By Farman Abdulrahman
Sheikh Ahmed al-Sumaydahi represents the Arabs of Hamrin area who live in the Kurdistani areas, claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad.
He says he is confident most Arabs living in Kurdistani areas will support Kurdistan independence if they are viewed as first-class citizens, which he says is not currently the case. Arabs are subject to limitations on property ownership and travel, among other issues, he explained, demanding to be true equals in an independent Kurdistan state.
Rudaw: The Kurdistan Region is gearing up to hold its independence referendum, which will also be held in your areas. What is your position on this referendum?
Sheikh Ahmed al-Sumaydahi: Holding a referendum is a just right for all communities. Most of us who live in places called disputed areas support the position of the Kurdish leadership. Be sure we will be behind them whatever decisions they make. We have been practically living with the Kurdistan Region after the collapse of Saddam’s regime. We have been living with our Kurdish brothers in these areas for thousands of years. We are indigenous people of this area. We have been imported from nowhere, nor have we invaded anyone’s territory. I believe the Kurds and the Arabs have the same destiny in this region. We are tied to one destiny, but we want political and legal guarantees. In a Kurdistani state, we want to have the same rights as the Kurds. We support the referendum if the Kurdish leadership goes ahead with it.
You have experience living with the Kurdistan Region since 2003. What do you have to say about the experience of living with the Kurdistan Region in what are known as Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region?
We want all of us to be equal in our rights, especially in the right to ownership, selling, buying, and residence. We want to be Arab citizens of Kurdistan. We want the Arabs who become citizens in a Kurdistani state to have the same rights, the same as a Kurd who is able to buy a piece of land in Erbil. I want Erbil and Sulaimani to be my cities as they are the cities of all Kurds. We want to have
allegiance to this state, even though I am not from the same nation. I, along with thousands of people like me, am living in Kurdistani territory and we are part of this geography. We want the current barriers to be removed. We want to have the same basic rights that the Kurds have. I have obligations and hence should have rights. Unfortunately Arab citizens living in disputed areas feel like they are second-class citizens. They can’t travel freely. They can't register a vehicle in their names. They travel on the basis of some paperwork. We want these instructions to be removed so that we also feel that we have the same rights in this state.
Do you not think that these things are because we don't have a state? What about if these problems are resolved after the state of Kurdistan is built?
I believe all Arabs will support the formation of a Kurdistani state if the Kurdish leadership guarantees the rights of Arab individuals, reassuring them that they are citizens and have all the rights. I would rather stay in my homeland, which is Kurdistan that is calm and has security rather than immigrating to other countries and become a refugee. The small problems that currently exist, such as travel for Arabs living in the Kurdistan Region being allowed on the basis of some special paperwork in Kurdistan, make us feel sad. The Arabs living in the Kurdistan Region should be citizens of Kurdistan and their rights should be enshrined in the constitution, just like other minorities such as the Turkmen and Christians.
Do you think the Arabs living in Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will have any problems living in the state of Kurdistan?
To be open and honest, yes, some of them will have problems. They have strong national feelings. They might ask: how can we live in a country run by a different nation? This is especially the case now that we cannot own anything because we are Arabs. They fear they might become second-class citizens. Be certain no party will have a problem if the Kurdish leadership ensures that the Arabs of
the [Kurdistan] Region are also first-class citizens and have the same rights and duties just like the Kurds. We should work hard and remove these differences if we want to succeed. And I hope we succeed. The issue of not being able to own cars and houses and of being unable to travel to Sulaimani and Erbil without some official paperwork is sad. The Arabs argue: why should they be treated this way if they too are citizens of Kurdistan? We want to be treated like Kurdish citizens at checkpoints. We want to be treated on the basis of citizenship rather than being viewed suspiciously because we are Arabs.
In light of the events happening in Iraq currently, especially after ISIS is defeated, what do you think are the dangers facing the Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the KRG? Do you think the central government is dealing with these developments in the right way?
