the security, economic and social instability in Nineveh Plain. To date, no real and
effective measures have been taken to resolve the issue of disputed territories
between the central government of Iraq and the KRG, in accordance with Article (140)
of the Constitution, which negatively affected the enjoyment of citizens of minorities
in those areas of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. The conflict
between the central government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG) has overshadowed the rights of minorities in most of the adjacent areas,
especially in the Sinjar district.
The problem of agricultural lands and even residential ones still remains in the
province of Kirkuk because of demographic change by the former regime that
confiscated lands of the Kurds and Turkmen and appropriated agricultural lands and
real estate in Kirkuk province through a series of procedures and laws issued by the
(dissolved) Revolutionary Command Council. Delaying rehabilitation of Tal Afar district
of the Turkmen component and the lack of real efforts to clear it of the mines that
daily kill the population of women and children. Despite the issuance of several
decisions of the Committee on the implementation of Article (140) of the Constitution
(Resolution No. (4) on 4/2/2007, which includes the abolition of all agricultural
contracts made within demographic change policy - Resolution No. (5) on 13/8/2007
to start disbursement of compensation and implementation of decisions after the
approval of the Council of Ministers on the decisions of the Committee - Resolution
No. (6) on 1/10/2007, which includes lifting injustice to the people of the Turkmen
areas ((Tis'een and Hamza Lee) through restoring the appropriated lands and all
agricultural ones, but there are still many problems about the acquisition of land
existing until the moment.
Recommendations:
1. Prompt the Government to adopt plans, measures, policies and strategies for
post-liberation coexistence and community peace to ensure that ethnic and
religious minorities enjoy their rights.
2. Prompt the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to
take all measures to resolve the issue of disputed territories between the two
governments, in accordance with the Article (140) of the Constitution.
3. Prompt the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to
ensure the rights of minorities in the disputed areas and to deal with these
rights away from political and partisan disputes and regional conflicts.
5