Kurdish referendum ‘unconstitutional’: Federal Court

By Ibrahim Salih

BAGHDAD

Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court on Monday ruled that a September referendum on the secession of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region was “unconstitutional”.

“The federal court has ruled that the referendum held on Sept. 25 in the [Kurdish] region was unconstitutional,” court spokesman Iyas al-Samouk said in a statement.

He said the court verdict also stated that the results of the vote were void.

Two weeks ago, the court ruled that Iraq’s constitution does not allow for the secession of any part of the country from the Iraqi state.

The federal court is responsible for settling disputes between Iraq’s central government and the country’s regions and provinces, including northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

The court’s rulings are final and cannot be contested by any higher judicial authorities.

On Sept. 25, Iraqis in areas under the control of Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) -- and in a handful of “disputed” areas -- voted on whether to declare regional independence from the Iraqi state.

The illegitimate referendum was heavily criticized at the time by most regional and international actors, with many warning that it would distract from Iraq’s ongoing fight against terrorism and further destabilize the region.

In the weeks after the poll, Iraqi government forces moved into several parts of the country “disputed” between Baghdad and the Erbil-based KRG, including the oil-rich Kirkuk province.