In the election, the Kurdish people voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Iraq. However, Baghdad commanded International flights to stop service to Kurdish airports beginning Sept 29, 2017, in response to the election.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi believes it is responsibility to maintain the country as it is. If necessary, he will use force.
More than 92 percent, approximately 3 million Kurdish people, cast ballots voting “yes” for independence from Iraq. Monday’s results were released by the Kurdish Electoral Commission on Wednesday. The results are a move forward with independence for the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq.
The Kurds, who have controlled the northern part of Iraq since the 2003 U.S. invasion, held the poll in disobedience of Baghdad. The U.S. and European countries are actively denying the votes, which are labeled as undermining the Iraqi government, at that time when both sides are still fighting ISIS militants.
Also, Turkey and Iran were anxious and afraid the move will reassure that their own Kurdish population to explore an independent state.
At the most, six airlines: three Turkish companies, the Lebanese Middle East Airlines, Royal Jordanian, and Egypt Air made an announcement to the passengers, on Wednesday, they were canceling regularly scheduled flights from the airports in Erbil and Sulaimaniya. With the threat of canceling, landing and takeoff permits would demand international airlines remove flights to those airports due to insurance risks, according to former airline executive Robert W. Mann Jr.
With no international flights in or out of Kurdistan, people would have to fly through Turkey, Iran, Syria. or Iraq where there are threats of a blockade.
On Wednesday, the Iraqi Parliament forced the government to lock off its land border with Kurdistan. According to Turkish state television, the mainland border crossing between Turkey and Iraqi-Kurdish remain open.
Monday evening, after the ballots closed, the skies were lit up by fireworks and families joined in the center of the town to celebrate.
By Montana Scott
Edited by Jeanette Smith
Sources:
ABC News: 92 percent of Iraqi Kurds voted in favor of independence
New York Post: Kurds vote for independence from Iraq
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