The only English paper in Iraq - No: 510 Mon. October 19, 2015
From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
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PM Barzani: Peaceful protests seized by narrow political interests
Prime Minister strongly hails people of Kurdistan to exercise restraint
The Kurdish Globe 2No. 510, Monday, October 19, 2015
EXECUTIVE EDITORGazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
www.kurdishGlobe.net
Address: Erbil, Massif road
Weekly paper printed in Erbil First published in 2005
Senior U.K. EditorBashdar Pusho [email protected]
Zakaria Muhammed [email protected] +964 750 475 3897
Salih Waladbagi [email protected] +964 750 4912996
STAFF WRITERS
ARTS EDITORDiyaco Qayoumy +964 750 4036252
ReviserHonar [email protected]
After forming KRG’s eighth cabinet based on common work and inclusiveness, Kurdistan passed through the worst of its times of mistrust and conflict between the parties. The broad-based government didn’t seem to be devoted to broad services and improving the difference of political opinion and ideologies. Specifically, the Gorran Movement was putting pressures and even exploiting the government’s institutions for inciting people and stirring up their emo--tions. Thus, things reached a level that external intervention, as officials in Suleimani Province stated, could actively step in the made-up riots and lead Suleimani Province towards instabil--ity and disorder. Gorran Movement itself did its best to retaliate against the KDP through inciting people in the mass media, the Parlia--ment and the government. Gorran managed to change the other three political parties’ attitude throughout psychological panic and interven--ing in PUK’s affairs, intimidating the Islamic Union and the Islamic Group, to the level of creating a semi conflicting-front ideologically to stand against Kurdistan Region Presidency.
On both August 19 and July 23, Gorran tested itself under the name of majority dictatorship of the four parties, and wanted to put KDP in a serious defending position. Then during nine successive meetings, beside its denial of eth--nic and religious components of Kurdistan that have representatives in Kurdistan Parliament, it spoiled the meetings as well. That means Gor--ran had already made its decision to create cha--os and disorder in Kurdistan Region.
Gorran invited Iran’s representative to the parliamentarian coup of last July to threaten the KDP and support them. They incited people to attack KDP’s offices in most of cities and towns of Suleimani Province. As KDP closed down its offices and handed them to the police and the security forces, Gorran’s plot for having civil--ians and people killed was foiled.
The slogans of Gorran’s representatives and the people who created chaos during the last few months were similar. Two KDP members were killed in the first two days of the protests, and six offices were burned down, adding to the damaging some other offices. They even at--tacked houses of some members of the party. This was a serious threat. In this case, KDP had to either surrender to the de facto by ac--cepting Gorran’s plot and hand over Kurdistan to the chaos and disorder and the external hand
that want to turn Kurdistan into a zone under its control, or it should put a limit and stop the risks. KDP leadership decided to end the chaos. The problems were connected with the wrong policies of Gorran and its MPs. After stopping Speaker of the Parliament, the chaos stopped from the first moments, and a kind of stability was restored in Suliemani Province as if the ri--oters were being directed from the Speaker of Parliament’s car convoy. The rioters’ way to at--tack and burn KDP’s offices was blocked just after that.
Now issues have completely changed. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Islamic Union of Kurdistan stated that the only issue they had agreed with Gorran was a temporal issue relat--ed to (Kurdistan Region Presidency). It means they have no common responsibilities together in the public policy and their common works will end. Consequently, the problems are mov--ing quickly towards stabilization and resolution by suitable and natural means.
So restricting Gorran’s negative tendencies will benefit Kurdistan in the following ways:
1- The national unity, which was under threat, will move towards stabilization.
2-No external hands will be allowed to create chaos.
3-The media will no longer provide the audi--ence with news of destabilization of security and social peace, and will longer play the role that lead to worsening of people’s psychology.
4-The main parties such as (KDP and PUK) will move towards a mutual understanding and calming down the situation and closeness.
5-KRG will get rid of the political and anar--chistic mines that Gorran was using as the main goal.
After KDP’s step, new opportunity has risen in Kurdistan so that all parties can practically take part in building Kurdistan Region, not digging pits for the government. A good politi--cal opportunity has emerged for the parties to reconsider their wrong policies they adopted previously. A good opportunity has risen that instead of retaliation and destabilizing the se--curity and social peace, works should be done together for providing services to the people, for reforms and unifying the Peshmerge. It’s true that the steps KDP has taken are holding historical responsibility, but bounding Gorran’s horrifying tendencies will lead to a new era of stability and common work.
A New Political Phase will Begin after Restricting Gorran’s Horrifying Actions
[email protected] Cell: +964 750 4055888
Following an official invitation to attend the Munich Security Conference, MSC,which will be held in Tehran, the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechir--van Barzani, will visit Tehran on October 17th.
