Cheering independence vote, Kurd names newborn baby “Referendum”

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) A Kurdish citizen gave his newborn baby boy the name “Referendum”, an expression of his support for the poll slated for later this month on Kurdistan Region’s independence from Iraq.

Dapan Ahmed Karim received his new infant as the region launched a propaganda campaign urging citizens of the semi-autonomous region to take part in the controversial vote which the government in Erbil had slated for September 25th, Shafaq News reported.

The official campaign was launched Tuesday in the provinces of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Duhok and Kirkuk.

Kurdistan gained autonomous governance based on the 2005 constitution, but is still considered a part of Iraq. The region was created in 1970 based on an agreement with the Iraqi government, ending years of conflicts.

Since it set the schedule for the controversial poll, Erbil has stressed it was not backtracking on the plan.

Baghdad has regularly argued the move was untimely as the country struggles to drive out Islamic State militants who had taken over large areas of the country since 2014. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had labelled the measure “unconstitutional” and said his government would never recognize it. Regional powers such as Turkey and Iran had voiced opposition, too, while the United Nations urges dialogue to resolve the political crisis resulting from the voting plans.