ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish farmers said Iraqi soldiers entered a village in Kirkuk’s Pirde (Altun Kupri) on Saturday night and prevented them from harvesting their crops as long-running disputes over land ownership in the disputed province continue.
"We have title deeds for seven generations back, but they won't let us harvest," a farmer told Rudaw.
“Initially, the army allowed us to harvest. When the harvester went to our lands and started harvesting, they came and didn't allow us to continue,” said Fazil Othman, another farmer from the village.
According to the farmers, someone from Mosul came claiming to hold a deed for land in the village. "We have been cultivating this land for several years. The army is supporting the Arab man, while this area has no Arabs in it," a farmer said.
"They dream of bringing outsiders onto our land. Unless they go over our dead bodies, they won't cultivate our lands,” another farmer said angrily.
Two farmers were attacked by soldiers, Rudaw has learned.
Iraqi soldiers prevented Kurdish farmers from harvesting their crops in Pirde (Altun Kopri) district on the Kirkuk-Erbil road on Saturday.
Villagers said soldiers beat the farmers. pic.twitter.com/HNtkehh3qY