BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Administrative Court dismissed lawsuits filed by the Turkmen Front and the Sovereignty Coalition Wednesday, ruling against the legality of the Kirkuk Provincial Council meeting held at the Rashid Hotel in Baghdad and the subsequent formation of the new Kirkuk administration, officials confirmed.
On Aug. 10, 2024, the Kirkuk Provincial Council convened at the Rashid Hotel after months of political deadlock, with nine of the council’s 16 members present. Seven members representing the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Turkmen Front, and the Arab Alliance were absent. During the session, the PUK’s Rebwar Taha was elected governor, and Mohammed Hafiz was chosen as council chairman, sparking dissatisfaction and legal challenges from the absent factions.
On Jan. 19, 2025, representatives of the Turkmen Front, the Sovereignty Party, and the Arab Alliance held a press conference urging the Administrative Court to rule on the case. They stressed the importance of resolving the legality of Kirkuk’s local government formation in accordance with the constitution and laws. “Since the formation of Kirkuk’s local government in an illegal session at the Rashid Hotel, which excluded the Turkmen component and some of the winning blocs in the local elections, the province has been experiencing instability that disrupts the social cohesion and consensus needed for its stability,” the representatives said.
Following the court’s ruling, Iraq’s minister of justice, Khalid Shwani, expressed appreciation. “This decision reflects the court’s commitment to justice,” Shwani said in a video posted on his Facebook page. He also urged all factions to return to the council chambers. “I hope this ruling serves as an opportunity for all factions to work together in the service of Kirkuk’s people,” he added.
The court’s written decision, signed by chief judge Dr. Osman Salman Aboudi, confirmed that the council’s decision to elect Taha as governor and Hafiz as council chairman, supported by nine of the 16 members, was legitimate in the eyes of the court.
The ruling clarified that the positions of deputy chairman and first deputy governor remain vacant. In accordance with Article 13.4 of the Provincial Council Election Law, these posts will remain unfilled until representatives from the Turkmen bloc are appointed.