Iraq top court declares Kurd referendum unconstitutional

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s supreme court on Monday declared that September’s referendum on independence in the autonomous Kurdish areas in the north of the country was unconstitutional.

A statement said the court “rendered a decision declaring unconstitutional the referendum held on September 25, 2017 in Iraqi Kurdistan...and cancelling all the consequences and results that resulted”. Monday’s legal move was the latest stage in a crisis sparked by the referendum, which resulted in a resounding “yes” vote for independence in the Kurdish area.

Last month, the UN Security Council urged the Iraqi government and regional leaders in Kurdistan to set a timetable for talks to end the crisis.

The world body’s appeal came after Baghdad dismissed an offer from Iraqi Kurdish leaders to freeze the outcome of the referendum and hold talks. Rejecting the freeze offer, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi instead demanded the annulment of the independence vote.

Last week, as the deadline announced by the Supreme Court for its decision on the constitutionality of the referendum approached, the Kurdistan government said it “respected” the decisions taken by Iraq’s highest court.

It also said it respected a previous decision insisting on Iraqi unity, which could be a basis for dialogue.

Parliament in Baghdad is currently reviewing the federal budget for the coming year, including the allocation for the autonomous Kurdish region.

September’s referendum was initiated by then Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, for whom the repercussions were severe.

Barzani at the beginning of November announced he was stepping aside, having lost almost all of the territory disputed between Kurdish capital Arbil and Baghdad.

The Kurds also lost all of the oil resources in Kirkuk province that could have ensured the viability of a hypothetical Kurdish state.

The court, which voided results of a Kurdish independence referendum, reached its ruling without input from representatives of the Kurdish autonomous region, the region’s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said on Monday.

“The rights of Kurds are enshrined in the constitution, and we seek the implementation of this constitution to resolve our issues with Baghdad,” Barzani told reporters at a news conference, according to Kurdish Rudaw TV.