Last week's Mabahad protests in Iranian Kurdistan Sulaimani Media Boycotts Coverage of Mahabad Protests Number of Kurdish media outlets reported protests as “social issue”
Basnews | Hemin Salih views 19.05.2015 16:06
SULAIMANI
In the wake of public protests by Iranian Kurds angry at the death of the Kurdish woman Farinaz Khusrawani in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, opposing points of view have been published by Kurdish and international media outlets.
Considering their political connections to Iranian authorities or Kurdish political parties close to Iran, some Sulaymaniyah-based media outlets in the Kurdistan Region have reacted quietly to the event.
Some have failed to report the incident; others have dismissed it as a regular social issue and homicide. Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, however, described the protests as a revolution of the Kurdish people in Iran, and refer to the media outlets as betraying their national cause.
Activists in the Kurdistan Region claim that those publications close to or belonging to the ruling party of Sulaymaniyah Province, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), have marginalised the demonstrations for the sake of maintaining their own political interests with Iran.
Iraqi Kurdish political activist Hama Rashid told BasNews, “Due to political subdivision and the close relationship of some Kurdish parties with other countries, we’re being deceived and directed by the hostile foreign policy of neighbouring countries.
“Undoubtedly, if this horrific occurrence was in a developed country many ministers and high ranking officials would have to resign, but in Iran the government seeks to deceive the public and international community, and some Kurdish press have been reporting their version of events without question.”
Rashid continued, “By closing their eyes to Iranian violations of human rights, some Kurdish outlets are simply forcing a foreign agenda on Kurdish society.”
BasNews understands some Iranian Kurds have expressed their concerns to Iraqi President Fuad Masum, himself a Kurd. However, Kurdish matters were not on his agenda during last week’s visit to Tehran.
The demonstrations following Khusrawani’s death in Mahabad have drawn international attention. CNN compared her suicide to that death of the Tunisian man who triggered the Arab Spring in 2011, saying “Khusrawani became the Mohammad Buhazizi of Iran”.
Al-Arabiya Television reported, “Mahabad is the symbol of Kurds”. The London-based pan-Arabian newspaper Sharq al-Awsat described the demonstration as “A Kurdish Revolution in Iran”.
Mohammad Salih, an official from the Democratic Party of Kurdistan-Iran (PDKI) told BasNews, “We question the morality and national loyalty of the Kurdish media that has negatively reported the public protests of Kurdish people against the long history of Iranian oppression.”
Salih continued, “It’s as disgraceful as it can be for some Kurdish media to boycott or negatively report the desire of their own people for justice.”
Sulaiman Khusrawani, brother of Farinaz, rejected media reports that his sister had an affair with the suspect. “Some Kurdish press have slandered the name of my family, we have never said our sister had an affair with anyone. We call on the media to stop hurting our feelings and consider our mourning.”
Farinaz Khusrawani on May 7th jumped to her death from a window at the hotel where she worked. It is claimed she was escaping an Iranian intelligent officer attempting to rape her.
There are rumours that the hotel owner had intentionally placed Khusrawani in the room to be raped by the well-connected government worker. In return, he was to obtain a five star rating for the hotel through his connections. BasNews is unable to confirm the rumours at this time.
The protesters are demanding the arrest of the two men and seeking justice for Farinaz.
Citizens are afraid to enter large cash categories and experts they consider a new achievement
Dinars / Abbas Al passengers / .. Iraqi government may provide in some cases on the steps not only benefited a class or a specific segment of Iraqi society, while the ordinary citizen is affected first and last of those steps that Ataud benefit him .
Iraqi street was trading days since the news that the Ministry of Finance, represented by the Central Bank will issue a new currency from the category of " 50 " thousand dinars and then followed after issuing another currency of a larger category of a " 100 " thousand Iraqi dinars .
The moves in light of the suffering severe the country as a result of fiscal austerity that has ravaged the country about more than a year and a large deficit in the state budget since, through a multitude of objects of expenditure and the adoption of the government to only rentier economy, oil and some industries light of, in addition to the face of the country to organize Daash terrorist war against it, and having to reduce staff in the public sector wages as well as stop the financing of some projects as a result of fiscal austerity .
Dr. appearance of Mohammed Saleh adviser to Prime Minister for Economic Affairs told " economic dinars " on the subject, saying : I am with this trend in the introduction of large cash categories because it will raise the efficiency of large payments large cash and categories system facilitates the trading of large parliamentary blocs so they shortened the monetary amounts by half or more and solve the problem of the transfer of those quantities, Iraq is still handles cash Order Cache and not the card that requires time and effort and the culture of the visa regime .
