A Syrian Kurdish woman waves a flag as she takes part in a rally in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on September 15, 2017, in support of an independence referendum in Arbil.


Iraqi Kurdish lawmakers approved holding an independence referendum on September 25 as members of the opposition boycotted the parliament's first session in two years. / AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN        (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images)