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The National Flag of Kurdistan hoisted over Iraqi
Kurdistan's regional parliament
5.6.2007
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June
5, 2007
Erbil, Kurdistan region (Iraq), -- In a
surprise move has that has stunned political
observers, the Kurdish flag was on Tuesday raised
over the Kurdistan regional parliament in place of
the Iraqi flag.
At a ceremony attended by parliament speaker Adnan
al -Mufti, party and local officials, al-Mufti's
deputy and co-ruling Kurdish Democratic Union party
(KDP) member Kamal Kirkuki raised the distinctive
red, yellow, green and white Kurdish flag by
pressing an electronic button: an unprecedented
event in the history of the Kurdish people.
The 80-square metre flag could be seen fluttering
over the six-floor regional parliament building from
a distance of eight kilometres. Previously, the
Iraqi flag - red, white and black horizontal
stripes, with three green stars and the words Alluh
Akbar (God is Great) could be seen in its place.
Last September, regional
president Massoud Barzani,
issued a decree banning the Iraqi flag
- introduced in 1968 after the Baath party coup -
from offices and schools.
The decree says only the Kurdish flag can hang from
government buildings and checkpoints, but it allows
for the Iraqi flag at "official functions", but
without the religious phrase.
Generally welcomed by Kurds in the area, who view
the Iraqi flag as a symbol of the oppressive former
Baathist regime,
Barzani's decree riled members
of tribes belonging to Iraqi's Arab ethnic
majority in Kurdistan and areas bordering the
region. Many consider Barzani's decree as the start
of a bid for de facto independence by the Kurdistan
region. |
The National Flag of Kurdistan being raised
 .
Erbil. The National Flag of Kurdistan hoisted over
Iraqi Kurdistan's regional parliament |
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The authorities in Kurdistan have always rejected
the Iraqi flag, preferring instead to fly the flag
introduced in 1958 after Iraq - previously a
monarchy - became a republic.
The regional parliament in May 2006 approved a
single administration, uniting two rival parties ,
Barzani's KDP and the rival Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) to run a unified government.
The KDP and the PUK have divided up most of the
cabinet posts between them, with five of the 32
going to other parties.
The PUK had run Sulaimaniyah province, one of the
three provinces in the oil-rich region, while the
KDP had run the other two provinces of Erbil and
Duhok.
adnki com
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