KIRKUK, Iraq – Kurdish residents in Tuz Khurmatu, a district in Kirkuk, are preparing to participate in the nationwide census scheduled for November 20-21. However, concerns persist over the impact of past Arabization policies and ongoing migration, which could affect the official count of the Kurdish population.
Local citizens are urging Kurds who have relocated to Kifri, Kalar, and Chamchamal to return temporarily for the census. “Returning for the census is vital to boost our numbers,” one Kurdish resident said, stressing the importance of increasing Kurdish representation.
Another resident echoed this sentiment, highlighting the uncertainty around the census process and its potential implications. “If we have a higher Kurdish population, our influence would be stronger. The 1957 census data favors Kurds, but there’s no clarity on whether it will be used. Even officials seem unsure,” he added, noting that many of his relatives in Sulaimani and Erbil plan to return to Tuz Khurmatu for the count.
The issue has heightened political tensions, with Kurds fearing that the new census could undermine their demographic standing in disputed areas. Last week, the Iraqi Council of Ministers decided that the 2024 census would not replace the 1957 census, following Kurdish pressure to maintain historical population data.
Mala Hassan Garmiyani, a senior official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), emphasized the importance of implementing the decision properly. “We do not want this census to replace the 1957 data. The census teams must include representatives from all communities to ensure a fair process. The threats remain because the situation is far from normalized, contradicting Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution,” Garmiyani said.
The Kurdish population in Tuz Khurmatu has dwindled to 30% due to the Arabization campaign and the events of October 16, 2017. With tensions still high, it remains uncertain whether the upcoming census will respect the historical data from 1957, as stipulated by Article 140, which aims to address disputed territories.
With reporting by Aram Jamal, Zoom News reporter in Kirkuk.
