Modern History (1900-2003)

The Kurdistan Region, as a political and administrative entity, emerged after the Gulf War of 1991. The Region gained lawful and constitutional recognition after the Iraq War in 2003 following the fall of the former Iraqi regime.

Before the Kurdistan Region was established as a constitutional entity in Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan experienced many vicissitudes. During the 20th Century and after the founding of Iraq, the Kurdish people were constantly at conflict with the central governments over rights and power sharing. The clashes often resulted in protracted confrontations between the political movements in Iraqi Kurdistan and the governments of Baghdad.

The struggle after the establishment of Iraq (1919-1975)

Before the monarchy system was established in Iraq in 1921, the Kurdish people had intensified their efforts to gain independence from the British mandate in the country. Sheikh Mahmoud Hafid's revolution in 1919 was one of the Kurdish people's most serious and early attempts to set up an autonomous entity in Kurdistan. Barzan's revolutions from the early 1930s to the mid-1940s prolonged the struggle of the Kurdish people for national rights, with major conflicts between the Iraqi army of the time and Kurdistan’s fighters.

The September Revolution and the Agreement of March 11, 1970

The deep conflicts between the central government and the political leadership of Kurdistan after 1960 led to an all-out revolution in Kurdistan that began on September 11, 1961. This revolution brought with it the responsibility of managing areas under the control of Kurdistan’s leadership and, at the same time, facing the Iraqi central government’s army on battlegrounds. This military confrontation eventually resulted in the March 11, 1970 Agreement; an agreement between the Kurdistan leadership led by Mustafa Barzani and the central government on autonomy in Iraqi Kurdistan, though it did not last long. The Iraqi government violated the March 1970 Agreement, which put an end to negotiations and led to the outbreak of war between the Kurdistan Revolution and the central government in March 1974. Simultaneously, the Algiers Agreement of March 6, 1975 between Iran and Iraq increased pressure on Peshmerga forces, and brought a temporary end to the September Revolution.

Resurgence of revolution (1975-1991)

Shortly after the fall of the September Revolution, armed struggle re-emerged. These confrontations were carried out by the Peshmerga forces mostly in the border and mountainous areas against the Iraqi army. From 1985 onwards, the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces launched more attacks on the Iraqi army, which was at the same time in a long-running war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iran-Iraq war came to an end in 1988, and the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and the First Gulf War paved the way for the March 1991 Uprising of the people of Kurdistan. A pivotal moment came when the United Nations and the international community imposed the No-Fly-Zone (UN Security Council Resolution 688) in the north of the country, which immediately prevented the Iraqi government from conducting military operations in most of Kurdistan, later leading to the creation of the Kurdistan Region in federal Iraq.

Anfal and Halabja

Under the name of Anfal, in the mid-1980s, the central government of Iraq launched an organized campaign to weaken the defenses of the Kurdish people and the Peshmerga forces. This military operation, which took place in several stages, began in 1986 and continued until the end of 1988. More than 180,000 Kurdish citizens either died or went missing in the Anfal. Anfal has been named by the Hague Court ‘a campaign of genocide’. During the final stages of the Iraq-Iran war, on March 16, 1988, one of the most repellent war crimes by the central government took place in Halabja as Iraqi military warplanes attacked the city of Halabja using chemical weapons, killing more than 5,000 civilians and affecting thousands more.

Self-rule (1992-2003)

After the end of the Gulf War and the withdrawal of the Iraqi army from the north’s No-Fly-Zone in 1991, the Kurdistan Region was led by the Kurdistani Front. This political umbrella consisted of all the political forces of Kurdistan and had a great role in providing stability and preventing a security vacuum in Kurdistan. After the 1992 parliamentary elections, the Kurdistan Region established its first parliament, government, and judicial council.

The Kurdish Civil War (1994-1998)

The lingering conflict between Kurdistan’s political forces eventually paved the way for a civil war in the Kurdistan Region. The war, which involved nearly all political parties in the Kurdistan Region, was one of the most difficult stages in the history of the country. The civil war began in 1994 and ended in 1998 with US mediation.

Emergence of two separate administrations (1998-2005)

After the end of the civil war, two political and military administrations were formed in the Kurdistan Region. Erbil and Duhok fell into the same administration, and Sulymaniya and Garmian entered a different government. In Erbil and Sulymaniya, two governments and two different administrations had evolved. Following a UN decision, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were hit by a severe economic blockade from the international community. This, in turn, made the living situation in the region more difficult and caused a huge wave of civilian migration abroad.

