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Trouble in Kurdistan
Long the example of how a prosperous Iraq might look, the
northern region's ugly side comes to the fore in a series of
violent outbursts
By ANDREW LEE BUTTERS/ERBIL
Friday, Mar. 17, 2006
Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish Autonomous Region of northern
Iraq, is less than an hour's flight from Baghdad but almost a
world away. While the insurgent-plagued airport road in Baghdad
is known as the "Highway of Death," the road from the
newly opened Erbil International Airport, plagued by nothing
more dangerous than cyclists in spandex, wends through construction
for a real estate development called "Dream City,"
a planned community of several hundred California-style detached
single-family homes, a supermarket and an American school. Fueled
by oil wealth from rich fields in the region, Kurdistan has all
the appearance of a budding market economy, with many of the
appurtenances of Western capitalism.
But the safety and progress in northern Iraq has come at
a cost - and the Kurdish government may be paying for it now.
While the Kurdistan Regional Government has a parliament and
a president, the administration of Kurdistan is carved up between
two rival political parties the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP)
in Erbil and the adjoining Dohuk governorates, and the Patriotic
Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Suleymania Governorate. The two parties
monopolize power in their respective territories and their despotic
tendencies threaten civil liberties and the fledgling democratic
process, creating an environment that is rife with corruption
and repression. Frustration at this dual monopoly appear to have
been behind a violent outburst yesterday at Halabja, the town
on which Saddam Hussein inflicted a barbaraic chemical attack
in 1988, killing 5,000. It was the anniversary of the atrocity;
and the mob destroyed the government-sanctioned shrine to the
victims of the attack.
Police State
Kurdistan is a veritable police state, where the Asayeesh
- the military security - has a house in each neighborhood of
the major cities, and where the Parastin "secret police"
monitors phone conversations and keeps tabs on who attends Friday
prayers. While these security measures are an important part
of why Kurdistan has largely kept jihadi and resistance cells
from forming within its borders, security measures are often
used by the ruling parties as an excuse to crack down on opponents
and independent civil organizations, according to these groups.
"Our members are regularly thrown in jail for seven or eight
months at a time without cause," said Hadi Ali, the Minister
of Justice, the token KIU minister in the KDP-dominated Erbil
administration. "When they get out I tell them that they
are lucky to be alive and to keep quiet."
The KDP and PUK each have their own militias, which are essentially
the armies of the local governments. According to the Minister
of Justice, the courts in the region are almost completely politicized,
with judges often rubber-stamping party decisions. The secret
police even have their own judges, he said. During each of Iraq's
three elections in the past year, police officers openly campaigned
for the ruling parties. Schools, hospitals and other government
building carry portraits of the respective party leaders, and
access to education, jobs and career advancement is often determined
by party affiliation. Demonstrations are banned unless they are
party-sponsored. "Kurdistan isn't a civil society, it's
a partisan society," says Rebwar Ali, head of the Kurdistan
Student's Development Organization. "The presidents of the
universities, the university council, the deans and the heads
of the departments should all be members of one of the main parties,
KDP or PUK. Admissions aren't based on merit, they are based
of membership in one of the two parties. Scholarships are only
for party members." Big business contracts depend on connections
and political affiliations as well, leading to a pandemic of
corruption, according to Kurdish businessmen and anti-corruption
groups.
The KDP and PUK do include some smaller parties in their
governing coalitions and on their electoral lists, especially
those composed of ethnic and religious minorities, such as Assyrians
Christians and Turkomen. But established opposition parties say
that these small parties have either been bought off or wholly
invented by the ruling parties, in order to give the appearance
of diversity and broad support. "It's the old Middle Eastern
mentality - that it's not enough just to win an election, they
want to win by 99%," says Salim Kako, an official with the
Assyrian Democratic Party. "Everyone has to agree. You are
not allowed to have your own opinion."
A Hundred Small Saddams
Sunni-dominated Kurdistan is a tolerant refuge for religious
minorities, who are free to worship as they please, these groups
say. But the ruling parties keep tight reign over the Muslim
religious establishment through the Ministry of Awqaf, an institution
that was created by Iraq's British overlords in the 1920s to
control mosques, mullahs and what gets said in Friday sermons.
