Many Iranian Kurds appear to support the upcoming Sept. 25 independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, which is planned to go ahead despite fierce opposition both at home and from the international community.
On numerous occasions in recent weeks, the Kurdish leadership in Erbil has reiterated its commitment to holding the referendum. Other Kurdish officials, however, doubt that the referendum will be held. Bahroz Galali, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan representative in Turkey who was recently expelled by Ankara over the abduction of a number of Turkish secret agents by the Kurdistan Workers Party in Sulaimaniyah province, told reporters at the airport, “I am confident that the referendum will not go ahead on Sept. 25.”