The gathering will be co-host--ed with the Institute for Political and International Studies, and held in cooperation with the gov--ernments of Germany and the Is--lamic Republic of Iran.
It will be held as part of MSC Core Group Meeting series, which will focus on “the imple--mentation of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, Iran's regional role, the security architecture in the Middle East as well as the economic and energy policy implications of the Vien--na agreement”, Munich Security Conference website stated.
Besides German Foreign Min--ister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Iranian counterpart, Mo--hammad Zarif, participants also include the Afghan Foreign Min--ister Salahuddin Rabbani, the
Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Gov--ernment Nechirvan Idris Bar--zani, the United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, the Deputy Secretary General of the Euro--pean External Action Service Helga Schmid, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assem--bly Élisabeth Guigou and the Chairman of the German Bund--estag Foreign Affairs Committee Norbert Röttgen, as well as gov--ernmental representatives from various Arab states, numerous parliamentarians from European countries and NGO representa--tives”, said MSC website.
In a statement on Kurdistan Regional Government's website, Sami Ergoushi, the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister’s press officer said, “It is expected that Prime Minister Barzani will meet during his visit a number of officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
By Gazi Hassan
PM Barzani to attend Munich Security
Conference in Tehran
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Bakhtiyar Izzat Dargalayee, a Kurdish resident of Dallas, told a local Kurdish news website that Yalda Sirwan Qadir, a young Kurdish girl from Akoyan Vil--lage near Rwanduz in the Iraqi Kurdistan received U.S. Presi--dents’ Award for Educational Excellence for her outstanding performance in school.
A Kurdish girl receives U.S. President’s award
A Kurdish young girl from Dallas, Texas, receives President Barack Obama’s Education Award.
The Kurdish Globe No. 510, Monday, October 19, 2015 3
President Barzani: The political disputes will be resolved soon
“The political disputes in the Kurdistan Region will be resolved without an adverse impact on the security and stability of the Region.”
A United States congress delegation met with Kurd--istan Region President Masoud Barzani in Erbil on October 14th, reiterat--ing their support for Erbil.
The US delegation con--sisted of Senators Mitch McConnel, Tom Cotton, Mike Rounds, Joni Ernst and Andy Barr. They were accompanied by the US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, the General Consul in Erbil Matthias Mitman and a number of military officials.
The guests declared their admiration for the role of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Peshmerga in the war against Islamic State (IS), and promised continued US support.
President Barzani, in re--turn, thanked the US for providing military and hu--manitarian support to the Peshmerga and the KRG.
Barzani explained that the ongoing war against IS, financial disputes with the central government in Baghdad and the huge number of refugees and IDPs arriving in the Kurd--istan Region have made the situation ever more complicated.
He stressed that the polit--ical disputes in the Kurd--istan Region will be re--solved without an adverse impact on the security and stability of the region.
President Barzani receives UN envoy
to IraqOn the same day Barzani
welcomed the United Na--tions Secretary General's envoy to Iraq, Mr. Jan Kubis. During the meet--ing President Barzani and Mr. Kubis discussed the latest developments in the war between the free
world and the terrorists of the Islamic State in which the Peshmerga forces are a critical part.
The two sides also spoke of the internal issues in the Kurdistan Region follow--ing the events earlier this week where peaceful pro--tests were politicized and were turned into acts of violence against the Kurd--istan Democratic Party in the towns of Qaladize, Sayd Sadiq and Kalar. Mr. Kubis stated that those who were responsible for the violence which unfor--tunately led to life loss and
property damages must be faced with justice and added that the political situation in the Kurdistan Region should be solved very soon.
Barzani receives the new Swedish
Ambassador The Swedish newly ap--
pointed ambassador to Iraq, who visited Barzani on October 13, asked the President to encourage the Kurdish political par--ties to resolves their ten--sions through dialogue. She also hoped the politi--
cal unrest will not create negative impact upon the morale of Peshmerga in fighting against the IS.
Barzani and Abaddi spoke on the phone Concerning the recent
political and security de--velopments Barzani was contacted through phone by the Iraq Prime Minister Haydar Abadi. Both sides reiterated mutual coop--eration between the Iraqi army and the Kurdish forces of Peshmerga.
Barzani meets the new Nineva
GovernorBarzani also met with the
newly appointed Nineveh Governor in Erbil on Oc--tober 10. Barzani hoped the new governor will be successful in his new ca--reer.
The governor thanked Kurdistan Regional gov--ernment for holding a great number of displaced people who fled Nineveh toward the Kurdistan Re--gion.
Following the dissolv--ing of its agreement with the Change Movement, Gorran, in the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP, has offered a new proposal to the Kurd--ish political parties to form a majority cabinet and redistribute the parlia--ment presidency posts and ministries.
