Nechirvan Barzani: Kirkuk needs to apply the law and the constitution

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[size=52]Nechirvan Barzani: Kirkuk needs to apply the law and the constitution[/size]

[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, affirmed that the Kirkuk governorate needs to apply the law and the constitution and not to more illegal actions, calling on the security forces in the governorate to protect the security of all components of Kirkuk without discrimination.[/size]
[size=45]In a statement on Saturday evening (September 2, 2023), the President of the Kurdistan Region expressed his regret for the use of violence and weapons against the civilian demonstrators in Kirkuk, who demonstrated this evening to protest against the closure of the Kirkuk-Erbil road. As a result, a Kurdish citizen was killed and eight others were wounded.[/size]
[size=45]Nechirvan Barzani stressed that protecting the security and stability of Kirkuk is everyone's responsibility, and the concerned authorities in the Iraqi government must follow the necessary measures to control the situation immediately, calling on the security forces to protect all components without discrimination and to hold those who fired at the demonstrators accountable.[/size]
[size=45]The following is the text of the statement of the President of the Kurdistan Region:[/size]
[size=45]“Blocking the main Erbil-Kirkuk road for the last six days was an illegal act, and unfortunately the Kirkuk administration has not yet put an end to this illegal act! Kirkuk needs to apply the law and the constitution and does not need more illegal actions in any way.[/size]
[size=45]And after the administration of the province refrained from taking any action that would end this behavior, which negatively affected the lives and livelihood of the city's residents in general, the Kurdish citizens today expressed their protest against the blocking of the road, but it is unfortunate that the response to them was violent, as a young man was martyred and several others were injured.[/size]
[size=45]While we look with great concern at these security tensions and complexities, and follow the situation closely, we strongly condemn the shooting and the use of weapons against civilian demonstrators. As raising tensions and security chaos in Kirkuk represents a real threat to coexistence, security and stability there.[/size]
[size=45]The concerned authorities in the Iraqi federal government must take the necessary urgent measures, and the duty of the security forces is to protect the security of all components of Kirkuk without discrimination and to bring the shooters to justice.[/size]
[size=45]Protecting safety, stability and security is the responsibility of all parties, which must not allow the security situation in Kirkuk and throughout the province to become more complicated, whatever the pretext. Everyone must also exercise restraint and reopen the roads so that safety and normal life can return to the citizens of Kirkuk.”[/size]
[size=45]Nechirvan Barzani,
President of the Kurdistan Region,
September 2, 2023[/size]
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