He adds that the benefit of this project was due to work done for years, which does not contradict with the project to delete the zeros because reform, there is no need to fear the introduction of these large groups to the market because the financial institutions in the country studied the subject from all sides and is a guarantor of safety .
Some citizens believe that the introduction of " substantial monetary categories " to the market now is tantamount to adding new burdens on the ordinary citizen as simple salary categories will be hard to break or turn them into smaller groups in order to dispose of them .
They accuse the state to take decisions to Atsb in their interest never, through this confusion decisions is well thought out economic feasibility and benefits desired, but are skeptical about a lot of them that there are mafias significant financial and whales want to take advantage of the introduction of these large groups that might cripple the market movement and the elimination of small groups of categories of " 250 " dinars and " 500 " and " 1000 " dinars final and the first affected by it is to cancel the taxi buses that operate within the alleys and removed from the " 500 " to " 1000 " and the abolition of the pricing " ticket " hospitals, the government's " 500 " BD also due to lack of loose change final of daily trading, and will be traders are the first beneficiaries of this decision because they would import goods from outside Iraq through that currency instead of running behind the currency of the US dollar or the euro European volatile in terms of demand and supply and the purchase price also .
To Aikhvi citizen " Abu Zahraa al-Moussawi, " 34 -year-old fear of this sudden decision to us and says that his fear Mtota of greed merchants, exploitation and opportunists of them, because large denominations were a big problem in one day, especially in the post-dictatorial regime fall of the year 2003 as traders to Aigmon take unzip large currency, which was at the time 10 thousand dinars and 25 thousand, but buy eggs layer or a dozen full of cigarettes or any other commodity is determined by the dealer himself, citizens are forced to acquiesce to buy some of the issues they do not need them perhaps some people to Aadechn or unwilling to buy eggs table of the market and other goods .
He adds that the ordinary citizen fears of a repeat of the same scenario, especially since there is chaos in Iraq and the absence of economic sergeant in the market now is Maahdja traders on foot to carry out acts of earning profits is due and multiply .
It recalls that monetary categories in the country has gone through many stages and each time increased in number Ocefarha and pulls small currencies " loose change " and rising prices and growing, while large currency chasing small currencies remain as it says modern economic base, and increasing numbers of financial Warraq entering the market and the corresponding gold . / end / 22 /
Syrian Regime Continues to Interfere in Kurdish Cantons The Democratic Union Party (PYD) continues to rule Rojava unilaterally
Basnews | Shwan Barzinji views 19.05.2015 15:45
ERBIL
Tensions are increasing among Kurdish political parties in Syria over the regime support for a single party system of rule in the Syrian Kurdistan known as Rojava.
The Democratic Union Party (PYD) continues to rule Rojava unilaterally, which is frustrating other parties such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Syria (KDPS) and the Kurdish National Council (KNC).
The KDPS and KNC claim that the ruling PYD is unlawfully arresting their members. A public gathering is being planned to protest the detentions.
Earlier this month the KDPS claimed that two of their members were arrested in Afrin, in the northern Syrian Governorate of Aleppo.
Abdulwahab Ali disappeared on the 5th of May, and a second man was alleged to have been kidnapped by Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) guerillas on the 9th of May.
BasNews understands that the Syrian regime intelligence director of Qamishli ordered the PYD to stop other Kurdish parties opening headquarters in the region.
Senior PYD officials, Sipan Hamo, Shahin Jelo, Jihan Ali, Bedud Khalil and Bahoz Ardall have militarily cooperated with the Syrian heads of security forces in Hasaka and Qamishli, Brigadier General Ali Salih and Mohammad Nassr respectively.
The regime’s control over the Kurdish Cantons is similar to the situation in 1991 when Bashar al-Assad had put a military commander in charge of Lebanese areas.
BasNews can confirm that on his last visit to Russia, PYD leader Salih Muslim met with the Syrian ambassador in Moscow. He was asked to stay away from the Syrian opposition army, and in return Salih asked for military support a from the Syrian regime.
Nuri Brimo, spokesperson for the KNC told BasNews, “The regime handed the governance of these areas over to the PYD, and the PYD blocked our political participation in the region.”
“We have decided not to confront the PYD, even though the situation is bad; our members are arrested and kidnapped on a daily basis especially in Afrin.
“We call on the PYD to halt these provocative actions before the situation gets out of control,” Brimo warned.
Sherzad Yazidi, a senior PYD official, refutes the claims made by the KNC and KDPS and described them as “false allegations in favour of enemies.”