Fadhil Mirani, Secretary of KDP Politburo, told the media that Gorran has been a hinder ahead of stability and prosperity of Kurdistan, adding that his party will start talks with the other parties in the next few days.
Mirani said after last meeting of his party polit--buro that Gorran is no lon--ger in the KRG cabinet, adding that Gorran took the post of the Parliament Speaker based on the mu--tual KDP-Gorran cabinet formation agreement.
KDP officials called Gor--
ran ministers and MPs not to return to Erbil to con--tinue their works. Then Prime Minister Barzani explained everything in a meeting with the Gorran ministers in a meeting in his office.
Barzani told them that Gorran has been acting like an opposition in the government cabinet and that it was not acceptable.
The KDP has announced that the security forces prevented the Parliament Speaker and Gorran MPs from entering Erbil be--cause it has been under huge pressure from its supporters.
Last week, the KDP of--fices were attacked and burned by angry protes--tors who were stimulated by Gorran supporters and
members in several areas in the provinces of Sulai--maniya and Halabja.
According to information revealed in Kurdish media outlets, the KDP is plan--ning to give a big share to PUK and the Kurdistan Islamic Union in the new cabinet formation.
Ali Awni, KDP leader--ship member, said that Gorran had an ominous
plan to seize the current situation in the Kurdistan Region and extend the disarray from other cities to the capital Erbil and Duhok as well because they exploited it to collect many more votes.
Mahmoud Mohammed, KDP politburo member and head of Press and Cul--tural Institution of KDP, announced that the KDP is a big number in the politi--cal process in Kurdistan, adding that it cannot be out.
He said that the KDP proved for Gorran that they cannot do whatever they have in their mind and dreams. He went on his explanation for the current situation saying that Gorran denied the al--legation after one year of partnership in the cabinet that it will withdraw from the government.
Mohammed added that Gorran has had the same old ambition to act as an
opposition party. “Gorran emphasized that they had been acting in the opposi--tion in order to reach pow--er, that’s why Gorran does not want to withdraw from the current cabinet.”
Mohammed shed light on the sensitive and rapid changes that are happen--ing in the Middle East, likening it to happenings occurred in 1916 when the countries were divided ac--cording to the interests of the super powers of the time.
"Kurds should get ready to face the challenges which are happening in the region and take as much benefit they can as the US and its allies on one hand and the Russians on the other try to show their presence and existence in the Middle East," con--cluded Mr. Muhammad.
KDP starts talks with parties to form majority cabinet without GorranKurds should take as much as benefit they can from the changes happening in the Middle East, says senior KDP official
The Kurdish Globe No. 510, Monday, October 19, 2015 4
PM Barzani: Peaceful protests seized by narrow political interests
Kurdistan regional Govern--ment (KRG) Prime Minis--ter Nechirvan Barzani ad--dressed a televised speech to the people of Kurdistan regarding the current ongo--ing crisis and challenges ahead of Kurdistan and the Kurdish government.
Premier Barzani men--tioned the violent protests happened in several cities and towns which caused civil casualties.
“The rightful and peaceful protests has been seized by narrow political interests and irresponsible hands or parties who strived to destroy the Kurdistan Region’s components and community.”
He frankly thanked the majority of the people whose their voices have succeeded over a small group of dissatisfied voices. They raised, PM Barzani said, the voice of restraint and the voice of moderate and responsible succeeded.
Regarding the protests, PM Barzani stated that: “Expression of opinion through peaceful demon--strations is a basic right of the people and is a signifi--cant part of the KRG’s de--mocracy.”
The Premier expressed his deep sadness and con--cern over the casualties of the protests in the districts of Qaladze and Kalar, ex--pressing condolences to the family of the victims and wished fast recovery for the injured as well.
During his speech, PM Barzani very honestly de--clared that: “Such kinds of actions will divide the nation and the enemies of
Kurdistan congratulated each other and those irre--sponsible people in Kurdis--tan who caused the protests turn violent.”
PM Barzani went on his speech and declared that the people and responsible leadership in the Kurdistan Region say that the current sensitive situation should be dealt with wisely, add--ing that the “seditious ac--tions” from anyone should be prevented.
To thank those classes of the society that have had a positive role to call the people calm and restraint, PM Barzani hailed the role of Command of Peshmarga forces, non-governmental organizations and religious
clerics. KRG PM thanked those
who avoided media war and the intensified environ--ment is the social network--ing pages with the intention of preventing more divi--sion between the people. We should not also, PM Barzani said, forget those political parties which due to their short-term politi--cal interests set the com--mon house of the people of Kurdistan ablaze.
