launch of an Iraqi military operation.

On 29 October 2017, Masoud Barzani announced his intentions to step down as President of Iraqi Kurdistan, effective 1 November, after being in power for 12 years. His gamble of pushing through with the unofficial referendum ended with the disputed territories being recaptured by Iraq and with the Kurdish statebuilding project being left abandoned. Pro-Barzani protesters broke into the building across Iraqi Kurdistan and attacked lawmakers and journalists.

See also

• Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum, 2005 (non-binding)
• Kirkuk status referendum
• Kurdish nationalism
• Catalan independence referendum, 2017

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Further reading

• Zucchino, David (September 24, 2017). "Iraqi Kurds Will Vote on Independence, Recalling Tortured Past". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.

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• Kurdistan independence movement
• Referendums in Iraqi Kurdistan
• September 2017 events in Iraq