Kurdish farmers in the village of Tobzawa, near Kirkuk, are protesting a lawsuit filed by the Iraqi army seeking ownership of 2,000 acres of farmland.

The disputed land was confiscated decades ago by the Baath regime and transferred to the Ministry of Defense. Local farmers, however, reclaimed the property after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government, asserting their historical ownership with Ottoman-era land deeds.

Abbas Osman, a farmer who owns 250 acres, said his family has cultivated the land for nearly a century. “We have Ottoman-period land titles to prove these lands are ours,” he told Kurdistan 24. “We will not give up a single meter.”

The farmers argue that the Iraqi constitution, particularly Article 140, mandates that land disputes in contested areas like Kirkuk remain unresolved until a broader political settlement is achieved. They have called on Kurdish lawmakers to intervene, denouncing the reallocation of land without addressing historical grievances.

“These lands were returned to their rightful owners. Our representatives must act to prevent this injustice,” read a statement from the Office of the Property System.

Hassan Majid, a member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council, voiced his support for the farmers, emphasizing that the affected families include both Kurds and Turkmen. “This action is unfair and disproportionately harms the farmers of Tobzawa,” Majid said.

The region, devastated during Saddam Hussein’s Anfal campaign in 1988, continues to struggle with the legacy of land disputes. Farmers described the army’s legal claim as a continuation of historical injustices, undermining their efforts to rebuild their lives.

The lawsuit underscores ongoing tensions over land rights in disputed territories, with farmers urging a resolution that respects their historical ownership and constitutional protections.