Iraq’s federal court suspends gov’t decision on Kirkuk army building after protests

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) – Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court on Sunday suspended a government decision to hand over the Kirkuk Operations Command headquarters to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

In a statement, the court said the suspension will remain effective until a decision is taken regarding lawsuits demanding the abolition of a decision by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to hand over the army building to the KDP.

Protests broke out in Kirkuk last week following a decision by the Iraqi government to transfer the building to the KDP, which argues that the headquarters was previously used by them and should be given back to the party.

On Saturday, KDP supporters demonstrated in Kirkuk to demand the reopening a highway linking the city to Erbil. The highway was closed by Iraqi Turkmens who oppose the handover of the building to the KDP.

Protesters blocked several roads by burning tires, forcing the local authorities to declare a curfew in the city.

At least four people were killed in the violence.

Peshmerga forces of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) were deployed to bases evacuated by the Iraqi army in Kirkuk following the emergence of the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group in 2014.

In 2017, Iraqi government forces entered Kirkuk, ending the Peshmerga presence in the city.