I have no idea what’s specifically going on between Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq and the U.S. State Department.
I know for a fact what is mentioned in the article about FGM, Honor Killings is accurate.
I should think “Freedom of Speech” is also allowed (within reason), as is “Freedom of Religion” (Kurds by majority are ‘officially sunni muslims’, but a couple of months ago a Zoroastrian Temple, first of its kind for over a 1000 years, was officially permitted and recognized in Iraqi-Kurdistan).
I don’t think the Kurds are that good. They’re just not as bad as the others. I hope Trump arms them to the teeth.