The Heat: Kurdistan Independence Referendum

The Heat

Kurdistan Election

Nearly 30 million Kurds live in Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq, where since the 1990s they have had autonomy — occupying the northern part of that country.


This week, residents went to the polls to vote on a referendum for independence from Iraq. It’s a path heavily criticized by the United States, the European Union and the Arab League out of fear it could destabilize a region not exactly known for stability.

CGTN’s Tony Chen reports from Erbil.

To discuss Kurdistan’s independence referendum:

  • Aykan Erdemir, a former member of the Turkish Parliament.
  • Namo Abdulla, the Washington Bureau Chief for Rudaw, the media network from the Kurdistan Region in Iraq.
  • Goran Zaneti, a writer and political analyst.
  • Ismael Alsodani, the former Iraq Defense Attache to the U.S. and strategic analyst for the Middle East

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