ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – At the height of the October events last year, Iran called on the Change Movement (Gorran) to create a breakaway sub-region within Iraqi Kurdistan, but was turned down, according to a Gorran candidate running in the KRG election.
Taking part in Rudaw’s 10 Questions programme on Wednesday, Gorran candidate Karwan Hashim claimed his party rejected a request by Iran last October to partition the Kurdistan Region into two separate regions, even though this would have allowed Gorran to dominate such a sub-region.
“If we had accepted the call, the Kurdistan Region would already be two different regions and we would rule one part,” Hashim claimed.
“It was us who saved the united Kurdistan Region,” he added.
This is the first time since the events of October 16 that Gorran has mentioned such a request from Iran.
“We did not want to reveal it due to national security concerns,” Hashim said. “We protected the territorial integrity of the Kurdistan Region.”
He did not offer any further details on the Iranian request.
Taking part in Rudaw’s 10 Questions programme on Wednesday, Gorran candidate Karwan Hashim claimed his party rejected a request by Iran last October to partition the Kurdistan Region into two separate regions, even though this would have allowed Gorran to dominate such a sub-region.
“If we had accepted the call, the Kurdistan Region would already be two different regions and we would rule one part,” Hashim claimed.
“It was us who saved the united Kurdistan Region,” he added.
This is the first time since the events of October 16 that Gorran has mentioned such a request from Iran.
“We did not want to reveal it due to national security concerns,” Hashim said. “We protected the territorial integrity of the Kurdistan Region.”
He did not offer any further details on the Iranian request.
Karwan Hashim appears on Rudaw's 10 Questions program to talk about the Change Movement's campaign. Photo: Rudaw TV
Instead, Hashim lashed out at the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), accusing the party of “the biggest treason against this nation” for its role in the events of October 16.
On October 16, 2017 Kurdish Peshmerga forces pulled out of Kirkuk in the face of a major attack by Baghdad and the Shiite paramilitias of Hashd al-Shaabi.
The PUK has repeatedly dismissed accusations it colluded with Baghdad to hand over Kirkuk.
Gorran, however, in the beginning chose to not point the finger of blame at the PUK.
“I think the people of Kurdistan have not forgotten October 16,” Hashim said.
Iran openly backed the Shiite paramilitias that took over Kirkuk and the disputed territories. The assault came in the wake of the September Kurdistan independence referendum, which Iran fiercely opposed.
Unlike Iraq’s May 12 election, Gorran is confident it will not lose ground to its rivals in the Kurdistan Region’s September 30 election and will not allow the PUK to beat them into third place, the candidate said.
Gorran was founded in 2009 by its late leader Nawshirwan Mustafa. It quickly became the second biggest party in the parliament, challenging the preeminence of the PUK in Sulaimani province.
Gorran currently holds 24 seats in the parliament ahead of the PUK’s 18. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is the largest bloc in the parliament with 38 seats.
However, in Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary election, the PUK restored its strength, winning first place in Sulaimani – securing eight seats against Gorran’s four.
The party disputed the results, alleging fraud.
Hashim said his party is confident it will increase its share of the vote in the September 30 election.
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