"Kurdish phrases are used in the majority of letters issued from the company, something against Law No. 64 of the year 1968 about the Protection of Arabic Language Safety," read a letter sent from Hamdan Ojail Rashid, the General Inspector from the Iraqi Oil Ministry to North Gas Company.
The letter has also said that the NGC "must be committed" to the law and that only the Arabic language permitted.
"Any contradiction to this decree, the violator... will be punished," the letter reads.
The NGC is state owned and operates in Kirkuk’s fields.
A Kurdish who was elected into the next Iraqi parliament from the PUK branded the decree "illegal.”
"This letter is illegal and unconstitutional," Rebwar Taha said. "According to the constitution, Kurdish and Arabic are the official languages in the country.”
He added along with the Arabic language, Kurdish could be practiced across government institutions and that "letters could be written in both languages."
He lashed out at the oil ministry, saying they would take "legal measures against the oil ministry inspector’s actions."
"We will have a serious say on this matter and this is not a way to protect the Arabic language,” added Taha.
Iraq held a parliamentary election on May 12. Oil-rich and diverse Kirkuk came under the control of federal forces in October 2017. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan still won half the contested seats in the province.
Oil sharing and the disputed areas are likely to be a bargaining chip for coalition building in the next government, which had its term extended at the end of June.
