Kurds in Nashville, Tenn., gear up for Iraqi elections

Published: 2005-01-20

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) -- Having Nashville chosen as one of only five cities in the country where Iraqi expatriates can cast their ballots in the upcoming election is fantastic news to the local Kurdish community. "We definitely are so excited to do this," said Sarwar Hawez, a caseworker for Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services who is originally from Iraq. Hawez will be working at a polling site in Nashville during the Jan. 28-30 voting period set for Iraqi expatriates. During those three days, an estimated 1 million Iraqis living in 14 countries worldwide, in addition to those inside Iraq, will have a chance to elect an assembly that will draft a constitution. Nashville is home to the largest Kurdish community in the United States. It is about 5,000 families strong. The other American cities chosen as polling places are Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Washington. The Kurdish region of Iraq is in the north, just below the Turkish border. Kurds make up about one-fifth of Iraq's population.

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