Price $1 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

SOMA Digest is a subsidiary of KHAK Press & Media Center.

‘Autonomy is GIRL POWER sufficient’ FIFA ban to hit An American professor underscores the similarities between the and the Albanians of Kosovo in their aspirations hardest for statehood, and their centuries’ long resistance to foreign occupation. REGION page 3 Darya Ibrahim cision even though they no longer have SLEMANI any authority,” says Aziz. “We have also Strength of nation IFA’s decision to put an end to made contact with the new IFA. The deci- The Patriotic Union of ’s participation in interna- sion is unfair, but at least we can still par- (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic tional tournaments will have ticipate in domestic Iraqi football games Party (KDP) are in talks to unite an adverse effect on Iraqi foot- even if we cannot take part in the Asia their Peshmarga forces under the ball in general, but particularly championship.” jurisdiction of the Kurdistan Fon the progress of the Kurdistan Foot- Aziz believes that Erbil’s team in par- Regional Government. ball Association. Critics have panned the ticular will lose their capacity if they do REGION page 4 decision as undue ‘political interfer- not take part in matches, whether friendly ence’. or competitive, both at home and at the in- The lost children The FIFA Emergency Committee sus- ternational level. pended the Iraq Football Association Insofar as pressure applied on the Halabja families continue to pray for and Kurdistan regional govern- the children they lost in the 1988 (IFA) last November after the Iraqi Olympic Committee dissolved the IFA ments to find a solution, Aziz says: “We chemical bombardment after 21- tried hard through the Regional Olympic year-old Ali Asmin returned to find and security forces seized control of its headquarters. FIFA gave 72 hours for Committee. We sent a delegation to Bagh- his biological mother. dad to meet with Raed Hammudi, Head COMMUNITY page 6 order to be restored. The warning was not heeded and clubs and representative teams of the Iraqi Football Association. After- of Iraq now cannot compete in interna- ward, an official invitation was sent to Redemption and tional matches. Hammudi by Mala Bakhtiar, Head of the Mahmud Aziz, Secretary of Erbil Regional Olympic Committee, to meet in resilience Sports Club, believes that the ban was in- the Kurdistan Region. All agreed that there The Amna Suraka stands testament tended to reign in the progress made so far should be cooperation among all parties. to Iraqi Kurds’ courage to by the Kurdistan Football Association. It was announced that all the problems incorporate their painful past into He pointed out that in recent years, were solved, but after Hammudi’s return their promising future. The world there had been a number of visits by to Baghdad, all promises were broken.” needs to know their story. teams from neighboring countries to Kur- The Asia Football Association delayed VIEWS page 11 dish cities. The Kuwait Club and Palestin- the championship by three days in the ian Team, to name a few, had both visited hope that the clubs of Erbil, Najaf and Erbil, and the Swedish Club had come to Nawroz would be able to take part, but in Slemani to inaugurate the city’s stadium. vain. The region’s capital Erbil had also ex- The FIFA blockage is linked to the Iraqi 400 valiant women serve on tended an invitation to the Youth Football Olympic Association’s decision to dis- Society of Asia for training and practice. solve the Iraqi Football Association. Kurdistan’s Peshmarga forces “These events certainly motivated “FIFA says that the decision is meant to Baghdad to seek to place barriers in front punish the Iraqi Football Association, in- of the Kurdistan Region’s football teams, cluding referees, teams and supervisors,” he women’s Peshmarga forces of secure the areas which they have been as such developments were not taking says Aziz. “We will have no right to par- Kurdistan are a formidable 400 assigned to. These women Peshmargas place elsewhere in Iraq,” claims Aziz. ticipate in any international activities until Tstrong team that have served their played their role in securing terror hotspots Iraq’s Olympic Committee reverses their The Kurdistan Football Association has country alongside the male Peshmargas such as and Khanaqeen. Their held many meetings with the Iraqi Foot- decision. Otherwise, FIFA will not change during three decades of turmoil. The valor and bravery has earned them the ball Association to find a way to reverse their position.” female Peshmargas have ensured that their respect and attention of not only the men FIFA’s decision. Iraq's Olympic Committee and the IFA presence in conflict ridden areas has been who doubted them but the society who felt “We have contacted former IFA mem- have had a long-running dispute over who recognized as a protective force able to such a role was better performed by men. www.soma-digest.com bers, who are trying hard to reverse the de- controls the game in the country. [email protected]

