Thousands of displaced Kurds from Kirkuk, Khurmatu, and other Kurdistani territories are preparing to return home to vote in Iraq’s Nov. 11 elections, turning their return into a powerful act of resistance. Forced from their homes for over a decade, they see this election as a chance to defend their land, rights, and identity against demographic and political marginalization.
“This is our land, and we will never give it up,” said Qasim Muhammed from Khurmatu, now living in Erbil. “We go back to vote because our ancestors lived there. Our voice must remain.” His message reflects the widespread determination among displaced Kurds who view voting as a declaration of belonging.
The 2017 loss of Kirkuk and other disputed areas to Iraqi forces and militias intensified Kurdish displacement and reduced political influence. In Diyala, Kurdish representation dropped from six provincial council seats to just one. Many fear new administrative changes will further erase Kurdish presence.
Kurdish officials have condemned Baghdad’s recent moves—such as merging Kurdish-majority districts and banning Kurdish in exams—as renewed “Arabization” efforts.
Despite poor services, drought, and displacement, Kurds see returning to vote as vital for survival. “We cannot stay silent,” said Nuri Mohammed from Diyala. “Voting means protecting our homeland.”
Their return to the polls is both political and deeply personal—a collective stand to ensure they are neither forgotten nor erased.