Kurdish referendum marks a historic occasion

The autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq will hold a referendum on September 25 giving the choice to its residents as to whether they want to become an independent state. Given the current wars in Syria, Iraq, and the autocratic governments of both Turkey and Iran, the possible outcomes and ramifications of this vote are many and unpredictable. Many of the governments around the region have tried to stop the referendum going ahead or have threatened military action. While the leadership of the Kurdish autonomous region is widely seen to be corrupt and anti-worker, the desire for an independent Kurdish country has deep historical roots and opens all kinds of possibilities for working class communities.

The autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq will hold a referendum on September 25 giving the choice to its residents as to whether they want to become an independent state. Given the current wars in Syria, Iraq, and the autocratic governments of both Turkey and Iran, the possible outcomes and ramifications of this vote are many and unpredictable. Many of the governments around the region have tried to stop the referendum going ahead or have threatened military action. While the leadership of the Kurdish autonomous region is widely seen to be corrupt and anti-worker, the desire for an independent Kurdish country has deep historical roots and opens all kinds of possibilities for working class communities.