COOL RIDERS TURNING THE PAGE HENNA HUES Two wheelers Burning Color me all the rage books in beautiful Kirkuk

COMMUNITY page 8 CULTURE page 15 CULTURE page 16

INSIDE: We were promised jetpacks,by Agri Ismail p.8 Sectarian warning signs, by Dr Joseph Kechichian p.10 The Kirkuk question, by Namo Abdulla p.10 2 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

STAFF CONTENTS PUBLISHING HOUSE: Khak Press & Media Center CURRENT AFFAIRS ...... 3 COMMUNITY ...... 6 MANAGING EDITOR: Tanya Goudsouzian WORD ON THE STREET ...... 9 DEPUTY EDITOR: Lawen A Sagerma VIEWS ...... 10 COLUMNISTS: Dr Sherko Abdullah, Agri Ismail, Dr Joseph LETTERS ...... 12 Kechichian, Maureen McLuckie, Dr Denise Natali, Anwar M. BUSINESS ...... 13 Qaradaghi CULTURE & MORE ...... 15 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Iason Athanasiadis, Karokh Bahjat, LIFESTYLE ...... 17 Linda Berglund, Devanjan Bose (New Delhi), Ilnur Cevik (Ankara), Patrick Cockburn, Thomas Davies (Damascus), Dr Rebwar Fatah, HISTORY ...... 18 Basit Gharib, Dr Harry Hagopian (London), Hemin Hussein, Hewa Jaff, SOCIETY ...... 19 Fakhri Karim (Baghdad), Vania Karim, Namo Abdulla, Mohammed Ali CHAIKHANA ...... 20 Bapir, Jamal Penjweny, Asoz L. Rashid (Baghdad), Kurdawan Moham- mad Saeed, Dr Tan Azad Salih, Dr Hussein Tahiri (Australia), Qubad Talabany (Washington, DC), Abdul Karim Uzery LOST IN TRANSLATION Kurdish for beginners REPORTERS: Awat Abdullah, Zheno Abdulla, Darya Ibrahim, Dana ANWAR M. QARADAGHI Hameed, Hemin Kakayi (Kirkuk), Saz Kamal, Barzan Kareem, Sazan SOMA Digest wishes to introduce some be kelk bu.Hendi xim u hawrey dekay Mandalawi (Erbil), Galawizh H. Rashid, Dana Rashid, Jen. A. Sagerma Kurdish phrases and expressions, which ttom nasi. CULTURE WRITERS: Roshna Rasool, Kamaran Najm drezh bu. the visitor to Kurdistan will find useful. Aso: Thank you my darling. They UK CORRESPONDENTS: Lara Fatah, Raz Jabary, Sara Naz Aso: How do you compare it with Judy Roberts, an American school were also very pleased to meet you. LANGUAGE EDITOR: Anwar M. Qaradaghi the practice in the US? Supas gyanekem. Awaneesh zor dlx- teacher, has been teaching English in a Chon legul neriti Amreka berawirdi PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Aram Eissa osh bu ba nasenit. school in Slemani for over a year. At the dekait? PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kamaran Najm, Soran Naqshbandy school, she has met Aso, a Kurdish Judy: Our public holidays are much Glossary of key words: CARTOONS: Ako Gharib colleague, and their relationship has grown and become serious enough to shorter, such as Christmas and New DIRECTOR OF DESIGN: Darya Ibrahim result in formal engagement. In this Year. Feast - Jazhn MARKETING MANAGER AND ARCHIVES: Brwa Abdulrahman episode Judy and Aso discuss the Pishua gishtiakani eme zor kort trn, Four - Chwar CIRCULATION MANAGER: Rashid Khidr Rashid recent Jazhni (Feast of …) Qurban in weku Chrismas u Sally Taza. Fourth - Chwarhem Rest - Pishu WEBSITE: Avesta Group for Software Solutions Kurdistan. Aso: What else would you like to say about our Jazhn in general? Compare - Berawird PRINTING HOUSE: Hamdi Publishing House (Slemani) Aso: Darling, what did you think of With - Legal Jezhni Qurban? Che tr be gishti hez dakait bleyt se- Our offices are located at KHAK Press & Media Center, on Shorosh baret be Jazhn? Short - Kort Street, Slemani, Iraq. Azizekem, Jezhni Qurban chon boo Shorter - Korter Tel: 009647701570615 lelat? Judy: It was a good re-union with What else - Chetr Fax: 0044703532136666 Judy: It was my second Jazhni Qur- relatives and friends and useful for Relative - Khzm ban and my fourth Jazhn here. It was me as I met some more of your rela- Friend - Hawre SOMA Digest strives to offer its readership a broad spectrum of views a long holiday. tives and friends. Useful - Basud on Iraqi and Kurdish affairs. As such, all opinions and views expressed Ame duhem Jezhni Qurban u Beyek geyesh tenewayeki chak bu Thanks - Supas in these pages belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the chwarhem jezhnim bu lera. Pishuyeki legul xizm u dostanda u bo mnish position of the publication. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 3

