ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Security Forces have surrounded a Kurdish neighborhood in Kirkuk province, allegedly looking for illegal weapons and criminals.
“These forces have not allowed anyone to go to work, including one of my bodyguards who were wearing police uniforms. They did not let him out,” said Azad Jabbari, the head of security committee at Kirkuk provincial council, early Sunday.
Shorja is neighborhood where many Kurds live. They stood against Iraqi forces when they controlled the neighborhood during the October 2017 events.
He said that he did not know the actual reason behind the raids, but “they say that they are after unlicensed weapons and wanted people.”
The city has suffered from unrest since Peshmerga forces were driven out and the city fell to Iraqi forces. There have been arrests, abductions, and killings of Kurds and Turkmen in the province.
The province’s security is under the control of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism units (ICTS) but Iraqi Federal Police are also present.
Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries are also present in the oil-rich province. They have worked closely with the Federal Police.
“These forces have not allowed anyone to go to work, including one of my bodyguards who were wearing police uniforms. They did not let him out,” said Azad Jabbari, the head of security committee at Kirkuk provincial council, early Sunday.
Shorja is neighborhood where many Kurds live. They stood against Iraqi forces when they controlled the neighborhood during the October 2017 events.
He said that he did not know the actual reason behind the raids, but “they say that they are after unlicensed weapons and wanted people.”
The city has suffered from unrest since Peshmerga forces were driven out and the city fell to Iraqi forces. There have been arrests, abductions, and killings of Kurds and Turkmen in the province.
The province’s security is under the control of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism units (ICTS) but Iraqi Federal Police are also present.
Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries are also present in the oil-rich province. They have worked closely with the Federal Police.
Constitutionally disputed Kirkuk is claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi instructed parliament to remove Kurdish Governor Najmaldin Karim following events of October. He was replaced by an Arab Rakan al-Jabouri. Only the provincial council has the enshrined power to select Kirkuk’s governor because of its special status.
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