On the subject of the presidential issue, Barzani announced that his party, Kurdistan Democratic Par--ty, KDP, wants to resolve it in a way that it won’t become a reason to lead Kurdistan from a crisis to a
new one. He expressed his view
and said that the “people of Kurdistan” should vote on the presidency and put an end to this issue.
In the speech, PM Bar--zani shed light on salary distribution of the KRG employees saying that his cabinet has always listened to complains of the loyal employees who have not received their salaries for months.
“To resolve this issue in addition to external threats, the KRG has been trying hard to find necessary re--sources to pay the employ--ees.”
His major goal as the KRG Prime Minister is to
guarantee Kurdistan Re--gion’s economic indepen--dence, Barzani said.
He also criticized some politicians who have been struggling to make this journey more complicated, stressing on keeping the promises and goals.
Regarding struggle of the Peshmarga forces, PM Barzani said that: “The blood colour of the Pesh--marga fighters is neither yellow, referring to the co--lour of his party’s flag, nor green, referring to colour of Patriotic Union of Kurd--istan’s flag. But they pro--tect Kurdistan with all the components as they fight for a bright future without considering different ideol--
ogies, political parties, and areas, social and religious backgrounds.”
Premier Barzani said that like the majority of the people of Kurdistan, he believes that common in--terests are more significant than the small differences between the parties.
At the end of his speech, PM Barzani concluded that: “Let’s seize the cur--rent difficult time to cre--ate a bright future for the Kurdistan Region and its new generation.”
He strongly thanked the people of Kurdistan to ex--ercise restraint and moder--ate behaviours through the peaceful demands.
Prime Minister strongly hails people of Kurdistan to exercise restraint
In a press conference which was organized fol--lowing Kurdistan Demo--cratic Party, KDP, and Pa--triotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, meeting in Erbil to talk about the current situ--ation in Kurdistan, Saadi Ahmed Pira, PUK Polit--buro member, said that the violent protests proved that the KDP and PUK should keep working to--
gether. Pira stated that what hap--
pened during the protests was violating the nature and rules of demonstra--tion.
He stressed that both KDP and PUK are in a po--sition where they are de--fending the Kurdistan Re--gion borders, and that they cannot work separately.
KDP and PUK empha--
sized that they should maintain the positive rep--utation of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Pira denied all the ru--mours that Kurdistan is going to be divided into two administrations again, saying that many challeng--es faced Kurdistan and the two parties resolved them successfully.
The KDP-PUK meeting
was a message that these two forces cannot work separately because they have achieved common goals and they are fight--ing against the so-called Islamic State, ISIS/ISIL.
They both agreed in the press conference that they should not allow the sedi--tious people to encourage violence, and that they should put hand in hand to
tackle such efforts. Mahmoud Mohammed,
a KDP official, said in the press conference that what Change Movement, known as Gorran locally, did in this situation was not appropriate. He said that Gorran was behind the violent protests.
In addition, Mohammed said that the KDP support--ers and members do not
accept the situation where their offices and houses set ablaze in Sulaimaniyah and Halabja Provinces.
He stressed that both KDP and PUK will hold another meeting in the near future to further dis--cuss the situation.
PUK official: PUK and KDP should continue working together KDP and PUK are protecting Kurdistan borders against ISIS.
The Kurdish Globe No. 510, Monday, October 19, 2015 5
Foreign involvement in Suleimaniya riots Following the series of demonstrations across Suleimaniya Province that turn into violence, Suleimaniya Governor announces that there had been foreign hands in the riots and the violence in the province last week.
Dr. Aso Faraidun, Sulei--maniya governor, said in a press conference after meeting with the city’s security committee on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, that the security forces across Suleimaniya and Garmian have done their best to control the se--curity and protect people’s lives and belongings dur--ing the violent week the city went through.
“They protected citi--zens, government and party offices and institu--tions equally and without political biasness, so they deserve appreciation.”
Currently large num--bers of police and secu--rity forces are spread in and around Suleimaniya
to be ready in case of any potential riots and acts of violence. However, Gov--ernor Faraidun argued that
as soon as the situations go back to normal, this number will be decreased to normal as well.
Commenting on the rea--son behind the violence, Faraidun claimed that dur--ing the demonstrations,
some people were trying to deteriorate the situa--tion and make a riot; that is why he believes there
are foreign hands behind the riots.
Saadi Ahmed Pira, member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s Po--litical Bureau, on the other hands, announced that around 400 people have been arrested among dem--onstrators, among whom there were Arab and Syr--ian nationals as well as members of local political parties.
In a meeting with diplo--matic representatives of foreign countries in Kurd--istan, Pira said the events were “undesirable” and there were foreign hands behind the riots.
The diplomats expressed their concerns about the situations in Kurdistan Region and criticized Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) for prevent--ing Parliament Speaker from entering Erbil.
