Mosul MP: Shi'ites Strive for Power Monopoly in Iraq



ERBIL—

 Kurdistan Region is entitled to run the referendum on independence from Iraq and many Arab IDPs in Kurdistan will vote "yes" to the survey, said an MP from Mosul.

Speaking to BasNews on Tuesday, Mahasin Hamdoun said their bloc in the Iraqi House of Representatives has not issued any statements against the referendum.

"The referendum is the decision of the government and people of Kurdistan and a natural, ordinary right," she said, noting "Iraqi authorities should understand that people of Kurdistan are determined to hold the referendum and their decision should be respected."

Now that the Iraqi government has rejected the referendum, a new political agreement should be worked out by Erbil and Baghdad administrations, the MP added.

At the same time, Hamdoun believed the financial and political issues between the two sides need to be settled in peace and dialogue to avoid further tensions.

Kurdistan senior officials, who deem the principle of power-sharing has been violated by Baghdad administration, have scheduled the referendum for September 25, 2017.

"True partnership has faded away and some Shi'ite authorities strive for domination over the country as a whole," Hamdoun remarked.

She also criticized the Iraqi government's "scarce" assistance to the Sunni IDPs and in turn extended her thanks to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and people of Kurdistan for offering help to the IDPs.

"If it was not for the Kurdistan Region, the situation of the IDPs from the Sunni provinces would have become very complicated," the lawmaker from Mosul stated.

She also revealed that most of these IDPs in Kurdistan will vote "yes" to the independence referendum of Kurdistan, saying they "exercise their natural right."

Hamdoun seemed "skeptical" of the future of Mosul as a result of the presence of the Shi'ite paramilitary forces of Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces).

Sunni people demand Hashd forces withdraw from their areas, she stated "Our people are more comfortable with Kurdish Peshmerga and have no issues with these legal forces."

After the elimination of the Islamic State (IS) many security issues will surface as there are IS sleeping cells, the capacity of the Iraqi forces is not satisfactory and administrative issues will also arise, Hamdoun added.

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