Unification of the administrations (2005-2017)

After the end of the civil war, two political and military administrations were formed in the Kurdistan Region. Erbil and Duhok fell into the same administration, and Slemani and Garmian entered a different government. In Erbil and Slemani, two governments and two different administrations had evolved. Following a UN decision, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were hit by tough economic sanctions from the international community. This, in turn, made life in the region more difficult and caused a huge wave of civilian migration abroad.

Disputes with the Federal Government (2007-2017)

According to the Iraqi Constitution, the issue of the disputed territories, which are explained in Article 140, should have been resolved by the end of 2007. This issue should have been settled after normalizing the situation in the areas, returning the original inhabitants to their homes and conducting surveys and public censuses. This problem, particularly in Kirkuk province, is the core of the outstanding issues between the federal government and the regional government. Concurrently, the issue of oil extraction and the economic independence of the Kurdistan Region is another major question between Baghdad and Erbil.

Referendum (2017)

On the 25th of September 2017, a referendum for an independent Kurdistan Region and the disputed areas was held. In this public vote, more than 92 percent of the population of the Kurdistan Region and the disputed areas voted for independence. The Iraqi federal government rejected the referendum, which led to another round of tensions between Baghdad and Erbil.

Peaceful coexistence among communities in the Kurdistan Region

Kurdistan has made great strides in promoting and protecting peaceful coexistence and respect for the rights of ethnic and religious communities. Extremism is widely condemned by the people of Kurdistan and their government, which has often attracted international admiration. All communities in Kurdistan Region including the Turkmen, Christians, Yezidis, Shabaks and Zoroastrians, have free associations and political and social activities. The absolute majority of these components, nationally and religiously, live within the administrative boundaries of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), enjoying rights and holding positions in the parliament and government. Christians, Yezidis and Shabaks, due to the geographical location of their areas, have a history marked by tragedies, particularly the Yezidis. They have endured genocide in many periods of history, the last time during the attacks carried out by the ISIS terrorist organization. Yezidis, who follow their own religion, are supported by the Kurdistan Region and their rights are protected by law. Similar to other religions, Yezidis exercise their faith and rituals freely.

The political leadership of the Kurdistan Region have emphasized in all religious and national events that Kurdistan is a country for all and welcomes the participation of everyone in its management. It has been 28 years since the Kurdistan Parliament officially introduced the Turkoman and Syriac languages, with Turkoman schools now operating in the Kurdistan Region.

Economy

The economy of the Kurdistan Region depends mainly on income from energy (natural resources), followed by agriculture and tourism. Due to its security and stability, the Kurdistan Region is more developed economically than other parts of Iraq; the Kurdistan Region’s food security policy has led to most expenditure going to development projects. After the Iraqi liberation process and Nechirvan Barzani’s inauguration as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, a wide and extensive economic, commercial, construction, renovation and rebuilding process began by Kurdistan’s entrepreneurs. Not only is Kurdistan now considered a peaceful and developed region, but it also has a political standing; the United States and many Arab and European countries have opened. consulates in the Region and many foreign firms are investing in Kurdistan.

Oil and Gas Resources

Kurdistan has substantial oil and gas resources. According to most expert assessments, Kurdistan’s underground oil resources are estimated to be 45 billion barrels. Besides oil, Kurdistan has a significant amount of gas reserves, approximately 25 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas reserves. Many medium size and large companies currently work in Kurdistan in the fields of oil and gas production, including DNO, Taqa, Chevron, Russia’s Gazprom, Genel Energy, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, HKN Energy, Shamaran and Dana Gas.

In the Kurdistan Region, there are two international airports, in Erbil and Slemani, that connect to Middle Eastern and European destinations.

Agriculture

The Kurdistan Region is abundant in the resources needed for successful agriculture: fertile lands, suitable water, and efficient farming. Wheat is one of the main crops in the Kurdistan Region, with local wheat production being much larger than existing demand in the local market.

In some years wheat production has exceeded the Region’s local demand of 550,500 tons, reaching about one million tons. Wheat is one of the leading products that can be exported.

As in the Ministry of Agriculture’s plans, vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, especially in the production season, satisfy local needs and the additional amount can be exported. Pomegranates, grapes, honey and poultry can also be exported.

