Mihemed Osman, a Kirkuk MP in Iraq parliament, said that after October 16, the city’s administration became weak and it’s no longer able to meet the needs of local community.

“The current government commits grave violations in front of the eyes of everyone. One of these violations is settling Arab citizens in the city. They want Kirkuk to be devastated again. The current mentality which governs Kirkuk regime is the mentality of the Baas regime” Osman said.

Osman continued: “They went too far in the streets of Kirkuk. They want to occupy houses that are owned by the public. Moreover, they asked local clerics to pray for Iraq military during Friday prayer. On the other hand, they want to occupy public property. There commit various rights violations. People are taken prisoners within the knowledge of the jurisdiction.”

Osman also said that in Kirkuk,  some institutions and associations' administrations were changed without any legal reason and pointed out that all the land and the buildings of the government are occupied.

Hashd al-Shaabi forces invaded Kirkuk on October 16 after the independence referendum in Southern Kurdistan. Locals report that several thousand Arabs were settled in the city since then.