CURRENT AFFAIRS REGION|&NEWS ANALYSIS ‘Autonomy is Replay ‘The crime committed by the Blackwater security firm occurred in 2007, sufficient’ when the company’s personnel were granted Kurds can develop a model immunity in accordance political and economic society. with decree no. 17 of the Interim Provisional Coalition Authority. It is Lawen A. Sagerma tions of genuine and effective self-govern- SLEMANI ment,” he said. for this reason that the he US-led NATO war of libera- Despite endemic instability in the rest of Iraqi judiciary did not Iraq, the Kurdistan Region is relatively se- tion waged by then President Bill have the right to try those Clinton in Kosovo, gave some cure. Perritt expressed the hope that the op- informal means,” said Perritt. the Iraqi forces will be up to the challenge Kurds the hope that they too tion for independence will be given to the “They must demonstrate that the formal after the completion of the withdrawal of who committed the would see independence when Kurdistan Region but warned that they institutions are worthy of citizen trust and US troops but if recent bombings are any- crime…’ Tthe Americans came to Iraq in 2003. must be cautious: “The move toward inde- respect. A good start would be for the KDP thing to go by, Iraq needs a continued US pendence must not be precipitous lest it Henry H. Perritt, Jr., a Professor of Law to appoint some PUK judges and for the military presence. JUDGE ABDULSATTAR AL at Chicago-Kent College of Law, under- destabilize relations between Kurdistan and PUK to appoint some KDP judges.” Perritt explains that the elections slated BIRQIRDAR, scores the similarities between the Kurds the rest of Iraq and between Kurdistan and Despite efforts by the Iraqi government for March 2010 are very important in Spokesperson for and the Albanians of Kosovo in their aspi- Turkey.” to push forward democracy, its successes changing the political demographics of the the Supreme Judicial Council, rations for statehood, and their centuries’ “The best course is one in which Kur- are overshadowed by its weakness to take country and a unified Kurdish front is es- on why the Iraqi judiciary did not long resistance to what they have perceived and be in full control of the reigns. sential. try the Blackwater security as foreign occupation. ‘The best course “For Iraq overall, the main obstacles are “Kurdish candidates and representatives guards. “The differences involve a much more continued resistance by Sunni to un- must present a united front with respect to uniformly negative view of Serbia at the is autonomy derstand that they cannot run Iraq anymore maintaining the autonomy of Kurdistan, time, compared to the present hopes for a within Iraq...’ and continued ambition by Shia Arabs to while also being flexible in seeking a mu- unified Iraq; the strategic importance of run Iraq without taking into account the in- tually acceptable solution to Kirkuk,” he ‘The figure includes both Turkey, which is opposed to independence terests of Sunni Arabs and Kurds,” he said. said. internally-displaced Iraqis for Kurdistan, compared to the absence of distan's autonomy within Iraq is zealously Another problem plaguing the Iraqi gov- The new Iraq is still emerging, and there any such power concerned with Kosovo,” guarded, in which relations between Kur- ernment has been the unpredictable and vi- remain challenges to overcome. The Kur- and refugees outside the he said, in an interview with SOMA Digest. distan and Turkey are strengthened, and in olent attacks by terrorist groups operating distan Region’s marked progress toward country in accordance to There was also an absence of any real which the Kurds continue to build a gen- across the country. While outsourcing has democratic governance has been a source political autonomy for Kosovo at the time uine democracy and rule of law,” he said. helped provide some protection, it has also of encouragment. As such, Perritt admits the ministry statistics. of the intervention compared with the exis- Iraq’s protracted transition to democracy been an indication of the inability of the that 'destination democracy' is reachable es- There are other families is being met with difficulties especially in tence of bonafide autonomy for Kurdistan Iraqi forces to secure their own country. pecially with respect to . that returned to their now, he added. It is this autonomy that Per- terms of enforcing the rule of law. Tribal Without doubt, incidents such as the “The conditions exist within the current ritt believes Kurds should stick with. and religious leaders continue to wield a Blackwater imbroglio have tarnished both political autonomy, for the Kurds to de- homes but have