Iraqi minister reassures Failis of protection in case of Kurdish independence

BAGHDAD, Iraq — All people of Iraq including Faili Kurds will be protected, according to an Iraqi minister. His remarks come after many Failis have expressed concern for their futures in Iraq if they support the Kurdistan Region’s bid for independence.

“The interior ministry stands by all the people of Iraq and will be protecting people regardless of nationality or religion, delivering services to them without any discrimination,” the Iraqi Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji stated.

Araji  met with representatives of the Faili Kurds on Sunday.

The Iraqi interior minister reassured the Faili Kurds that they will “be defending and protecting them just like other Iraqi components,” according to the statement.

Faili Kurds are Shiites have mainly lived in Baghdad and in areas on the southern edge of the Kurdistan Region. There is also a large population in Iran.

The minister has said that they have respect and recognition for the sacrifices made by the Faili Kurds, asserting that they reject humiliation against any Iraqi groups.

In the early years of 1980, a massive campaign to capture Faili youth took place and many families, numbering 600,000, were forcedly deported to Iran. They were not allowed to take their identification papers with them on the pretext of originally being foreigners in Iraq.

 Additionally, thousands were killed. In total, as many as 1.4 million Failis were stripped of their citizenship and deported to Iran between the 1960s and 1980s. After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime, fewer than 15,000 have returned. Today many Faili Kurds still do not have citizenship documents.

Faili Kurds have reported increased threats in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces after they expressed support for the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum on September 25.

Many still remain exiled in Iran, unable to return to their homelands despite claims to their citizenship and properties.