“Although we’re at war with Islamic State (IS), KNC and KDPS leaders abandoned their national responsibility to participate in the revolution. Instead they went to reside in luxury hotels in Erbil and Istanbul to spread rumours against democratic cantons, which serve the enemy,” Yazidi said.
HDP offices were target of attacks in Mersin and Adana
Kurdish Party Blames Turkish Governing Party for Attacks AKP has accused HDP politicians of being backed by terrorists
Basnews views 19.05.2015 15:09
ANKARA
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has blamed bomb attacks on their headquarters in Adana and Mersin on the Turkish governing party, weeks before the June 7th elections. The Turkish government has denied the allegations.
“Attacks on our party are increasing as the elections approach. So far, 60 different places including our party offices, party headquarters, cars, members and volunteers have been attacked. The attacks against our branches in Mersin and Adana this morning show the dangerous level of developments. At least 6 members and workers of our party were wounded in these incidents,” the HDP said in a statement on 18th May.
“They are meant to hinder our party’s progress and our electoral campaign. President Erdoğan in particular, the prime minister and other AKP [Justice and Development Party] government members are politically responsible for these attacks,” the HDP stated.
AKP politicians have increasingly targeted the HDP in election speeches, claiming HDP politicians are backed by terrorists. The AKP has an interest in keeping the HDP small, as if they do not pass the parliamentary threshold of 10 percent, most of the HDP votes will be transferred to the AKP, giving them a majority in parliament.
“The mentality that targets our party, insults and defames our co-presidents, party administrators and candidates in each and every speech has been on display once again in Adana and Mersin today,” the HDP said.
Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told an election rally in central Karaman province that he had given orders to “make all necessary investigations to find out whoever is behind the attacks,” reported the state-run news agency Anadolu.
Turkish government officials have denied any involvement in the ‘provocations’.
Al-Baghdadi Warns Baghdad and Karbala are Next Targets Al-Sadr: “We will fill Iraq with the bodies of Islamic State militants”
Basnews | Luke Coleman views 19.05.2015 14:55
BAGHDAD
An audio message released by Islamic State (IS) which claims to be from leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has thanked militants for the Ramadi victory and warned that the jihadist group will target Baghdad and Karbala next.
Although the message has yet to be verified, the Baghdad Security Committee released a statement Tuesday pointing out that 95% of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia remain positioned in the capital, a force of up to 60,000 fighters.
The head of the Sadrist Movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, also responded to the threats, vowing to protect Shi’ite holy sites.
“The land of Iraq is the land of holy sites, any believer must be loyal to Iraq and defend it from such barbaric terrorist attacks. If someone threatens to desecrate Karbala and other holy sites in the Iraqi capital and elsewhere, he who said it should know that we will fill Iraq’s land with their rotting bodies,” said the cleric.
Sadr’s brigades are part of the Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Front) Shi’ite militia. The statement concludes, “These threats must be taken seriously. We must work to protect the holy sites with everything all we have and deploy loyal Mujahideen who will sacrifice their lives no matter what the circumstances are.”
Residents fleeing the IS-controlled city of Ramadi
UN: 25,000 Civilians Flee Ramadi Ramadi was captured by Islamic State earlier this week
Basnews views 19.05.2015 14:28
BAGHDAD
The Islamic State militants capture of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province in western Iraq, has forced close to 25,000 people to flee the city, the United Nations says.
Most of the Iraqi people escaping from the IS militants’ brutality are heading toward the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, the UN office tasked with coordinating relief operations said in a report on Monday, noting that a large number of Iraqi families are fleeing for the second time in a month.
IS insurgents claimed complete control of the city in an online message, alleging that militants had taken over the 8th Brigade army base as well as tanks and missile launchers in Ramadi.
“Nothing is more important right now than helping the people fleeing Ramadi. They are in trouble and we need to do everything possible to help them,” said Lise Grande, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq.
Grande called on donors and the international community to provide the UN relief agencies, including the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, with more funds so that the agencies can upgrade the level of support provided for displaced Iraqi people.
“Thousands of people had to sleep in the open because they didn’t have places to stay. We would be able to do much more if we had the funding,” he added.
“Abandoning the victims of violence is unthinkable; more has to be done,” Grande stressed.
Reports said late on Monday that the IS militants had intensified attacks in areas near Ramadi.
After the capture of Ramadi, the Iraqi Prime Minister ordered the deployment of the Iraqi Shiite militias, also known as the Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd al-Shaabi) to Ramadi, which is located about 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Baghdad.