The Baathists maintained the Awqaf as a useful tool of coercion,
but it was disbanded by the American-appointed Governing Council
in 2003, and forbidden by Iraq's new constitution. Yet Ministries
of Awqaf still exist in Kurdistan, and are still used to enforce
political orthodoxy. "Instead of one big Saddam, we have
a hundred small Saddams in Kurdistan," says mullah Ahmed
Wahab, a member of the Iraqi parliament for the KIU and the head
cleric of mosque in Erbil until he was fired by the Erbil Awqaf
on the pretext that he held two jobs.
The media in Kurdistan is extremely partisan and prone to
propaganda. There are no independent television stations in the
region, and the future is grim for independent radio news, according
to Kurda Jamal, head of US-funded Radio Nawa. "Kurdistan
isn't suitable ground for a free media," he said. "If
America wasn't here and if America wasn't funding us, the parties
would move to shut us down."
The lack of protection for free speech and the politicization
of the security services and judiciary in Kurdistan were apparent
by the case of Dr. Kamal Said Qadir, a jailed law professor and
journalist. Dr. Kamal, who is also an Austrian citizen, criticized
Masoud Barzani, who is both the President of Iraqi Kurdistan
and the head of the KDP, and other members of the Barzani family
calling them "traitors to the Kurdish issue" in articles
published on an opposition website run by Kurdish expatriates.
When Dr. Kamal returned to Erbil last October, he was arrested
and tried in secret. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for
threatening the security of Kurdistan.
Dr. Kamal's sentence is likely to be drastically reduced
after appeal. In an interview, Barzani to Time that the laws
under which he was charged need to be changed. Says Barzani:
"Although he has been very aggressive and libelous against
me personally I have forgiven him personally for what he has
written about me and ask other people whom he has been writing
against to forgive him as well." Still, the treatment given
to Dr. Kamal sent a clear signal to journalists and government
critics. "There are red lines that you cannot cross,"
said Saman Fawzi Omer, a professor of law at Sulymania University.
"You cannot criticize the leading members of the PUK and
KDP or this is what happens to you."
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Who are
the Christians of Iraq?
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An ancient prayer in apreciation of
the months in a year
"Through your mercies, Lord, may the
months
be for us the source of joy, the years, of delight;
let them bequeath to us in peace, O Lord:
Nisan has its flowers, Iyyar its lilies too,
Haziran its sheaves, Tammuz its heaps of grain;
let Ab and Illul bring along grape-clusters on poles,
let the two Teshris give response to each other in the grape
pressing;
let the two Kanuns bring rest, Shebat and Adar, the Fast.
To you, Lord, be the praise."
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March = Addar (a's as in Art)
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'TALAT PASHA RALLY'
GATHERS 15 CHAUVINISTIC TURKS March 17, 06
Investigating
Assyrian canals across time, from space March 17, 06
Turkey
Should not Deny the Truth if it wants to be believed March 16, 06
Assyrian
Genocide on The Liberal Party's Agenda in Sweden March 15, 06
Turkish
Large-Scale campaign Project 2006 - so called "The Lie of
the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide." March 15, 06
Announcing
the American Premiere of ASSYRISKA: A National Team Without A
Nation
March 14,
06
Turks'
planned demonstration in Berlin stopped March 14, 06
US
government report on Iraq's human rights Iraq, Politics March 13, 06
Another
Priest attacked in Turkey March
13, 06
Assyrian
Elected President of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences March 13, 06
In
Syria's prison without cause for More than 20 Years March 12, 06
Muslim's Blunt
Criticism of Islam Draws Threats March 11, 06
An
Interview with Rosie Malek-Yonan by akitu.de.vu March 11, 06
IRAQI
CHRISTIANS: CAUGHT IN A REFUGEE WEB March 9, 06
Will
You be an Assyrian Actor? March 8, 06
In Turkey Assyrians/Syriacs
are being robbed of property they owned for thousands of years March
8, 06
Iraqi
Women Attacked for Removing Headscarves, NGO Says March 7, 06
Car
bomb in Turkey injures Assyrian March 6, 06
ASSYRIAN
CHRISTIANS KEEP THE FAITH March
5, 06
"Christians
do not wants to leave Iraq for good" March 4, 06
Iraqi
Catholics Donate to Rebuild Samarra Mosque March, 3, 06
Relatives
and friends gather at store where 2 were slain March 3, 06
A
Preliminary Investigation into Assyrian Identity March 3, 06
Firodil
Institute Meets The Christian Fair Trade Group March 2, 06
UNESCO
funding reconstruction of destroyed mosques but not Churches March 2, 06
Christian
Churches in Iraq Subjected to Synchronized Terrorism March 1, 06
February =
Eshvadt
A
better System of Government for Iraq Feb 28, 06
Exiled
in a Museum, the Dream of Peace Feb. 26, 06
Kurdish
Minister Has No Objection to Assyrian Christian Administrative
Area Feb.