US Consul General Matthias Mitman has denounced the latest violence to take place in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
On Thursday Octo--ber 13th, Mitman met with Head of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Foreign Relations Hemin Hawrami to discuss the political and financial crises which recently led people onto the streets.
Hawrami claimed that a specific party deceived people into attacking KDP staff and offices across Sulaymaniyah and Halabja provinces.
Two KDP staff were killed and scores injured
during the violent pro--tests, Hawrami added.
He explained that the KDP will dissolve the current government and dismiss the parliament speaker as Gorran figures have violated their politi--cal agreement with the KDP, and failed to carry out their duties.
Matthias Mitman con--demned any attempt to adversely affect stability in the Kurdistan Region, and encouraged politi--cal parties to resolve the disputes through nego--tiation.
Mitman stressed that the Kurds must prevent any foreign intervention in internal issues.
US Consul General condemns violence
in Sulaymaniyah
Matthias Mitman meets KDP official in Erbil
Senior Peshmerga Com--mander Sheikh Jafar Mustafa has highlighted President Mas--soud Barzani’s significant role in the fight against Islamic State (IS), saying that without Barzani’s approval, coalition jets wouldn’t be flying in sup--port of the Peshmerga.
Mustafa, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) polit--buro member, revealed that the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have pushed IS militants back from a vast area in southern Kirkuk Province, ensuring bet--ter security for the Kurdistan Region and neighboring areas.
Mustafa rejected reports claiming that the Peshmerga forces are digging trenches in an effort to redraw Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) borders with Iraq. “As part of a military strategy, we have decided to tighten our front--lines against the jihadists using trenches,” Mustafa said.
He believes that the Pesh--merga should take part in any operation to liberate Mosul and Hawija as the IS presence in these areas can pose serious threats to the Kurdistan Re--gion.
“However,” Mustafa said, “there must be an agreement to provide the Peshmerga with the required military equip--ment for the operation.”
Regarding the current politi--cal crisis, Mustafa stressed that Kurdish political parties must remain united if they are seek--ing independence and victory against terrorists.
The Peshmerga command--er acknowledged the role of Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani in leading the Peshmerga against IS, say--ing that the international coali--tion continue their support for the KRG only upon Barzani’s request.
Without Barzani, International Coalition won’t support KRG:
Peshmerga Commander
KDP hands some offices
over to Security forces
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Leadership in Sulaimaniya, released a statement concerning the violent actions in Sulaimaniya and Garmi--yan area.
Afew days ago, demonstrations took place in areas around Pishdar – Qaldiza, Zharawa and Hajiawa due to the non-payment of government employees’ salaries and the ongoing lack of resolution to the presidential issue.
"Our offices were attacked by pro--testors without any justification. Some wanted to complicate the sit--uation and changed the direction of the demonstration. Our offices were targeted," read the statement
"Although Change Movement has always been accusing KDP for burning political parties' offices, this time they made protestors burn our offices and kill our members. Two members of our party were killed and several others were injured," added the statement
KDP in the statement is calling on civilians and the parties to deal with the current situation in calm and civilized manner.
"For the sake of protecting people's lives, we handed our offices over to security forces. We never wanted to create violent situation and always tried to keep peace," concluded the statement
The Kurdish Globe No. 510, Monday, October 19, 2015 6
ISIS confirm second in command was killed
The Islamic State has confirmed its second in command was killed in a US air strike earlier this year.
Isis spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani said the U.S. is 'rejoicing' in the death of Abu Mutaz al-Qurashi, described by the White House as a 'primary co-ordinator' within the terror group.
In an audio recording posted online today, Adnani also vowed the group would 'defeat' Russia after Moscow launched air strikes against the jihad--ists in Syria late last month.
ISIS fighters surrender to Peshmerga
Seven ISIS militants—including three Kurds—have surrendered to the Peshmerga since last week in Kirkuk and the township of Gwer, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Erbil, Peshmerga officials have told Rudaw.
The surrendered militants escaped ISIS in Mosul and managed to reach Peshmerga front lines in Kirkuk, and they went back on joining and fighting for the extremist group.
The militants would be treated ac--cording to the terror law and “For more investigations they are handed over to the Asayish (security forces) to know whether they have taken part in any battle and crime against the Peshmer--ga.
Five ISIS fighters killed in Airstrikes
After the ISIS fighters started bom--barding Pehsmerga bases in Wanke last week, the coalition air forces responded the attacks killing fine ISIS fighters.
A military source told the Kurdish Globe that no damages and casualties recorded in the ISIS's attack on Pesh--merga, but five ISIS fighters killed in the airstrikes.
Kurds against arming militias in Kirkuk
The chairman of the security com--mittee of Kirkuk Provincial Council is rejecting an idea to send Hashd al-Shaabi to the oil-rich, disputed Kirkuk province.
