A woman casts her vote at a polling station during Kurds independence referendum in Kirkuk, Iraq September 25, 2017- REUTERS
CAIRO – 25 September 2017: Egypt Today summarizes the must-know developments of the Kurdistan independence referendum so far.
Six hours of voting in northern Iraq on Monday in the independence referendum organized by Kurdish authorities have passed, despite pressure from Baghdad, threats from Turkey and Iran, and international warnings from the U.S. administration, Egypt and other countries.
Baghdad, Ankara and Tehran have taken escalating measures against Erbil in retaliation for the referendum.
Polls are open in three northern provinces that make up the region, as well as in disputed areas claimed by the Kurds and the government in Baghdad since 8 a.m. Iraqi local time.
Baghdad escalating measures
Iraqi Parliament decides to close crossing borders with Kurdistan, according to al-Arabiya correspondent who added that more Iraqi escalating decisions will be taken Monday evening at the Iraqi cabinet meeting in Baghdad.
Iraqi Parliament is voting to dismiss civil servants and officials who have taken part in Monday’s referendum in Kurdistan. Iraqi Parliamentarian Mowaffak al-Rubaie suggests “sorting” Kurdish parliamentarians, according to Al-Sumaria TV.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki calls on the Iraqi government for a comprehensive boycott on Kurdistan’s referendum supporters.
Iraqi soldiers will take part in Turkish military maneuvers over the Iraqi Kurdistan border; the Turkish media quoted Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Monday.
Turkish escalating measures
Turkey currently allows a one-way crossing from Turkey to Iraq, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a press conference, escalating stance as Iraqi Kurds vote in independence referendum.
“Barzani sold northern Iraq to Israel,” Turkish newspaper Yenisafak described the Kurds’ independence referendum taking place on Monday.
Erdogan stressed that “Turkey will close its border with Kurdistan and stop oil deals;” adding that “Israel should stop supporting Kurdistan’s referendum.”
“Separatist steps are unacceptable at this time,” Erdogan remarked on the Iraqi Kurdish referendum on Monday.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Monday that Turkey will establish closer relations with the Iraqi Central government following Kurdistan’s independence referendum, Reuters reported.
In his statements, which aired on the Turkish media and his official Twitter account, Yildrim added that Turkey “would respond if its interests were threatened.”
Previously, the Turkish Prime Minister gave a statement during a press conference saying that his country “discusses imposition of economic, political and military sanctions in retaliation for Kurdistan’s referendum.”
Earlier on Monday, Turkish Customs Minister Bulent Tufenkci denied blocking Habur border gate with northern Iraq, says it “remains open.”
Iran’s escalating measures
Iran has closed its border with the Kurdish region of Iraq following a request from Baghdad, a statement from its Foreign Ministry has said on Monday.
Turkish President Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by phone on Sunday regarding an Iraqi-Kurdish independence referendum and voiced concern that it will cause regional chaos, Erdogan's office said on Sunday.
"The two leaders noted that not cancelling the referendum will bring with it chaos in the region and they stressed the great importance which they attach to Iraq's territorial integrity," the statement said according to Reuters.
Earlier on Sunday, Iran halted flights to and from Kurdish regions in northern Iraq in retaliation to Monday’s independence referendum. It also started war-games on the Kurdish border.
Iranian authorities stopped air traffic to the international airports of Erbil and Sulaimaniya, in Iraqi Kurdistan, upon a request from Baghdad, Fars News Agency said on Sunday.
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