Press release from the KRG Office of the Prime Minister

Today, once again, the Iraqi army prevented Kurdish farmers from accessing their lands within the vicinity of Kirkuk and particularly the villages of Shanagha and four other villages near the town of Sargaran in Kirkuk governorate. This comes at a time when there is progress in efforts to reverse former Baathist regime decisions aimed at demographic changes in the Kurdish areas outside the Kurdistan Regional Government’s administration, including seizing of property and land from the local residents. The Iraqi Council of Representatives has recently approved a law to return land and property to their rightful owners.

The actions taken by the Iraqi army are a violation of the Constitution and the principles on which the New Iraq is built. Using the army for such purposes is against the law and the Constitution. These actions must stop now before it results in tragedy.

Office of the Prime Minister
Kurdistan Regional Government
February 17, 2025