On Monday, the Iraqi army prevented Kurdish farmers from accessing their lands in the vicinity of Kirkuk, particularly in the village of Shanagha and four other villages belonging to the Sargaran district of Kirkuk Governorate.

In the area, conflicts persist between Kurdish farmers and Arab settlers who were relocated there by the former Ba’ath regime during its genocidal Anfal Campaign targeting the Kurds.

“This comes at a time when there has been progress in halting the implementation of previous regime decisions aimed at demographic changes in Kurdish areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region, as well as preventing the confiscation of land and property belonging to the rightful local inhabitants,” Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a statement.

Last month, the Iraqi Parliament approved a special draft law on the restitution of lands to their owners.

“These actions by the Iraqi army contradict the constitution and the fundamental principles upon which the new Iraq was established. The use of military forces for such purposes is against the law and the constitution, and these actions must be stopped immediately before they lead to undesirable consequences,” Prime Minister Barzani said.

In a statement on Facebook, Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives Shakhawan Abdulla said he discussed this matter with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, urging him to put an end to these restrictions.

“Thankfully, General Abdulkarim al-Sudani, the Prime Minister’s military advisor, has been assigned to resolve these issues,” Deputy Speaker Abdulla said. “Later, I also spoke with General Abdulkarim, who assured me that he would intervene immediately.”