25, 06
Vatican
to Muslims - practise what you preach Feb. 24, 06
The tombs
of Ur reveal treasures Feb. 23, 06
Rosie
Malek-Yonan To speak at Berkely University Feb. 23, 06
IRAQI
CHURCHES BOMBED: LINK WITH DANISH CARTOONS Feb. 22, 06
Assyrian
movie at the multimedia theater in
Ankawa Feb. 21, 06
Policies
and Politics Iraq Three years on Feb. 21, 06
The Roman
Catholic Church Role in Promoting Chaldean identity for the Catholic
Assyrians Feb. 18, 06
Assyrians of
Netherlands Concerned About Refugees Being Sent Back Feb.
17, 06
Terrorism
against Christianity in Pakistan Feb. 17, 06
Brought Up To Hate Feb.
17, 06
Christian
and Muslim Victims of Violence Feb. 17, 06
Assyrian-Americans
Reach Out to Relatives Displaced By Iraq War Feb. 17, 06
Talabani: Autonomy
for Turkmens in Kurdistan Feb. 16, 06
Ending the Exodus
of Iraq's Most Vulnerable Feb. 15, 06
Christians
targeted in cartoons row Feb. 14, 06
Muhammad
Cartoon Protests Move Into Turkish Christian Town Feb. 14, 06
Press Release by
the Assyrian Society of United Kingdom Feb.
13, 06
Iraqi
Parliament Member Once Sentenced by Death of Hussein Feb. 12, 06
Iraq
dignitary's visit marred by bomb threat Feb. 10, 06
SUA
condemns the violence and terror against the Christians of Iraq Feb. 10,
06
We Are Not Arab-Americans Feb.
10, 06
An
Interview with Yonadam Kanna Feb. 9, 06
Lebanon
bishops express solidarity with Iraqi Christians Feb. 9. 06
Ba-oota d' Ninevayee
or the Fast of the Ninevites Feb. 8, 06
Chaldo-Assyrian
Iraqi lawmaker speaks to backers in El Cajon Feb. 8, 06
For Iraq's
Persecuted Assyrians, a Safe Haven is the Only Solution Feb.
8, 06
The
Christian Role on Iraq's Fragmented Streets Feb. 6, 07
Brotherhood
of cabbies joins ranks to mourn murdered driver Feb. 6, 6
Iraq
Islamic Group Asks Christians to Stop Prayers in Churches Feb. 6, 06
How
do Mohammad's caricatures affect the Assyrians? Feb, 6, 06
Protesters
Torch Danish Mission in Beirut and ransacked the Christian neighborhood Feb. 6.06
Ongoing
Hidden Persecution of Christians In Iraq Feb 5, 06
Protests
Over Muhammad Drawings Intensify Feb. 3, 06
PRESENTATION
OF AN ACADEMIC TEXTBOOK "CLASSICAL ASSYRIAN LANGUAGE"
IN YEREVAN Feb. 3, 06
Iraq
Christians on Edge As Cartoon Row Escalates Feb. 3, 06
Enough
Is Enough - Six Assyrian Christian Churches Bombed in Iraq! Feb. 2, 06
Proposal
for an Assyrian Regional Government Basic Law Feb. 2, 06
Ghetto-blaster:
Cantons for Assyrians and Yazidis along with the Turkomans Feb. 2, 06
Christian
Watchdog Groups Say Iraqi Christians 'Endangered,' Fear Mass
Exodus Feb. 2. 06
Iraq
Christians Urge Westerners to Refrain from Inflaming the Situation. Feb. 2, 06
Legislation
seeks to limit NGOs in Iraq Feb. 2, 06
January =
Canoon Kharaya
Iraq's
Simultaneous bomb attacks killed 3 Christians Jan. 31, 06
British
House of Commons Holds Hearing on Assyrian Genocide Jan. 31, 06
IRAQ:
Sectarian tensions on the rise Jan. 31, 06
The
World's Silence over Terrorizing Christians in Iraq Jan. 30, 06
