MESOPOTAMIA NEWS: BARHAM’S COMPLIMENTS TO TEHRAN & BAGHDAD

Social Media Backlash as Barham Salih Calls Kurdistan Region “Northern Iraq”

Basnews English 29/10/2018 – 11:42 ERBIL — The new president of Iraq, Barham Salih, is facing a social media backlash after calling the Kurdistan Region, which is a constitutional administrative entity, “northern Iraq”.

Salih wrote on his official Twitter account that he had visited Halabja to pay tribute to the victims of the 1988’s chemical attack. He, in his statement, avoids mentioning the Kurdistan Region with its official name, and, instead, refers to it as “northern Iraq”.

Social media users in the Kurdistan Region have responded to the statement with anger, some linking Salih’s denial of Kurdistan Region to the PUK faction which is known for its close ties with Baghdad as well as the fall of Kirkuk. More via www.mesop.de