not been great deal of power and influence. “At the present time, autonomy is suffi- America’s reputation and the strides Iraq is velop a political and economic society that registered yet. In Syria cient for further political, legal, and eco- “The elected political leadership must taking towards democracy. can be a model for the region. It's too early nomic development; independence now have the political capital and the courage to “Security functions must be performed to tell whether the conditions are adequate there were 215,000 Iraqis would produce regional instability and dis- insist that decisions be made by the formal by Iraqis and not by American contractors,” for the same thing to happen in the rest of institutions of government and not through registered at the UN High tract the Kurds from building the institu- said Perritt. It remains to be seen whether Iraq,” he said. Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), but now this be increased now as many of these were number has decreased to ‘Kurds are fighting for land not oil’ children at the time and now have families 158,000. More than 3,000 of their own.” he fate of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk “Also, a lot of people were against regime,” says Askari. “It requires a lot of Kirkuk was a controversial point in the efficient has been at the center of political de- peace, among them remnants of the old time and patience. It doesn’t matter how discussions of the recently approved elec- professionals returned, Tbate for decades. But some observers Iraqi regime. A lot of people were also long it takes to get the article put into prac- tions law. including 2,500 in the believe that matters have taken a turn for without jobs so they were easy recruits for tice so long as we are successful.” “Had Kirkuk not been included in the the better since 2003. terrorist groups,” he adds. Kirkuk is an oil-rich city which is clearly upcoming elections it would have meant health “Under the dictatorship of the old Al Qaida has been blamed for much of a major point in drawing interest in the city. that the elections were not a successful ministry regime, the city was corrupt, the inhabitants the terrorist activity in the area, but other But are the Kurds fighting for oil? process as it would not have been a full rep- had no rights and no freedom of expres- groups have also had a hand, some of “The Kurds are fighting for land not oil. resentation of the Iraqi population as all and 500 in sion,” says Ahmed Askari, a member of the which have links with the old regime. Others are standing in the way of this be- would not have been included.” the higher Kirkuk Provincial Council. “Now people Uncertainty cause of the oil,” says Askari. Referendum of the city have a right to choose their rep- The major reason for the current tension “The problem should be resolved inter- Asked what he hopes for Kirkuk in the education resentatives and to speak out when they are is the uncertainty of Kirkuk’s future, and nally with the people of Kirkuk reaching a next five years, Askari answers: “I hope ministry.’ not content with decisions made by the au- the opposition to Kurdish demands for the solution. The UN and US can help to or- that the referendum takes place so that the thorities. This is a big step.” return of Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Regional ganize and supervise the process as they people can decide the future of their city Kirkuk took the spotlight immediately Government (KRG), explains Askari. have experience with such problems.” and hopefully we will see a return of ABDULSAMAD SULTAN, Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region. I also hope after the US-led war, when mayhem broke Some claim that Article 140 is the only Askari vehemently rejects allegations Iraqi Minister of Displacement for Kirkuk to be a place of peace and out throughout the city. real solution to resolving the Kirkuk that Kurdish “outsiders” are moving to the and Migration, on return of “Terrorists from all over the world used dilemma. area to sway the results of the referendum: democracy with the people cooperating to- Iraq as a base, especially Kirkuk which is “Implementation of the article needs “The Kurds returning to the area are the gether to achieve this.” 78,000 families to their original known to be multi-ethnic and as such, easy time as it is a deep problem with historical ones that were forced out by the previous homes during the past couple of — BY ARIZ ASKARI to disrupt,” states Askari. roots dating back 40 years to the old Iraqi Iraqi regime. Of course the numbers would years. IN KIRKUK 4 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

