The Ongoing Arabization of Kirkuk: Who is Behind the Latest Static and
Obfuscation
Hikmat Fikrat

Kurdistan Observer
June 3, 2002

The Kurdish National Congress of North America
P.O. Box 1663,   P.O. Box 7033,
Lake Forest, CA 92630  Windsor, ONT   Tel/Fax: 949-583-1417
USA    N9A 2N9, CANADA  www.kurdishnationalcongress.org

Press Release
June 4, 2002 

Amberin Zaman, a reporter to your esteemed paper, filed a report from Iraqi
Kurdistan, (the D.T., May 24, 02 “Saddam’s Cleansing of Kurds Continues”) in which she reports on an interview with Dr. Barham Salih, the Regional Prime Minister regarding the Kurdish status of Kirkuk that has been misconstrued by some and has created some sort of a commotion among the Kurdish Community in Diaspora.

As a grass root Kurdish organization in Northern America, we feel that Dr. Salih’s historical record and views on Kirkuk should be set straight by further elucidating a particular remark.  The phrase “We cannot say it –Kirkuk- is a Kurdish City”, has  been maliciously taken out of context, misinterpreted by some, and
somehow turned into a vicious campaign on the person of the Prime Minister.

In a letter to the Editor of Kurdish Media (where most of the raucous is taking place), Ms. Zaman, herself, refutes the critic’s claims and misinterpretation by stating “During our interview, Mr. Salih did very specifically stress that Kirkuk is historically part of the Kurdish region of Iraq” 

To be sure, no one can claim that Kirkuk (like any other historically trade-route cosmopolitan city) has ever been or ever will be a 100% pure any ethnicity.  However, and historically again, Kirkuk has always had a majority Kurdish population and will always remain a part of Kurdistan despite all the futile efforts of Saddam’s regime at changing its demographics. (Which we read as the essence of Dr. Salih’s remarks in the interview).

Dr. Salih’s unwavering views on the Kurdish status of Kirkuk and the vile Arabization process that is attempting to change the Kurdish status of Kirkuk (and other border areas) through demographic manipulation is well known to the members of our organization as he has reiterated that stance in numerous speeches delivered at our Annual Conferences throughout the years.  Indeed, Dr. Salih has espoused the same views to the American Public, through his speeches and interviews, as well as to American officials whenever the occasion has risen. 

Until this recent “tempest in a tea pot”, no one has ever doubted Dr. Salih’s
dedication to the Kurdish cause, nor has ever questioned his commitment to
historical Kurdish rights in these border areas.  On the contrary, he is well known as one of the most vocal politicians working for preserving the Kurdish status of Kirkuk and against the overall Arabization process and ethnic cleansing that is being carried out by Saddam’s regime.  

If this ill-advised campaign is part of an orchestrated assault on the person of Dr. Salih, and by extension on the whole Democratic Kurdish Experiment in the Region (first, the attempt on his life on 4/2/02, and now this low-blow personal attack on his patriotic commitments and even his Kurdish identity), then it is not only misguided and misplaced, but also downright dangerous to the Kurdish cause. This is exactly what the enemies of the Kurds have long hoped for.  It only serves to confuse and obfuscate the Real Issue: the ongoing ethnic cleansing and Arabization of Kirkuk, Khanaqin, Shingar, etc.

At this critical junction in the history of the Kurdish nation, It is important that we all unite and focus on the positive gains the Kurds have achieved in Southern Kurdistan over the past decade of self rule.  Instead of bickering, Kurds should proudly point  out to the whole world the successes of the Democratic Experiment now in process in Southern Kurdistan, which, if anything, bodes very well for the future of the Kurdish nation.

Hikmat Fikrat, Ph.D.
President,
Kurdish National Congress of North America 

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