ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s top leaders on Wednesday called on the Region’s political parties to unite in the face of external adversity during their messages commemorating the Kurdish New Year, with parliamentary elections jeopardized once again.
Kurds celebrate Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, on March 21-23, with the occasion symbolizing a day of resistance and freedom from tyranny. The celebrations typically involve picnicking in the countryside and lighting bonfires.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated the nation on the occasion of Newroz, calling on political fronts in the Region to unite to address their differences.
“On the occasion of Newroz, the national holiday and the Kurdish New Year … I urge the political factions in Kurdistan to come together with a sense of national duty and empathy to address their disagreements. By doing so, we can confront the various threats and obstacles collectively, safeguarding our federal system, political standing, as well as our constitutional rights and accomplishments,” President Barzani said in a statement.
He also extended his congratulations to the families of Peshmerga fighters who fell defending the Kurdish cause and to Kurdish communities around the world, and reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s role as a “catalyst for peace and stability in the region.”
“It is crucial to recognize that we are all in this together, and had we stood united, the current situation could have been averted,” President Barzani lamented.
The Kurdistan Region is celebrating Newroz this year amid a deepening political crisis that has jeopardized the Region’s parliamentary elections scheduled for June 10.
On Monday, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the main party in the Kurdistan Region, announced that it would not take part in the parliamentary elections on June 10, labeling the elections “illegal” and “unconstitutional” after a landmark Iraqi Federal Supreme Court ruling stripped the legislature’s minority quota seats.
The KDP also threatened that it would not be able to continue in the political process in Baghdad if the State Administration Coalition – which formed the Iraqi government in October 2022 – does not uphold its “national responsibilities” to implement the Iraqi constitution and meet the political and administrative agreements of forming the current Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
“The annals of history have unequivocally demonstrated that Iraq cannot attain contentment and stability if the Kurds and Kurdistan are deprived of their rights and unjustly treated. It is imperative that we glean valuable lessons from our past missteps in Iraq,” President Barzani stressed.
“Any negligence in upholding the Constitution, federalism, and political accords, coupled with unwarranted meddling and endeavors to diminish the standing of the Kurdistan Region while infringing upon its constitutional rights, will only serve to diminish Iraq rather than yield any benefits,” he added.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also commemorated the holiday, extending his congratulations to the families of the people of the Kurdistan Region.
“For the people of Kurdistan, Newroz represents an eternal symbol of victory and freedom, standing against oppressors and tyrants, and heralding the arrival of a new life and era,” Prime Minister Barzani said in a statement.
“On this occasion, I cannot help but salute with all my appreciation and respect our steadfast people who have unfortunately become victims of a political game played by people and parties whose only interest is trading in their constitutional rights and financial entitlements to achieve their personal gains,” he said, affirming that “the will of our people” will emerge victorious.
Masoud Barzani, leader of the KDP and former Kurdistan Region president, also extended his regards on the occasion.
Happy Kurdish New Year, 2724 to all Kurds in Kurdistan and those who live abroad, and to all other nations who celebrate Newroz. May the New Year bring more peace and prosperity to all.
— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) March 20, 2024
Barzani later met with US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski, who expressed Washington’s concern about the KDP withdrawing from the parliamentary elections and called on the party “to exercise its role and work with other parties together to address problems.”
He explained the KDP’s stance, saying the party “has always been in favor of holding elections, and is not afraid of the electoral process but rather has reservations about the method of holding elections and the risk of destabilizing the foundations of coexistence and eliminating the participation of components in political life.”
The KDP leader stressed that his party did not boycott the elections but rather supports holding “fair, free, transparent, and reliable” elections without external interference and “prior agendas.”
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani in a statement expressed hope that this year’s Newroz will deepen unity and coexistence in the Kurdistan Region.”
“We emphasize the unity and solidarity among all political forces and parties so that we can all serve our people together and make our Kurdistan more prosperous and stable,” Talabani said.
Celebrations and festivities are held across the Kurdistan Region with hundreds of thousands of Kurds wearing their colorful traditional Kurdish clothes.
In Akre, known as the capital of Newroz, it has become a tradition for visitors to climb up the town’s hill with torches after dusk, creating a festive spirit with fireworks displays in the diverse town where Muslims, Christians, and other ethnicities and religious groups have coexisted for centuries.