The northern and western parts of Iraq have been in chaos since IS started its campaign of attack in early June 2014.
Since then, Iraq’s army has been joined by Kurdish Peshmerga forces, as well as Shia and Sunni volunteers in operations to drive the IS militants out of the areas they have seized.
Parliament allocates its tomorrow to discuss the conditions of Anbar only
The source told " Eye Iraq News " that " the Presidency of the Parliament decided to be tomorrow's meeting to discuss security developments in Anbar province only . "
He said " the House of Representatives decided to hold its meeting on Wednesday instead of Thursday . "
The Council of Representatives, Tuesday, in the presence of its 213 deputies, with parliamentary source that the meeting will see the first reading of the draft Electricity Law and the continuation of the debate for the second reading of the draft law of the National Guard . finished
A presidential statement: infallible Iranian defense minister: Daash hybrid case and call on the international community to assist Iraq
President of the Republic Fuad Masum, confirmed that the organization is a hybrid Daash case of extremism combining national and religious strife most violent and anti human values and the noble legacy of the dictatorial regime of Saddam's values.
A statement by his press office received by all of Iraq [where] a copy of it today that "Masum said during a meeting with Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan that" Daash the originally remnants of intelligence and Fedayeen Saddam regime who practiced all methods of oppression and displacement against the Iraqi people and launching wars the two neighbors, Iran and Kuwait.
He called infallible international community to assist Iraq in its war against gangs and terrorist Daash which pose a threat to everyone, praising the continuous military support and humanitarian made by the Islamic Republic of Iran. "
President infallible also pointed to the depth of the historical ties between the two peoples and the need to strengthen the floor of bilateral cooperation in political, economic and security fields, as the two sides discussed the overall developments on the Iraqi arena in particular and the region in general. "
For his part, Iran's defense minister said his country Iraqi sovereignty respected as a fundamental principle of cooperation and strategic engagement and it is opposed to any call for the division of Iraq, pointing out that the relationship between the two long-standing, saying that the organization Daash terrorist has nothing to do with Islam at all, but a colonial interests hostile to Islam. "
The Dehghan according to the statement also his country's readiness to support the Government and people of Iraq, praising the victories achieved by Iraq against al Daash and stressing Tehran's readiness to provide all kinds of military support for Iraq in the areas of armament, training and information to ensure that the final the routing of terrorist groups ".
Finland to Send 50 Soldiers to Train Peshmerga Finish advisors to arrive in Erbil in August
Basnews | Hawar Abdulrazaq views 19.05.2015 14:12
HELSINKI
Finland is sending about 50 soldiers to the Kurdistan Region to train Kurdish Peshmerga forces fighting Islamic State (IS), Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported on Monday.
The Finnish trainers, which all have experience of operations in Afghanistan, Mali or Somalia, are to leave for the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq in August this year, said Yle.
Brigadier General Petri Hulkko from the Finnish Defence Force told Yle that the course will comprise mainly combat training, including shooting, small group tactical training, teamwork and leadership.
In order to protect against potential attacks, the Finnish soldiers leaving for Iraq will remain anonymous.
“Peacekeepers on this operation will not show their faces or reveal their names, or give statements to the media,” Hulkko was quoted as saying.
According to the Finnish Defence Force, Finland’s dispatch of trainers to the KRG is part of the training mission of Operation Inherent Resolve, an international operation launched in autumn 2014 to combat IS, based on a UN Security Council resolution.
Infallible stresses during a meeting with Romanian Ambassador importance of the lessons provided to Iraq in the diversification of the economic resources
President of the Republic Fuad Masum, stressed Tuesday the need to take advantage of the experiences of Romania and other countries in dealing with the transition from a totalitarian system to a democratic system problems, stressing the importance of the lessons provided by these tests for Iraq to diversify economic resources and not only the rentier economy.
According to a presidential statement received by the agency all of Iraq [where] a copy of the "infallible received on Tuesday the Romanian Ambassador to Iraq, Iacob Prada and several other embassy staff.
President infallible and noted the importance of reviving the legacy of agricultural expertise that were to drop out because of the departure of the new generations about the historical role as producers and a shift to just consumers of other countries' products, hello to developing relations with Romania and wide to take advantage of its expertise in industry, agriculture, transport and trade areas. "
According to the statement praised the Romanian ambassador to the outstanding efforts of the President of the Republic on the path of strengthening joint cooperation between the two frameworks, reiterated his country's desire to deepen relations with Iraq at all levels it is also hoped that the President is infallible European tour close to be one of Romania Mahtadtha.
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