Since the Kurdistan Region announced in June that it will be holding an independence referendum in September most of the ethnic and religious minorities in Kurdistan have expressed support for the project.
Among them Arab tribes living on the fringes of the Kurdistan Region and in areas where they share land with the Kurdish region.
Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, who announced the referendum initiative in a meeting with political parties, has since reassured non-Kurdish minority groups that a Kurdish state will be home to all as it has always been a place of religious freedom.
On Tuesday, Barzani met with Sheikh Anwar Ahmad Ajil, the chief of the al-Shammar, one of Iraq’s largest tribes.
A statement from Barzani’s office said that the Arab sheikh and his delegation lauded the Kurdish president and the Peshmerga forces for their contribution to the fight against ISIS in their areas and for the safe atmosphere created for all peoples in the Nineveh province.
In recent days many Arab tribes have asked for Peshmerga presence in their areas to guarantee safety and some have urged the Kurdish election commission to include them in the planned September referendum.
In the town of Jalawla last week, members of various communities, including Arabs and Turkmen aired support for an independent Kurdish state which they believed would give them a bright future.
Among them Arab tribes living on the fringes of the Kurdistan Region and in areas where they share land with the Kurdish region.
Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, who announced the referendum initiative in a meeting with political parties, has since reassured non-Kurdish minority groups that a Kurdish state will be home to all as it has always been a place of religious freedom.
On Tuesday, Barzani met with Sheikh Anwar Ahmad Ajil, the chief of the al-Shammar, one of Iraq’s largest tribes.
A statement from Barzani’s office said that the Arab sheikh and his delegation lauded the Kurdish president and the Peshmerga forces for their contribution to the fight against ISIS in their areas and for the safe atmosphere created for all peoples in the Nineveh province.
In recent days many Arab tribes have asked for Peshmerga presence in their areas to guarantee safety and some have urged the Kurdish election commission to include them in the planned September referendum.
In the town of Jalawla last week, members of various communities, including Arabs and Turkmen aired support for an independent Kurdish state which they believed would give them a bright future.
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