Azada Jabbari said Thursday that the Iraqi government should send weapons to the Peshmerga; not bring in the Shi--ite militia, also known as Popular Mo--bilization Forces.
“Instead of sending Hashd al-Shaabi forces, let them send weapons to the military force that had been protect--ing Kirkuk, (the Peshmerga),” Jabbari said.
The security chairman said they will not agree on sending Hashd al- Shaabi forces or any other forces to Kirkuk ex--cept Peshmerga.
ISIS buries their members’ bodies in mass grave
The Islamic State terrorists have buried about 60 bodies of their members, who have been killed during the fighting and coalition airstrikes, in a mass grave in Mosul city. ISIS does not want people to know about the numbers of their ca--sualties and killing inside their forces.
NEWS BAR
By J. Watt
An American Issue You Hadn’t Thought About
As an American columnist in the Kurdistan region, I’m obliged to discuss politics nearly every day with those I interact with. This is cer--tainly a political region full of people with highly political views—especially opinions on American politics. Yet I am usually surprised that most Kurds know little of the effects of abortion on politics in America.
“We don’t talk about it be--cause we believe the same thing as one another,” a Kurd--ish friend told me, explaining that most Muslims disagree with abortion. Yet on the oth--er side of the globe, it remains one of America’s most con--troversial political issues.
Abortion refers to a mother deciding to terminate a preg--
nancy and end the life of her unborn child. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll state up--front that I am unashamedly pro-life (opposing abortion) and my jargon will reflect this. I believe life begins at conception—even if you dis--agree with me I’d hope you agree life begins at the time a heart beats (which is 18 days from conception). Abortion has been legal in the United States for over 30 years and more than 40 million lives have been aborted since 1973 when abortion was made le--gal nationally through the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision.
These numbers have shocked my friends here in the Kurdis--tan region where Kurds rarely talk about a baby in the womb
for fear of jinxing it and losing the precious life, but it is no doubt a reality and astound--ing. In the 21st century in the United States of America, the most powerful nation on the planet, a woman can actually walk into an abortion clinic and put a stop to a beating heart by her own inclination. Keep in mind that if someone killed the unborn child in her womb without her permission, he or she would be charged in court with homicide and per--haps spend decades in prison while the mother who chose an abortion walks home a free woman.
This issue is back in the news because Republicans in Congress are trying to block tax money from funding abortions through Planned
Parenthood, America’s larg--est abortion provider, par--ticularly after recent videos showing Planned Parenthood executives speaking callously about selling fetal organs, al--legedly even harvested for profit whilst the baby’s heart was beating. Google it. But prepare yourself for sickness that is perhaps much worse than the likes of ISIS.
I don’t have to tell you the Middle East is a mess. But I hope you see America has its problems. Yes, we’ve done some good things in the world to preserve life, human rights, and dignity, but we haven’t yet taken the necessary steps to preserve the life, human rights, and dignity of our own unborn. Shame on us.
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Leadership Member, Shalaw Ali Askari in an in--terview with a Basnews sheds light on the current political situation in Kurdistan Region and the demonstrations which have recently taken place in Sulaimaniya. ِ
Several districts in Sulay--maniyah and Halabja prov--inces witnessed protestors demanding unpaid salaries for public sector employees and a solution to the presiden--tial crisis in the region. Five people were reportedly killed when the protests turned on Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) offices and staff in the area.
Askari believes that some external hands want to exploit the situation aiming at creat--ing unrest in Sulaimaniay through demonstrations; if things are going on this way, civil war may break out.
"Issues cannot be solved this
way. I can't see positive inten--tions from political parties for solving their issues through dialogue and conversation. I am really pessimistic about the future of Kurdistan Re--gion," Askari sadly said
Askari also said that all the political parties that have tak--en part in forming the cabinet are responsible for the current
financial crisis in the region. He said it is not fair to accuse only PUK and KDP for the current crisis.
Askari also said pelting rocks at political offices is not something good, but what is worse is responding the rocks with firing bullets at protes--tors.
When asked about the rea--
son behind the demonstra--tions, Askari answered "Peo--ple started demonstrating because they are hungry, have no money and are unpaid. People demonstrated because some families in the political parties have controlled the re--gion's resources and fortunes while others are in predica--ment. People are mad at all the political parties and want their rights to be kept. But unfortunately some external forces exploited the situation and changed the aims and di--rections of the protests,"
Askari attributed the demon--strations in Sulaimaniya to the freedom people have in the city. "PUK has created a situ--ation in the city where people feel free to stand against any mishaps and injustices. Peo--ple in the city are freer to ex--press themselves than people in other cities," he noted
PUK Official: Demonstrations exploited by external interventions
Head of Turkmen Develop--ment Bloc in Kurdistan Par--liament, Muna Qahwachi, accused parliament speaker, Yousuf Mohammed for not treating her party as an official political party. She also reject--ed that her party has released any statements claiming Turk--mens along with some politi--cal parties are against the pre--vention of Parliament speaker from going to Erbil.
