In 2016, Arab residents were expelled from Kirkuk Governorate in northern Iraq, primarily following military operations by Kurdish forces. The expulsions, which involved the destruction of homes and the forcible removal of Arab and Turkmen families, became a point of international controversy, with accusations of ethnic cleansing.
Background.
In 2016, following the ISIS offensive and the eventual Kurdish capture of Kirkuk, the region became increasingly ethnically and politically charged. Kurdish forces began expelling Arab and Turkmen residents from the area, particularly those who were suspected of sympathizing with ISIS, or were caught in the power struggle between Kurdish and Arab factions.
Expulsions.
Throughout 2016, there were reports of Kurdish forces demolishing Arab homes, forcibly removing residents, and displacing entire families. These actions were particularly prominent after the military push to retake Kirkuk from ISIS and consolidate Kurdish control over the region. One example was the village of Qutan, where over 375 Arab families were reportedly displaced.
The United Nations raised concerns over these actions, stating that they amounted to collective punishment and were in violation of international human rights law.
Kurdish denial.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) denied the accusations, claiming that the removal of Arab families was due to security concerns related to ISIS and that the actions were not ethnically motivated. The KRG asserted that their primary objective was the safety and security of Kirkuk residents.
International reactions.
International organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, condemned the actions of Kurdish forces, calling them violations of human rights and international law. These organizations documented the destruction of Arab homes and the displacement of families, labeling the actions as consistent with ethnic cleansing.