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Garmiyan • گەرمیان • كرميان

This exceptionally beautiful area -- also called ناوچه‌ی گه‌رمیان -- is those areas which were historically part of Kirkuk Governorate (known as Garmiyan in Kurdish), but which were later assigned to Diyala and Slemani Governorates when Kirkuk was dismantled in the 1970s as part of the Arabization.

Kurdistan gained autonomy in Iraq in 1991, when Iraq government forces withdrew from three governorates: Duhok, Hawler, and Silemani. A lesser known story is that parts of Mosul, Kirkuk, and Diyala governorates were also vacated at this time by the Iraqi government. The Iraqi government (which controls the governorate boundaries) allowed some of the districts in Mosul governorate that were not under Iraqi control to join Kurdistan's Duhok governorate instead.

However, with hot, ongoing disputes between Kurdistan and Iraq over territorial claims in Kirkuk, the regions in Diyala and Kirkuk governorates that had been vacated were never given the formality of being able to join Slemani Governorate or be rejoined to Kirkuk Governorate. Instead, the Kurdistan Government did its best and granted the administrative status (like a governorate) and thus the كارگێی گه‌رمیان Garmian Administration was formed. Though a stand-offish name, murky history, and confusing status means the كارگێی گه‌رمیان Garmian Administration has not received the same publicity and attention as Duhok, Hawler, or Silemani governorates, Garmian is still part of the Kurdistan Government and thus is still as safe and accessible as the governorates. As Iraq recently lost much of Kirkuk Governorate to ISIS, and the Kurdish areas were in turn then liberated by the Kurdistan Government, these new territorial gains -- including the city of Kirkuk itself, and the governorate's rich oil fields -- have become more part of the growing Garmian Administration. Today, it is culturally and politically closer to Slemani.

Khanaqin and Kifri are disputed between Slemania and Diyala Governorates.

Khanaqin and Kifri districts have borne the brunt of Arabization, as they were on the split edge between Kurdish- and Iraqi-controlled lands. Some areas of Khanaqin District were under KRG control since Iraqi forces withdrew at the beginning, and these were treated as part of Slemani Governorate. However, Khanaqin city itself was under Iraqi control.

Etymology

The word "garmiyan" means "summer" in Hindi (गर्मियां), similar to how "garm" means "hot" in both Hindi (गर्म) and Kurdish.




Endnotes

http://bot.gov.krd/garmian-administration


http://www.presidency.krd/english/nprint.aspx?id=a56bKTt8w5o=

Emphasizes that Kalar is part of Garmiyan.


http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/2/state7718.htm

In 2014, Garmian consisted of Kalar, Kifiri, and Khanaqin.


http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2009/11/kurdlocal735.htm

The goal of the exhibition is to bring together the Garmiyan area with the other three provinces of Kurdistan Region. u201cThere are many barriers between the Garmiyan area and other Kurdish cities." This indicates there is an administrative and cultural barrier between the traditionally and newly autonomous Kurdish regions.


http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/12/kurdlocal1149.htm

This 2012 article refers to Garmiyan as an undeclared province.


http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2013/2/kurdlocal1200.htm

By 2013 or earlier, the KRG had enough control over the Garmiyan Administration to pursue oil contracts here.


http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2009/9/kurdlocal706.htm

Clearly describes administrative control that Garmian has over Chemchemal in 2009.


http://www.garmianconf2015.net/Conference/

Its population is now nearly a half million and it has its own independent administration like a governorate. Finally, it is hoped this area joins its mother, Kirkuk Governorate in future.


Pasha Palace
http://bot.gov.krd/garmian-administration/history-and-heritage/pasha-palace-mahmoud-pasha-aljaaf


Kalar
http://bot.gov.krd/garmian-administration/kalar


Yak Cave
http://www.bot.gov.krd/garmian-administration/history-and-heritage/yak-cave