The Baghdad Administrative Court has dismissed a complaint filed by some Arab and Turkmen groups challenging Rebwar Taha’s election as the governor of Kirkuk. According to a court decision, the election complied with legal procedures outlined in the law on unorganized provinces. The court deemed the complaint lacked sufficient legal grounds, affirming Taha’s legitimacy as governor despite claims of procedural violations during the election held on August 10, 2024.
Legal Basis for Rebwar Taha’s Election
The Baghdad Administrative Court, in a decision announced on November 24, upheld the election of Rebwar Taha as Kirkuk’s governor. The court’s president, Osman Suleiman, stated in an official letter that the complaint filed by Arab and Turkmen groups was dismissed due to a lack of sufficient legal evidence.
Rebwar Taha was elected on August 10, 2024, in line with the legal framework for unorganized provinces. He officially assumed office within the legally required timeframe of 15 days after receiving a republican decree. The court confirmed that the procedures adhered to the established laws governing provincial governance.
Details of the Complaint
On October 15, 2024, a group of Arabs and Turkmens filed a formal complaint with the Baghdad Administrative Court, arguing that the election of Rebwar Taha was invalid. Their claim focused on alleged procedural violations during the election process.
The complainants asserted that the election was held at the Al Rasheed in Baghdad without the presence of Rakan al-Jibouri, the lifetime speaker of the council, and only nine members were present. Additionally, they claimed that other council members were not notified about the meeting. This, they argued, rendered the election process illegal.
Multiple Challenges to the Election
The August 10, 2024, meeting that resulted in Rebwar Taha’s election as governor also included the election of a speaker for the Kirkuk Provincial Council. This meeting has faced significant legal and political scrutiny, with five complaints lodged against it.
Among these complaints, three were submitted by members of the Arab coalition in Kirkuk, one by the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF), and one by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). However, the court’s recent decision unanimously dismissed all claims, reinforcing the legitimacy of Taha’s election and the legal procedures followed.
The dismissal of this high-profile complaint has significant implications for the political dynamics in Kirkuk, a city marked by ethnic diversity and longstanding tensions between Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen communities. By affirming Taha’s election, the court has underscored the necessity of adhering to legal procedures in resolving disputes.
