Kirkuk University students protest ban on Kurdish-language exam answers

KIRKUK — A decision by Kirkuk University prohibiting law students from answering exam questions in Kurdish has sparked protests, with students blocking access to exam halls in response.

The university began its mid-year exams today under new guidelines stating that students are not allowed to answer exams in Kurdish. This decision has caused uproar, especially among Kurdish students, who argue that it violates their rights and the Iraqi constitution, which recognizes Kurdish and Arabic as the country’s official languages.

Jila Tayfor, one of the protesting students, told 964media, “For 15 years, we’ve been studying in Kurdish. Now, during the mid-year exams, they’re telling us we cannot answer in our own language. No one is stopping us from defending our right to answer in Kurdish, and we will not back down.” Ako Majid, another protester called the decision politically motivated, stating, “The Ministry of Higher Education’s directive against Kurdish questions and answers is a political decision. This is a step toward Arabizing Kirkuk.”

Farhad Abbad, a fourth-year law student also criticized the decision, saying, “We have been answering exam questions in Kurdish for four years in college, and now this discriminatory decision targets us. This is an injustice against Kurds, and we demand Kirkuk governor and the president of Iraq address this unfair treatment.”

Efforts by 964media to obtain clarification from the dean and department heads of Kirkuk University were unsuccessful, as no officials were available to comment on the matter. The protesting students have vowed to continue their demonstration until the university reverses the decision.

Kirkuk, a resource-rich city in northern Iraq, has long been a focal point of contention between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi federal government. In October 2017, following the KRG’s independence referendum, Iraqi forces launched an operation to reclaim control over Kirkuk from Kurdish Peshmerga forces, successfully retaking the city and its surrounding areas.

Rebwar Taha, a Kurdish Patriotic Union of Kurdistan politician, was elected and sworn in as the new governor of Kirkuk in August. His appointment marked the return of Kurdish leadership in the province for the first time since 2017. Upon taking office, Taha emphasized his commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence among Kirkuk’s diverse communities.

According to Article 4 of the Iraqi constitution, both Arabic and Kurdish are recognized as the official languages of Iraq. This provision guarantees the right of Iraqis to educate their children in their mother tongue, such as Turkmen, Syriac, and Armenian, in government educational institutions, or in any other language in private educational institutions, in accordance with educational guidelines.