Iraq news
Much has been said and written about the assassination of journalist Kawa Garmiyani. But fundamentally, the killing has two aspects: First, this is a normal criminal case, which needs a response from the government and authorities. Second, the attack is on press freedom in Kurdistan. If the authorities are taking what happened seriously, the...
Read More »
The influx of refugees into Iraqi Kurdistan is not because they are afraid or to seek a better life. It is because they feel abandoned and insecure in their land. Their leaders are not with them, the international community does not want to know anything about them, Turkey is not helping and Kurdistan Region...
Read More »
The relationship between politics and media in Iraqi Kurdistan has oscillated between bad and unhealthy. Neither political interests nor the media have managed to overcome their disabilities, failing to create a healthy relationship that would shape citizens who are educated, informed and aware of the place and region where they live. By political interests,...
Read More »
The phased withdrawal of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas from Turkey into Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region must be followed up with serious moves by Ankara to settle the Kurdish issue. Otherwise, it will create many problems. The peace agreement, which is hoped to settle a three-decade conflict in Turkey, seems to have been made...
Read More »
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s visit to Erbil and Kirkuk sent many messages to the Kurds and Baghdad; the main one being Turkey is an important, strong and stable player in the region. But the visit also sent messages home to Turkey. The headline of the daily Hurriyet on August 2 was: “Barzani vows...
Read More »
The attack on the two main Kurdish parties has provided impetus for resolving their differences. By Hiwa Osman in Arbil Unusually for a Wednesday afternoon, the cavernous Sawaf Mosque in the centre of Arbil was packed. Rival leaders from the two most powerful Kurdish political parties – the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK, and...
Read More »