Mineral Resources

There are many different underground mineral resources in the Kurdistan Region. Until now they have not been given much consideration in comparison to oil and gas resources, being largely untapped. The minerals which have been found in the Kurdistan Region so far mainly consist of sulfur, its largest source being in the south-east of Erbil. In smaller amounts than sulfur, there are also minerals such as coal, iron, copper, gold, callus (which is used to make cement), and zinc.

Individual Income

According to a 2020 World Bank report, annual individual income in Iraq is moderate, ranging between $4,050 and $12,535. This is considered a normal range comparable to incomes in China, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

The Geography of the Kurdistan Region

Historians and researchers believe that the borders of Kurdistan Region, from the north (the Iraq-Turkey border), extends from the town of Zakho to the town of Badra (part of the town of Wasit/Kut in central eastern Iraq). In the south, it extends to the Hamrin Mountain range. In the east, it starts at the Iraq-Iran border and extends to the borders of Syria.

Kurdistan’s territory consists of mountain ranges, plains, valleys and hills. It has cold winters and its rains vary from 200 to 1000 mm. Similarly, it snows at different rates depending on the area. Snow occurs specifically in the mountainous areas, which has led to the creation of many canyons and several rivers, the Great Zab, the Little Zab, Sirwan and Khapur. The Sirwan and Khapur rivers together flow into the Tigris.

The mountainous areas are covered with various types of trees. In summer the plains are very hot and the mountainous areas are cooler, often with a breeze; generally, the closer to the mountains, the lower the temperature. The highest mountain is Halgurd at 3,607 meters, within the Hasarost mountain range.

Land area of the Kurdistan Region

The Region’s area is 78,736 km2, over 18% of the total area of Iraq, and includes:

• The provinces of Erbil, Slemani, Duhok, Kirkuk (partially), and Halabja

• All towns and districts in Nineveh province (excluding Mosul, Baaj, and Hazer)

• The districts of Khanaqin, Mandali, and Kifri (excluding the town of Baladruz, on the border of Diyala province, and the center of Badra district in Wasit/Kut province)

Kurdistan Region’s two climate classifications

The weather of the Mediterranean Sea (cooler regions)

Mediterranean climate areas (cooler regions) This climate exists in the northern and northeastern parts of the region, covering more than 50,000 m2 and is known for its very cold winters and warm summers. Rain begins midwinter, while the summer is dry. The region is rainier than any other part of Iraq, as the Kurdistan Region’s annual rainfall rate is rarely below 500 mm. Moving east, north and north-east, rain increases and lasts up to a few days; and can cause transportation cut-offs between cities.

semi-arid areas

Semi-arid areas This area of the Kurdistan Region is similar to the abovementioned region in terms of experiencing rainfall, with wet winters and dry summers, but rainfall is less than 500 mm annually. Summers are hotter and winters are milder, with a low chance of snow.

Education in the Kurdistan Region

Education in the Kurdistan Region is complimentary. It is available from the stage of kindergarten up until the completion of universities and academic institutes. The first language of education in the Kurdistan Region is Kurdish. In some schools, the primary and high school stages are also taught in Syriac, Turkish, Arabic, English, German, French, etc.

Kindergarten

At the age of four, children are permitted into kindergarten. Throughout the two years of kindergarten, they study some of the basic learning principles. After that, the students begin studying in elementary school.

Elementary and Middle School

The elementary stage lasts for 9 academic years. In the 9th grade, the national exams take place. Following that, students are allowed to study in institutes or continue their studies in high school at the literary, scientific, or vocational level depending on their own preferences. All elementary school affairs are administrated by the Ministry of Education.

High School

The high school level consists of 3 preacademic years, which are grades 10 to 12. In the 12th grade, students conduct national exams in order to achieve grades for their desired colleges, institutes, and universities. All high school affairs are administrated by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education is responsible for formulating the primary education policies in Kurdistan, as well as preparing education plans, curricula, and books. Simultaneously, the topics, content, purpose, and number of lessons are all duties of the Ministry of Education.

Higher Education (Post-Secondary Education)

At this stage, students can go to colleges, institutes, and universities after the national examinations in high school. Some of the institutes permit students directly after the completion of the 9th grade. College syllabus and institutes are between two to six years. After the completion of this stage, graduates will be employed in government institutions or the private sector. The affairs of colleges, institutes, and universities are administrated by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Tourism

There are several factors that have assisted in encouraging tourism in the Kurdistan Region: the geographical location of the Kurdistan Region, its nature, its history and ancient civilization, its touristic places, religious and archeological sites, mountainous areas, mosques and churches, and its weather. There are over 3,000 tourist sites and areas in the Kurdistan Region, which include accommodation, food, and activities. In the Kurdistan Region, there is a general board of tourism and it has developed a strategy for this sector, which has generated great progress in the tourism sector over the past few years.

