Delegation Visits Kurdistan To Discuss Kurdish National Convention
06/02/2012 04:01:00 By HEMIN KHOSHNAW – ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan — A delegation of Kurdish MPs from Turkey arrived in the Kurdistan Region last week to discuss holding a Kurdish national convention. For the past two years, various Kurdish political parties from all parts of the Middle East have contemplated a convention drawing together Kurds from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey.
KURDISTAN & NEAR EAST : Middle East Conference Against Female Genital Mutilation
BEIRUT by Irfan Al-Alawi . January 31, 2012 - On January 19, the first conference on female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Middle East opened in Beirut, Lebanon. The event was called by two non-governmental organizations, the Dutch-based Humanist Institute for Cooperation (HIVOS) and WADI, the Association for Crisis Assistance and Solidarity Development Cooperation. Founded by Germans, WADI has worked extensively in Iraqi Kurdistan, where it is in the forefront of opposition to FGM.
FGM is most commonly found in African countries, where it may be inflicted on women by Christians and animists as well as by Muslims. For example, Egyptian Copts and Ethiopian Orthodox Christians subject their daughters to this cruel and inhumane degradation. FGM is not a religious-based practice, although it has been legitimised by certain Islamic clerics, including the Egyptian radical preacher Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. Even Al-Qaradawi, nevertheless, states that the alleged justification for FGM among Muslims is based on weak hadiths (oral commentaries) of Muhammad, and that it therefore cannot be considered obligatory. It has no basis in Qur’an and, fortunately, is absent from much of the Muslim world.
Demonstrations in Choman continue for the fourth day
News by The Kurdistan Tribune: 5.2.2012 – Residents of Choman, in Balakayati, have staged demonstrations for the past four days, blocking the main trading road between Choman and Haji-omaran and demanding justice be served following the murder of Rebaz Rahim, 27, whose body was found in Gali-Alibag River on 31 January.
Hivos (NETHERLANDS) and Wadi (GERMANY) invite you to: February 6 Marks “International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation”
Special Event in Sulaimani, Iraq to Raises Awareness of FGM in Kurdistan
February 6, 2012 (Sulaimani, Iraq) – A special event on Monday, February 6 at 2:15 p.m. will mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation at Sulaimani’s Culture Café.
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is globally recognized as a gross violation of human rights of girls and women. FGM continues to be practiced in Iraq and northern Iraqi Kurdistan, despite ongoing efforts to eradicate the practice.
Shiite-Kurdish Tensions Rising
03/02/2012 RUDAW By JASIM ALSABAWAI – BAGHDAD — The relationship between Shiites and Kurds extends back to the days when both groups were struggling against Saddam Hussein’s regime. Both groups worked to bring the dictatorship to an end and established their rights in Iraq. Following the fall of Hussein’s regime in 2003, the Kurds in northern Iraq and the Shiites had a strong partnership and helped create the new Iraqi government.
STRATEGIC ALLIANCE: Middle East turmoil draws Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan closer
B By Jon Hemming – REUTERS - February 2, 2012 – ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’, — Upheaval in the Middle East and mutual economic interests are drawing together two unlikely partners; rising powerhouse Turkey and an entity whose name Turkish leaders hardly dare mention – Kurdistan, the semi-autonomous region of northern Iraq. Ankara has developed solid political and trade ties with Iraq’s Kurds, as its foreign policy of “zero problems with the neighbors” unravels due to the uprising in Syria, tensions with Baghdad and rivalry with Iran.
PUK leader calls upon Nechirvan Barzani to develop a modern health system
By Dr Shakawan Ismaeel: KURDISTAN TRIBUNE – 2.2.20120 – Kurdistan health care reform has been talked about for a very long time but the main ruling parties, PUK and KDP, have never put their full weight behind it.Mala Bakhtyar, the director of the PUK political bureau, has for the first time spoken about the status of the health system in Kurdistan and the need for reform. In an open letter to Nechirvan Barzani, who is expected to be nominated to take over the premiership of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Mala Bakhtyar has put forward several areas of priorities for the upcoming cabinet led by KRG President Barzani.
PROTECT THE LIFE OF SARWAR PENJWENI
February2012, Metro Center Urge KRG to protect the life of (Sarwar Penjweni)
Metro center recently published very interesting report about the journalism situation in KRG http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/1/state5822.htm
Sarwar Penjwene is a brave Kurdish writer , after he published some critic analyze articles about Islam , a huge campaign started against him from different religious groups and Mullahs and now he is under death treat .
Opposition and government close to a deal
30.1.2012 – The Kurdish Globe – By Ako Muhammed-Erbil – Next Cabinet hopes to heal relations among Kurdistan’s political parties. “Our door is always open.”–KDP VP Nechirvan Barzani, expressing willingness to work with opposition parties. Kurdistan Democratic Party’s Vice President, Nechirvan Barzani launched direct negotiations with Kurdistan parties after he was nominated by his Kurdistan Democratic Party to lead the government once again for the coming two years.
Barzani about Syria : Age of denying Kurds is over
ERBIL, Jan. 28 (AKnews) – At the Syrian Kurd diaspora congress in Erbil, Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani said the age of denying Kurds is over and that he supports all the decisions by the congress. Massud Barzani , Sarok BarzaniThe two-day assembly began today at Saad Abdullah Conventions Center with 200 Syrian ex-patriots, the Syrian National Opposition and Kurdistan officials.
In a statement read to open the congress the organizing committee said the purpose behind gathering is to unify the Kurds of Syria, introduce the Kurdish situation to the world, support the Kurdish liberation movements and support the Kurdish National Opposition Council.