Sep 9 2012

Arabs in Iraq’s Kirkuk call for ‘justice’ in employment

By Marwan al-Ani

Azzaman, September 9, 2012

Arabs in the disputed Province of Kirkuk say they are being discriminated against as they get fewer jobs than other ethnic components of the population.

There are three major ethnic minorities battling for control of the Province of which the oil-rich city of Kirkuk is the capital.

But practically, it is the Kurds who are in control due the presence of their heavily armed militias known locally as peshmerga..

The Turkmen, an ethnic Turkish group, have also been complaining about Kurdish domination and they and the Arabs have formed a front to offset Kurdish influence.

But the Arabs say they are rarely given jobs and are excluded from government posts.

According to Abdullah Sami, the head of the Arab group in the province, new vacancies and job opportunities are decided in the light of 1957 census when there were only a few Arabs in the province.

Most of the Arabs were brought to Kirkuk under the rule of former leader Saddam Hussein who wanted to have an Arab majority in the province.

Sami said removing restrictions on appointments and jobs was essential to reconciliation and peace in Kirkuk , which has been the scene of deadly bombings recently.

“The Arabs want all the ethnic compositions in the province to be treated equally and fairly,” he said.

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