Khamis al-Khanjar, leader of the Sunni Sovereignty Party, expressed deep appreciation for Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and the Kurdish people for their humanitarian role in welcoming Arab refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) during the 2014 crisis.

Speaking on Thursday, Khanjar commended the Kurdistan Region’s decision to open its doors to Arab refugees fleeing violence from Mosul, Anbar, and southern Iraq. He described the move as a "humanitarian and historic decision" by Barzani that earned deep respect from the Arab community.

Khanjar noted that the Kurdish people’s treatment of millions of Sunni Arabs fleeing the Islamic State (IS) was widely recognized and appreciated. “This humanitarian gesture is remembered with respect, and party politics should not overshadow the moral values and national unity that bind us,” he added.

His remarks came in response to recent comments made by Mohammed al-Halbousi, leader of the Progress Party, who publicly opposed arming the Peshmerga forces. Halbousi’s comments sparked backlash across Iraq, with Khanjar calling for national unity and urging political leaders to focus on shared values rather than divisive rhetoric.

The Kurdistan Region played a critical role in hosting millions of displaced Iraqis during the fight against IS, a gesture that continues to be acknowledged by leaders across Iraq.