Religious Tourism

The Kurdistan Region was the center of ancient religions such as Mithraism and Zoroastrianism. It is home to many faiths, including Islam, Christianity, Yezidism, Kakaeism, and other faiths and religions. Kurdistan Region has many religious shrines.

There are numerous mosques, churches, temples, and holy places in the Kurdistan Region, which attract local and foreign tourists who wish to visit and worship at their religious sites.

Nature Tourism

The nature and climate of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are attractive for tourists. From winter rains and snow in the mountainous areas, to mild springs and hot summers with lower temperatures than other parts of Iraq. The region features natural and cultivated trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds, culture and archaeology, and scenic villages in plains and mountains. All the rivers and canals are fresh water bodies. There are numerous high-peaked mountains that have hundreds of valleys, lowlands, and natural forests, such as Halgurd (3,706 meters), Qandil, Sakran, Zozik, Korek, Bradost, Handren, Shirin, Gara, Matin, Zmnako, Piramagrun and Safin. It has been decided that Halgurd-Sacran National Park will be created, covering an area of 600 km2. In all, Kurdistan has beautiful scenery and waterfalls at different topographies.

Cultural Tourism

Different nationalities and ethnic groups live within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenians and Arabs. Kurds belong to different tribes. All these different communities and tribes have their own traditions, ceremonies, clothes, dialects and languages. They each make their own crafts, such as sculptures, furniture and household goods, jewelry, clothes, food, and arts tools. Such local handicraft products are produced for tourists. These features have differentiated and identified the Kurdish community from its surroundings and other nations around the world. Kurdistan has several cultural museums in the cities of Erbil, Duhok, Slemani, Halabja and Kalar.

Archaeological Tourism

There are over 3,500 historic sites in the Kurdistan Region, some of which are suitable for tourism. These include the fortresses of Erbil, Khanzad, Dere, Diween, Sartka, Akre, Amedi, Ruwandizi, Sherwana, and Barzinja. There are also some archeological excavation sites such as Qyzqapan, Khins and Halaman. Sculptures carved into rock or mountains are found in sites such as Harir, the Belula Valley, the Gawr and Mirquli Valleys. Valuable archaeological caves have been discovered in Kurdistan, such as the Shanidar Cave, where nine Neanderthal skeletons were found, dating back to 60,000 BC. The Chwar Astoon Cave, which was the site of a Zoroastrian temple, is carved with murals of a village and a few other figures.

Artefacts have been found in several other caves, such as Bastoon and Hawdian, Razan River, Hezar Merd and Zarzi. The city museums in Erbil, Slemani and Duhok contain thousands of archaeological pieces. Agriculture began in 10,000 BC in the village of Zuya Chami, and in 7,000 BC in the village of Jarmo. Valuable and interesting archaeological sites are ready to welcome tourists.

Other Types of Tourism

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has varied topographies, high mountains, and long valleys. In winter the mountain ranges experience heavy rain and snow. The Kurdistan Region also has small and larger canyon rivers, along with the Great Zab and the Little Zab (two sources of the Tigris River). There are also waterfalls in the mountainous areas, such as Gali Ali Bag, Bekhal, Ahmedawa, Sharansh, Solaf, and Basteh, and numerous dams and lakes: Dukan, Darbandikhan, Duhok, and Bawashaswar. Aside from these natural water sources, indoor and outdoor swimming pools have been built in the cities of Erbil, Slemani and Duhok. All Kurdistan’s water sources are clean fresh water.

Medical tourism in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is either for natural or conventional medical treatment. There are several water sources rich in particular minerals or substances that can be used to help skin, liver and kidney conditions.

All the hospitals in the Kurdistan Region, particularly the private sector, offer treatment to patients from other areas. In the private sector, specialized and professional doctors are ready to assist patients. Many patients travel from other cities of Iraq and surrounding countries to the Kurdistan Region for treatment.

Tourists can enjoy hiking in the mountains of Halgurd, Piramagrun, Korek, Bradost, Shirin, and Safin. They can also travel through the long and deep valleys, rivers and caves of the Kurdistan Region.

Travel exhibitions and conferences in the Kurdistan Region also form part of the tourism industry.