Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Hassan Majid, head of the Kurdistan DemocraticParty (KDP) bloc in the Kirkuk Provincial Council, called for the fullimplementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution,
"Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution was designed to resolveissues in disputed areas through a phased process—compensation, normalization,and a census. Hundreds of displaced people have yet to receive compensation,which means parts of the process remain incomplete in Kirkuk and other areasaffected by demographic changes under the Ba'ath regime," Majid toldShafaq News Agency.
He stressed the importance of addressing the historical displacement ofKurds from Kirkuk, noting, "Over 4,500 Kurdish villages in and aroundKirkuk were destroyed, and many residents were forced to leave. These peoplemust be allowed to return and be included in the census, as they are theoriginal inhabitants of the region."
Majid stressed that the census is crucial for Iraq, providingcomprehensive data on the population, including youth, women, and children, aswell as vital indicators like poverty rates and infrastructure needs."This data is critical for planning services, and projects, andunderstanding the demographics of each region," he added.
Regarding the KDP’s participation in the Provincial Council sessions,Majid said, "Our attendance at Kirkuk council sessions depends on adecision from the Federal Supreme Court. Some argue that the local governmentformation was legal, while others claim it was not. The court’s decision willbe final in settling this matter."
Earlier this week, KDP official Mohammed Kamal urged the government todelay the census in Kirkuk until Article 140 is fully implemented. "Whilepreparations for the census are necessary, the situation in Kirkuk is unique.Many displaced residents are still in the Kurdistan Region, and thousands ofKurdish villages were destroyed by the Ba'ath regime in 1988," Kamal saidduring a press conference.
Iraq's last full census was in 1987, with a follow-up in 1997 thatexcluded the Kurdistan Region. For years, the country has relied on unofficialestimates from research institutions. In 2022, the Ministry of Planningestimated Iraq's population at over 42 million.
The census has been delayed due to concerns over its politicization,with ethnic groups in disputed areas like Kirkuk—including Kurds, Arabs, andTurkmen—voicing opposition, fearing the results could affect their politicalaspirations in a city that sits atop major oil fields.