As an Arab citizen living in Kurdistan, the events relevant to Kurdistan are important to me. The policy of the central government with all parties is incorrect, even with the Shiites. Shiite citizens in southern Iraq do not live in peace and security. The central government’s policies and conduct in the past were a failure, and this has been practically proven to be the case. Living conditions are bad. There is corruption, insecurity, and injustice. This is Iraq. The country is in ruins. Some Iraqi politicians say that holding the referendum will ruin Iraq. The country is already in ruins. I warmly welcome the referendum if it guarantees peace and security to the Arabs, Kurds, and other minorities. Moreover, I also welcome the division of Iraq if this division brings about prosperity. What would be the use of a united country that is in ruins? What is the use of a united Iraq that is destroyed, in which people are unhappy?
Sheikh Ahmed al-Sumaydahi represents the Arabs of Hamrin area who live in the Kurdistani areas, claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad.
He says he is confident most Arabs living in Kurdistani areas will support Kurdistan independence if they are viewed as first-class citizens, which he says is not currently the case. Arabs are subject to limitations on property ownership and travel, among other issues, he explained, demanding to be true equals in an independent Kurdistan state.
Rudaw: The Kurdistan Region is gearing up to hold its independence referendum, which will also be held in your areas. What is your position on this referendum?
Sheikh Ahmed al-Sumaydahi: Holding a referendum is a just right for all communities. Most of us who live in places called disputed areas support the position of the Kurdish leadership. Be sure we will be behind them whatever decisions they make. We have been practically living with the Kurdistan Region after the collapse of Saddam’s regime. We have been living with our Kurdish brothers in these areas for thousands of years. We are indigenous people of this area. We have been imported from nowhere, nor have we invaded anyone’s territory. I believe the Kurds and the Arabs have the same destiny in this region. We are tied to one destiny, but we want political and legal guarantees. In a Kurdistani state, we want to have the same rights as the Kurds. We support the referendum if the Kurdish leadership goes ahead with it.
You have experience living with the Kurdistan Region since 2003. What do you have to say about the experience of living with the Kurdistan Region in what are known as Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region?
We want all of us to be equal in our rights, especially in the right to ownership, selling, buying, and residence. We want to be Arab citizens of Kurdistan. We want the Arabs who become citizens in a Kurdistani state to have the same rights, the same as a Kurd who is able to buy a piece of land in Erbil. I want Erbil and Sulaimani to be my cities as they are the cities of all Kurds. We want to have
We are tied to one destiny, but we want political and legal guarantees 
Do you not think that these things are because we don't have a state? What about if these problems are resolved after the state of Kurdistan is built?
I believe all Arabs will support the formation of a Kurdistani state if the Kurdish leadership guarantees the rights of Arab individuals, reassuring them that they are citizens and have all the rights. I would rather stay in my homeland, which is Kurdistan that is calm and has security rather than immigrating to other countries and become a refugee. The small problems that currently exist, such as travel for Arabs living in the Kurdistan Region being allowed on the basis of some special paperwork in Kurdistan, make us feel sad. The Arabs living in the Kurdistan Region should be citizens of Kurdistan and their rights should be enshrined in the constitution, just like other minorities such as the Turkmen and Christians.
Do you think the Arabs living in Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will have any problems living in the state of Kurdistan?
To be open and honest, yes, some of them will have problems. They have strong national feelings. They might ask: how can we live in a country run by a different nation? This is especially the case now that we cannot own anything because we are Arabs. They fear they might become second-class citizens. Be certain no party will have a problem if the Kurdish leadership ensures that the Arabs of
What is the use of a united Iraq that is destroyed?
In light of the events happening in Iraq currently, especially after ISIS is defeated, what do you think are the dangers facing the Kurdistani areas outside the administration of the KRG? Do you think the central government is dealing with these developments in the right way?
As an Arab citizen living in Kurdistan, the events relevant to Kurdistan are important to me. The policy of the central government with all parties is incorrect, even with the Shiites. Shiite citizens in southern Iraq do not live in peace and security. The central government’s policies and conduct in the past were a failure, and this has been practically proven to be the case. Living conditions are bad. There is corruption, insecurity, and injustice. This is Iraq. The country is in ruins. Some Iraqi politicians say that holding the referendum will ruin Iraq. The country is already in ruins. I warmly welcome the referendum if it guarantees peace and security to the Arabs, Kurds, and other minorities. Moreover, I also welcome the division of Iraq if this division brings about prosperity. What would be the use of a united country that is in ruins? What is the use of a united Iraq that is destroyed, in which people are unhappy?
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