Dzwar Fayeq, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) representative in the High Committee for the Implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, has raised concerns about what he calls a deliberate effort to alter the demographic landscape of Kirkuk and other disputed Kurdish territories ahead of Iraq’s 2024 national census.

In an interview with Kurdistan24, Fayeq accused the Iraqi government of attempting to enforce a "De facto reality" in Kirkuk by registering Arabs whose names did not appear in the pivotal 1957 census, thus skewing the demographic balance of the city and its surrounding areas. At the same time, Kurds who have been displaced from Kirkuk due to conflict and who now reside in the Kurdistan Region or abroad would not be recognized as Kirkuk residents, despite their historical ties to the region.

“This is against Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, which provides a legal mechanism to reverse the demographic changes imposed during the Arabization of Kirkuk and other areas,” Fayeq stressed.

Recommendations for Fair Census Procedures
Fayeq outlined several measures that he believes should be adopted to prevent demographic manipulation in the census:

Register Kurds with 1957 Documentation: Kurds listed in the 1957 census as Kirkuk residents should be counted, regardless of their current location, whether inside or outside Iraq.
Reject Arab Registrants Post-1957: Arabs who were moved to Kirkuk after 1957, especially those relocated under government programs designed to alter the region's demographics, should not be registered as Kirkuk residents.
Inclusion of Nationality in Census Forms: The census should include a category for nationality to accurately reflect Iraq's diverse ethnic makeup.
Risks of Unchecked Census Procedures
Fayeq warned that without implementing these safeguards, the 2024 census could cement the Arabization of Kirkuk and other contested regions. He urged the KRG to advocate for delaying the census in these areas if demographic manipulation remains a threat, stressing that the results could have lasting political and territorial consequences.

Since 1961, the Arabization efforts and subsequent conflicts have displaced many Kurds from Kirkuk, particularly after the ISIS attacks on places like Sinjar. Many of these displaced individuals face security concerns and logistical challenges that hinder their return for census participation.

Fayeq concluded by emphasizing the importance of recognizing Iraq's four major ethnic groups—Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, and Chaldeans/Assyrians—in the census to ensure compliance with the constitutional framework.