The Position of Kurds Towards the Iraqi–British Agreement in 1930

Abstract

Kurdish society, historically organized along tribal lines, has long experienced internal fragmentation when confronting collective national issues, including the pursuit of self-determination or, at minimum, administrative autonomy. On June 30, 1930, Iraq and the United Kingdom signed the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty, paving the way for Iraq’s formal independence. Previously, the 1925 report of the League of Nations regarding the Mosul Vilayet dispute between Iraq and Turkey had acknowledged that Kurds constituted the demographic majority in the province. The report recommended safeguarding Kurdish civil rights, including provisions for semi-autonomy, the use of the Kurdish language in education, courts, and public institutions in predominantly Kurdish areas, and its recognition alongside Arabic in official administrative offices.

Despite these recommendations, the 1930 agreement failed to address Kurdish national aspirations or guarantee the promised rights. This omission generated widespread dissatisfaction among Kurdish tribes, notable families, and intellectual elites. Nevertheless, newly uncovered confidential documents from the Iraqi National Archives in Baghdad reveal that some Kurdish tribal leaders accepted the agreement and pledged loyalty to King Faisal I of Iraq.

During the summer of 1930, several official delegations were dispatched to Iraqi Kurdistan to persuade tribal leaders and local notables to endorse the treaty. These efforts met with significant resistance, particularly in Sulaimaniya, where public opposition was strong. The discontent culminated in a violent demonstration on September 6, 1930. Iraqi police forces intervened forcefully, resulting in multiple civilian casualties.

Keywords: Kurdish tribes, British, delegations, Iraqi independence.