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2016 Kirkuk expulsions

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Kirkuk expulsions
Part of the War against the Islamic State
LocationKirkuk Governorate, Iraq
DateMarch–November, 2016
TargetMainly Iraqi Arabs but also Iraqi Turkmens
Attack type
Ethnic cleansing, Anti-Iraqi sentiment, Forced displacement, Home demolition
Victims
  • 12,000+ families forcibly expelled [1] (allegedly)
  • additional 190 families displaced by Peshmerga and Asayish forces[2]
  • Hundreds of homes demolished[3][4]
Perpetrator

In 2016, Arab residents were expelled from Kirkuk Governorate in northern Iraq, primarily following military operations by Kurdish forces. The expulsions, which involved the destruction of homes and the forcible removal of Arab and Turkmen families, became a point of international controversy, with accusations of ethnic cleansing.

Background

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In 2016, following the ISIS offensive and the eventual Kurdish capture of Kirkuk, the region became increasingly ethnically and politically charged. Kurdish forces began expelling Arab and Turkmen residents from the area, particularly those who were suspected of sympathizing with ISIS, or were caught in the power struggle between Kurdish and Arab factions.

Expulsions

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Throughout 2016, there were reports of Kurdish forces demolishing Arab homes,[12][13][14] forcibly removing residents, and displacing entire families. These actions were particularly prominent after the military push to retake Kirkuk from ISIS and consolidate Kurdish control over the region. One example was the village of Qutan, where over 375 Arab families were reportedly displaced.[15]

The United Nations raised concerns over these actions, stating that they amounted to collective punishment and were in violation of international human rights law.[16]

Kurdish denial

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The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) denied the accusations,[17] claiming that the removal of Arab families was due to security concerns related to ISIS and that the actions were not ethnically motivated. The KRG asserted that their primary objective was the safety and security of Kirkuk residents.[18]

International reactions

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International organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, condemned the actions of Kurdish forces, calling them violations of human rights and international law. These organizations documented the destruction of Arab homes and the displacement of families, labeling the actions as consistent with ethnic cleansing.[19][20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "KRG: Kurdish Forces Ejecting Arabs from Kirkuk". Human Rights Watch. 3 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Hundreds forced out of Iraq's Kirkuk after attack: Amnesty". Radio France Internationale. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  3. ^ WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO? (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. April 2017. p. 5.
  4. ^ "Kurdish authorities accused of evicting Arabs in Iraq's Kirkuk". The New Arab. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  5. ^ "KRG: Kurdish Forces Ejecting Arabs in Kirkuk". Human Rights Watch. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Kurdish Peshmerga accused of war crimes: Amnesty International". Tamil Guardian. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  7. ^ "Kurds deny forcing Arabs from Iraq's Kirkuk". Al Jazeera. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Kurdish authorities accused of evicting Arabs in Iraq's Kirkuk". The New Arab. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  9. ^ WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO? (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. April 2017. p. 5.
  10. ^ "Kurdish Peshmerga accused of war crimes: Amnesty International". Tamil Guardian.
  11. ^ "Kurdish Peshmerga accused of war crimes: Amnesty International". Tamil Guardian.
  12. ^ "Kirkuk: Kurdish authorities demolish Arab refugee homes". Middle East Monitor. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  13. ^ WHERE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GO? (PDF) (Report). Amnesty International. April 2017. p. 5.
  14. ^ "Kurdish authorities accused of evicting Arabs in Iraq's Kirkuk". The New Arab. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  15. ^ Human Rights Watch (2016-11-16). "Iraq: 'Where are we supposed to go?' Destruction and forced displacement in Kirkuk".
  16. ^ "U.N. concerned about 'collective punishment' of Arabs in Kirkuk". 2016-10-11.
  17. ^ "Concerns of collective punishment as Sunni Arabs flee Iraqi city of Kirkuk". Iraq Oil Report. October 26, 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  18. ^ Al Jazeera (2016-11-07). "Kurds deny forcing Arabs from Iraq's Kirkuk".
  19. ^ Amnesty International (2016-11-01). "Iraq: Kurdish authorities bulldoze homes and banish hundreds of Arabs from Kirkuk".
  20. ^ Human Rights Watch (2016-11-16). "Iraq: 'Where are we supposed to go?' Destruction and forced displacement in Kirkuk".
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