4 days ago
KRG denounces "no Kurdish" order in northern universities
Shafaq News – Erbil (Updated: 6:50 p.m.)
On Saturday, the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Higher Education condemned the recent Iraqi government's directive banning Kurdish in university instruction and examinations across parts of northern Iraq.
The order, issued on July 15, mandates the exclusive use of Arabic for teaching and exams in universities across Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Diyala. It applies to both public and private institutions, with legal penalties outlined for noncompliance.
In a statement, the ministry described the decision as a breach of Iraq's constitution, citing Article 4, which designates Kurdish as an official language. "The order undermines the principles of coexistence within a federal system."
It also urged Baghdad to revoke the directive and uphold universities as spaces that reflect Iraq's cultural and linguistic plurality, announcing plans to coordinate with Iraqi authorities to resolve the issue and prevent similar actions in the future.
ئەکادیمیای کوردی بڕیاری قەدەغەکردنی زمانی کوردی لە ناوەندەکانی خوێندنی باڵای ناوچە کوردستانییەکانی دەرەوەی ئیدارەی هەرێم شەرمەزار دەکات.
— KRG Dept. of Media & Information (@DMI_KRG) July 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Kirkuk MP Dilan Ghafour described the decision as a clear violation of constitutional rights and called for its reversal. Speaking to Shafaq News, the MP said she raised the matter directly with the Iraqi Minister of Higher Education, who reportedly pledged to review the directive and consider a solution that respects Iraq's linguistic diversity.
According to Ghafour, both sides agreed to maintain the previous policy allowing students to respond to exam questions in Kurdish. 'Nearly half of Kirkuk University's students—and many others in surrounding areas—speak Kurdish. They are entitled to use their mother tongue under the law."
"Kurdish must be treated equally in academic institutions," she added.
