The Eighth Anniversary of the Decision to Hold the Kurdistan Independence Referendum

ARK News.. Today, June 7, 2025, marks the eighth anniversary of the historic decision to hold the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum.

On this day eight years ago—June 7, 2017—President Masoud Barzani, then serving as President of the Kurdistan Region, convened a broad meeting in Erbil. The gathering included government officials, representatives of political parties and movements, and members of the Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission in the Kurdistan Region. The main objective of the meeting was to set a date for the long-anticipated independence referendum.

The attendees, by overwhelming majority, agreed on the following key points:

Referendum Date: September 25, 2017 was set as the official date for the independence referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as in disputed Kurdish areas outside the formal administration of the Region.

National Unity: Political parties in Kurdistan were tasked with reactivating the Kurdistan Parliament and resolving internal political disagreements to ensure national unity and a unified stance in the lead-up to the referendum.

Improving Living Standards: Emphasis was placed on raising the living standards of the people of Kurdistan and addressing ongoing economic hardships affecting citizens, public employees, and low-income households.

Establishment of a Referendum Committee: A High Referendum Committee was established under the leadership of President Masoud Barzani. Political parties were given a specific timeframe to nominate their representatives to the relevant committees overseeing both the referendum and the transitional post-referendum period, extending through December 6, 2017.

In a message to the people of Kurdistan on the occasion of the anniversary, President Masoud Barzani recalled:

“On June 7, 2017, Kurdistan’s political parties unanimously voted to hold a referendum on the Region’s independence, enabling our people to peacefully express their will to the world.”

He added: “The decision to hold the referendum was a monumental achievement for all the citizens of Kurdistan. It is a source of pride for all parties involved—and none have regretted taking this historic step.”

Following the referendum, on October 16, 2017, Iraqi forces and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) launched a large-scale, unprovoked military operation targeting disputed Kurdish territories outside the Kurdistan Regional Government's administration, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

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