"The Turkmens constitute one of the main nations in Kurdistan Region, but Kurd--
istan Parliament Speaker have always tried to ignore our de--mands and prevented us from taking part in meetings on na--tional issues," said Qahwachi
Qahwachi's party has only one member in the Kurdistan Parliament. Qahwachi always asked her members to be looked at as a bloc, but parlia--ment speaker rejected the re--quest. She said "Now parlia--ment speaker want to consider us as a bloc for his interest,"
Qahwachi also said prevent--ing Parliament speaker from
going to Erbil is due to his party's participation in the past demonstrations which aimed at burning Kurdistan Demo--cratic Party's (KDP) offices in several areas and killing and injuring some members.
In Qahwachi's view Gorran was behind the demonstra--tions and the entire chaotic situation in Kurdistan Region. "KDP should have already stood against Yousuf Mo--hammed when he wanted to amend the presidency law on July 23,"
Meanwhile, Blnd Sherzad, head of Rizgari Turkmen Na--tional Party, stated what have been done against KDP's of--fices in Sulaimaniya was im--moral and illegal because of--fices are public properties.
Sherzad wonders as to why only KDP's offices were tar--geted and burned during the demonstrations. "That should be Gorran members who burned the KDP's offices."
Turkmen parties mad at Gorran Actions
The Kurdish Globe No. 510, Monday, October 19, 2015 7
Sports NewsRonaldo breaks Raul’s all-time scoring record
Cristiano Ronaldo has usurped Raul as Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer after finding the net against Levante on Saturday.The Portugal international racked up his latest milestone with a vicious strike from just outside the box, powering the ball into the far corner and beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.The most remarkable thing about Ron--aldo's achievement is that he surprassed Raul's tally in just 310 appearances in all competitions. Ex-Spain international Raul played 741 times for Real over the course of a 16-year period from 1994 to 2010
Mourinho lauds Chelsea discipline after win without Hazard
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the struggling English champions will stick to their back-to-basics approach after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday in which Eden Hazard started on the bench.
He added that the Belgium winger, Chelsea's stand-out player in last sea--son's title-winning team, was among the substitutes as part of a revamp to end his side's miserable run of form.
Neymar annihilates impressive Rayo
A blinding performance by Neymar dashed any hopes harbored by Rayo Val--lecano, whose only consolation was to return home in the knowledge that they were the better side in the game against Barcelona.The Brazilian, who scored four goals and played in Luis Suárez for another, obliterated the Madrid-based outfit.
Erbil wins over Al-Shurta 3-2
The Erbil club achieved a great victory over Al-Shurta 2-3 in the fifth round of the Iraqi Football Premier League.
Erbil Football Club coach, Thaer Ahmed, said his team was able to defeat Al-Shurta club last Thursday in the Iraqi league because he identified the oppo--nent team's weak points.
Number of middle ear implant operations done in Erbil
For the third time in this year, a series of special and large medical operations were done for patients with hearing problem in Erbil.
A number of specialized ENT physicians at Rizgari Hospital in Erbil did middle ear implant operations for 10 patients.
Dr. Saman Hussein Bar--zinji, Director General of Rizgari Hospital states that the operations were success--ful and the patients will go through a special therapy for 6 to 12 months to learn how to speak.
Dr. Barzinji says the cost
of such an operation at a private hospital is between US$30,000 to US$40,000.
“However, the operations were done for free at Rizgari Hospital,” explained Dr. Barjinji. “Erbil Health Di--rectorate pays for the costs of these operations.”
Erbil Governor Nawzad Hadi, who was present at the hospital at the begging of the operations, expressed his gratitude towards the physi--cians and medical staff who reiterate their commitment to saving people’s lives “de--spite this crisis.”
Kissing scene brings Iranian Kurdish director six years imprisonment, 223 lashes
Kurdish director Kaiwan Karimi has been sentenced to six years imprisonment by a judge of the 28th branch of Iran’s revolutionary court.
Muhammad Moghise, the judge presiding over the rul--ing said that Karimi had in--sulted the scared values and promoted illegitimate rela--tions and contact through kissing.
In addition to the tough prison sentence, he is to re--ceive 223 lashes.
In a rare telephone conver--sation with Rudaw Karimi, 30 and a native of the Kurd--ish city of Baneh, rejected the accusations and decried his sentencing.
“I’ve made a film about the government, social con--ditions, graffiti on the walls and the working class,” he said. “It is for people to judge my films. I don’t know why I should be punished like this.”