Explosions
target Christian churches in Iraq Jan. 30, 06
US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Comments about Iraq Jan. 28, 06
Insurgents
Driven From Tal Afar in Northern Iraq: US Commander Jan. 27, 06
Saga
of Assyrians in Iran comes to life in works by Turlock artist Jan.27, 06
Azerbaijani
Soldiers Desecrate Armenian Christian Cemetery Jan. 25, 06
Iraq's
WMD Secreted in Syria, Says Former Iraqi General Jan. 25. 06
The
Armenians appreciate the Assyrian efforts for Seyfo's recognition. Jan. 25, 06
Cash
meant for Iraqis 'misused' Jan. 25, 06
Explosion
Rocks Baghdad's Assyrian District Jan. 25, 06
UC
Berkeley Course "Assyrians, the Forgotten Ones" Jan. 25, 06
Moslem
Protesters set Fire to a Christian House of Worship in Egypt Jan. 24, 06
Seyfo:
Report of Conference at the House of Commons about the Armenian
and Assyrian Genocide Jan.
24, 06
BRITISH
FILM PREMIERE. DOCUMENTARY ON ARMENIAN AND ASSYRIANS GENOCIDES,
1915
Jan. 23,
06
Kidnapping
of the Assyrians in Iraq continues Jan. 23, 05
Praying
in Jesus' Own Language Jan.
23, 06
Renowned
Assyrian Scholar Erica Reiner Jan. 22, 06
How
does Iran effect Assyrians in Turlock California? Jan. 21, 06
The
Seyfo Seminar at the House of Commons Jan. 21, 06
ADO:
An Apolitical Petty Bourgeois Organisation or a Mature Political
Leadership? Jan. 21, 06
Ammo
Baba: tied, eye-folded, beaten, and then robbed Jan. 20, 06
The
Final Iraq's Election's Results! Jan. 20, 06
Tomb
raiders Jan.
18, 06
The
Assyrian Republican mayor , Man on the move Jan. 18, 06
Donations
For Allan Enwiyah Jan. 18, 06
Exhibition
by the Assyrian artist Hannibal Alkhas Jan. 17, 06
Politics
& Policies: Deconstructing Iraq Jan. 16, 06
Poly
Sci Course on Assyrians Offered at UC, Berkeley Jan. 15, 06
Kurds
focus on corruption in Kurdistan administration Jan. 13, 06
Ecumenism
and the Eucharist Jan. 13, 06
An
Assyrian Coach of the Canadian Beaver Bruins hockey team Jan.12, 06
Turkey's
massacre of the Assyrians and the Armenians Jan. 11, 06
New
Iraqi Constitution May Limit Women's Freedoms Jan. 10, 06
The
Boomerang Effect in Iraq: If 'Kurdistan', Why Not Assyria? Jan. 10, 06
Bishop's
Report From the Assyrians of Iraq Jan. 9, 06
woman
journalist abducted in Iraq, interpreter, killed jan. 9, 06
PanGlobal
TV adds AssyriaSat to channel lineup Jan. 9, 06
Bishop
Worrys About the future of the Christians in Iraq Jan. 7, 06
Major
Terror Plot Against US Ignored By US Media Jan. 6, 06 Jan.
6, 06
U.S.
troops deliver gifts to Iraq - school supplies Jan. 5, 06
Iraq
Election Despair Spreads To Expatriates Jan. 5, 06
Assyriologist,
Erica Reiner Dead at 81- 1924-2005 Jan. 4, 06
The
Last Assyrians Jan. 3, 06
Egypt
Appoints First Christian Governor in Three Decades Jan, 3, 06
If
Only Rocks Could Talk! Jan . 2, 06
Car
bombs, fuel riots usher in New Year in Iraq Jan. 1, 06
Errors
in Biblical Dating According to Ancient Assyrian records January 1, 06
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