Iraqi Army actions in Kirkuk "unacceptable," says Kurdistan PM

Shafaq News/ On Monday, Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani warned of "grave consequences" after the Iraqi army prevented Kurdish farmers from reclaiming their lands in Kirkuk, calling for immediate intervention to halt their “illegal practices.”

In a statement, Barzani linked the move to past policies, emphasizing that Iraq is currently working to reverse those measures. “This comes at a time when efforts are progressing to undo the legacy of the former regime’s policies aimed at demographic change in Kurdistan areas outside the Region’s administration.”

The Kurdish Prime Minister condemned the army's actions, asserting that such practices “contradict the constitution and the principles on which the new Iraq was built. Using the military for such purposes is a blatant violation of the law and the constitution and requires immediate intervention to put an end to these unlawful practices before they lead to dire consequences."

Last January, the Iraqi Parliament approved the Property Restitution Law that grants returning lands to their owners in Kirkuk.