Kirkuk Marks Newroz and Anniversary of 1991 Uprising

PUKMEDIA

Peshmerga statue in Kirkuk.

The people of Kirkuk are marking Newroz alongside the anniversary of the city’s liberation from Ba’athist rule during the 1991 Kurdish Uprising, in celebrations that honour both cultural identity and historic struggle.

The dual commemoration reflects the sacrifices of martyrs and fighters who contributed to the liberation of Kirkuk in 1991, as well as the role of Peshmerga forces in defending the city against the so-called Islamic State.

On this occasion, attention has also been drawn to the role of the late President Jalal Talabani, widely known as President Mam Jalal, who placed particular importance on Kirkuk, describing it as a microcosm of Iraq due to its diverse communities.

According to the 1991 Uprising Panorama booklet, a meeting was held at the residence of President Mam Jalal in Damascus, attended by parties of the Kurdistan Front.

During the meeting, Kurdish parties assessed that Iraq’s war against Kuwait would not lead to further conflict with the former Ba’athist regime. They proposed sending a message to Baghdad stating that the Kurdistan Front would remain neutral in the conflict, while expressing readiness for dialogue and a negotiated solution to the Kurdish issue in Iraq.

However, President Mam Jalal maintained that the Iraqi regime would not withdraw from Kuwait and warned that war was inevitable. He urged the Kurdistan Front to adopt a clear position on the crisis and to condemn Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

Some parties, particularly the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), insisted that the Kurdistan Front should instead send a message of neutrality to the Iraqi regime. President Mam Jalal opposed this approach; however, the proposal was ultimately approved by a majority vote, and the message of neutrality was sent.

Academic Hassan Shekhani described the uprising and the liberation of Kirkuk as a “great and pivotal historical event,” marking a turning point in the Kurdish liberation movement, as communities united against dictatorship.

As noted in the uprising booklet, the parties within the Kurdistan Front believed that Iraq’s attack on Kuwait would not lead to a broader war, and therefore did not make preparations for an uprising. However, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) was the only party that anticipated the outbreak of conflict and began preparing for a popular uprising in Kurdistan.

Based on the foresight of President Mam Jalal, the PUK mobilised a large number of Peshmerga forces and organisational networks near major cities in readiness for the uprising. At the start of the uprising, organisational and armed cells joined citizens in carrying out the uprising and liberating the cities from the clutches of Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath regime.

Lawyer Farmisk Dawoudi described the events in Kirkuk as a defining moment in the city’s history, noting that PUK Peshmerga forces succeeded in liberating the city rapidly. She paid tribute to the martyrs and emphasised that Kirkuk remains a symbol of coexistence among its diverse communities.

Accounts from the period within the booklet detail how armed groups in Kirkuk coordinated with PUK leadership, paving the way for Peshmerga forces advancing from the axes of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Garmian. The forces converged in the Rahimawa district, where the Newroz flame was lit to mark the city’s liberation.

Poet Shukr Saleyi said the uprising elevated the Kurdish cause internationally, describing it as a historic turning point that helped bring global attention to Kurdish aspirations. He added that Kirkuk continues to enjoy stability due to ongoing efforts by the PUK in governance, reconstruction and public services.

As celebrations continue, Newroz remains both a symbol of renewal and a reminder of the enduring struggle and unity that shaped Kirkuk’s modern history.



PUKMEDIA