Karimi’s lawyer, Amir Raisyan said that the direc--tor has been sentenced for an idea and nothing more.
According to Raisyan, Karimi received the harsh sentence for a scene that he intended to film.
“He wanted to film a scene but because he didn’t reach an agreement with the ac--tress it didn’t happen,” Rai--syan told Rudaw. “We told
the court that the clip wasn’t produced and you can’t pun--ish someone for something that hasn’t happened.”
The idea for the scene is believed to have been rec--ommended by popular Ira--nian singer Shahin Najafi.
Raisyan added that the court had also used one of Karimi’s previous docu--mentary films titled Diwar (Wall) featuring graffiti against him.
“The film is about the his--tory of wall graffiti and has nothing to do with sacred values or anything,” said Karimi’s lawyer.
Karimi has made a num--ber of award-winning fea--
ture films in the last several years, among them “Broken Borders” about the life of Kurdish smugglers on the border between the Kurd--istan Region and Iranian Kurdistan.
Hashd al-Shaabi threatens to expel Peshmerga in Kirkuk
The Iraqi Shi’ite militia Pop--ular Mobilization Forces or Hashd al-Shaabi, has threat--ened to drive Kurds out of Kirkuk in northern Iraq.
According to Iraqi news agencies, the Shi’ite militia group expressed full support to the Iraqi central govern--ment in any attempt to take back control of Kirkuk prov--ince from the Kurds.
The group is planning to capitalize on current internal disputes between Kurdish political parties to increase its influence in the oil-rich province where Kurds are the main security presence.
“Hashd al-Shaabi will soon free Kirkuk from Kurd--ish occupation, and they will face justice,” a Shi’ite-
linked group recently posted on Facebook. It called the Kurds “Appointees of Is--rael”.
The Shi’ite militias have been attempting to enter
Kirkuk and increase their presence in northern Iraq, but have faced resistance from Kurdish authorities in the area.
Kurdish Peshmerga forc--
es have had full control of Kirkuk since mid-2014 when Islamic State militants surged into northern Iraq and the Iraqi army deserted.
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ERBIL FORECASTThe Painter from Western Kurdistan Haitham Kurdi
Damascus also known as (Sham) has been an impor--tant artistic and cultural sta--tion for Arabs, Kurds and other minorities’ artists. In the past, the city was a place for Kurdish artists to show--case their works and activi--ties and improve their art.
The Kurdish painter from Western Kurdistan, Haitham Kurdi, who has settled in the city of Damascus, finished the Academy of Fine Arts in the city. He carried on his activities and has showcased
his works in most of the gal--leries. He has been a profes--sional teacher of art with a special method; he’s chosen his own colors in his works. He’s taught many students in Damascus.
The national identity of this artist is proven by the name he’s adopted, which is Haitham Kurdi. So he has special fans, especially when showcasing his art works, many Kurdish friends and artists attend his exhibitions. If we take a typical example
of Kurdis’ work, we’ll see a special school in method and technique of his art works which are modern or con--temporary. The warm colors in his works imply that the Middle East has chosen these lively colors. In Europe, in contrast, often the cold colors are chosen due to the cold--ness of the areas. The colors that Haitham has chosen are the result of the impact of the Middle East culture and the area he lives in and its reflec--tion on his art works.
As far as his forms con--cerned, you can see some hu--manitarian and social topics such as faces which are re--flection of the daily life. The artist wants to draw the length of the sky in his drawings in which black and white clouds and many times red sky can be seen. He’s used oil colors and sometimes acrylic colors as well for composing his works, but his style can be recognized so easily thanks to the techniques he’s used. His eyes have taken the pic--
tures as if he’s in sky taking the picture of the earth. Or the mountains from a bank of cloud, recording a realis--tic image. He in that way has transferred the photographic images into his drawings.
Haitham’s message is that he wants to have his identity and Kurdistan recognized by the Arab, Kurds and the world as well.
By: Ashti Garmiyani
The short film “My Fa--ther’s Garden” that is written and directed by the Kurdish filmmaker, Shwan Attufis, is ready to showcase. “I swear to your child--hood, son… you’re sor--rowful of handing the knife, I swear by your sorrow… you’ll see the flower before you die”
this is the final word of the father who has been a regretful Kurdish strug--gler. The son has been cut into pieces between garden, flower, sophism, his father, jihad, behead--ing and his Amir. The main actor of the film is Shwan Attuf himself.“My father’s Garden” is his second experience of
filmmaking after direct--ing “Home and Key”. The 13- minute-long film is sponsored by Hotel Ramada and is due to be sent to the world’s fes--tivals via “I Love Film” company.
By H.G. Hassan
Shaw Attuf Produces “My Father’s Garden”