Work is underway to unite the Peshmarga forces and veer them off political alignments. Strength of nation

Lawen A. Sagerma done in a day or two. It’s going to take a they are united. SLEMANI lot of work,” says Chawrush, adding that It remains to be seen whether the prac- in the past these forces were used against ticalities of such a unification will bring s a testament to the po- one another in the civil war. about the change that moves the Pesh- litical changes occurring The decision for the unification is for- margas away from political alignment in the Kurdistan Region, mal and the several meetings held be- and more towards national alignment ir- the Patriotic Union of tween the two political parties suggest respective of political ideologies and af- Kurdistan (PUK) and that much work has been done to achieve filiations. theA Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) this, but Chawrush concedes that it will “In theory we all say that the force are in talks to unite their armed forces take three to four months for a complete shouldn’t be politically motivated but we (known as ‘Peshmarga’) under the ju- implementation. need to prove this in practice,” maintains risdiction of the Kurdistan Regional “The issue of headquarters, budget for Chawrush. Government’s (KRG) Ministry of the salaries of all the Peshmargas, ad- At present, there are more than Peshmarga Affairs. ministration, arms were all real concerns. 100,000 PUK Peshmargas and roughly “The unification of the Peshmarga We want to slowly make sure that our the same number of soldiers under KDP forces is the hope of all Kurds and is Peshmarga forces do not belong to a po- command. Bringing together such a vast something that we are all in agreement litical party. We want them to be the na- number of Peshmargas will no doubt with, us and the KDP. This is not some- tion’s forces,” he says. pose challenges, but it is the next logical thing we have talked about only today. “One of the reasons why it is neces- step in the alliance forged between these The two Peshmarga forces of the PUK and KDP will soon be unified. We have held tens of meetings on the sary that we hurry with this unification two main Kurdish parties. (photo by Aram Eissa) topic over the past two years,” says process is because of who we are sur- Simultaneously, the Peshmarga forces Mustafa Chawrash, veteran PUK Pesh- rounded by, the terrorists, all those who remain a contentious issue for the Iraqi look at what they do for themselves in tality. We consider ourselves as a part of marga and head of PUK’s Peshmarga do not believe in the freedom and rule of federal government with many blocs re- terms of arms and necessities,” says the Iraqi defense,” he says. Organization Center in Slemani. Kurds in Iraq,” adds Chawrush. fusing to acknowledge the right of the Chawrush. The number of Peshmargas, the “Even when there were two adminis- “Two years ago the federal govern- budget and the creation of two forces are trations we always spoke about having ment said that they would create two all issues that need to be resolved and it one Peshmarga force. We have gone for- ‘The Kurdistan Region has the right forces and that they would receive their is said that either Maliki will visit the ward stage by stage and everything is wages in June. We have the decree Kurdistan Region for this purpose in the ready to unite our forces,” he adds. to its own troops; these troops are a which was signed by Nouri Al Maliki, New Year or a Kurdish delegation will Chawrush explains that in the last the Minister of Defense and the Minis- go to the Iraqi capital. meeting of the PUK politburo, Iraqi part of Iraq’s defense.’ ter of Interior but now 2009 is over and “We are a part of Iraq’s defense and President Jalal Talabani urged Sheikh we have received nothing,” he adds. the Kurdistan Region has the right to Jafaar, Minister of Peshmarga Affairs, to The Americans are another reason as Peshmargas or have them incorporated Chawrush explains that presently Kur- have its own troops and these troops are hurry with the unification of the forces. to why both the PUK and KDP are eager into the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. dish border guards are part of the Iraqi a part of Iraq’s defense, they are a part of “Both PUK and KDP are more or less to unite their forces as Chawrush ex- “We still have problems with Iraq with Ministry of Defense. Iraq,” stresses Chawrush. in agreement but when you ask for the plains that the Americans have explicitly the budget. To this date, we haven’t re- “We haven’t separated ourselves from unification of these forces, it cannot be said that they will not help them unless ceived a penny from Iraq but just have a Iraq; it is they that work along that men-

Iraqi Kurds react to Turkey’s ban of pro-Kurdish DTP party, claiming such measures serve to justify violence. Concern over DTP closure

Namo Abdulla Party to engage with the Kurds and hopes don’t go to politics, you won’t find any- ERBIL that the court’s decision does not derail thing in the political process, go to the this important process from going for- mountains.” he closure of the pro-Kurdish ward.” As Iraq's Kurds have seen their political Democratic Society Party On 13 December, the Kurdistan Parlia- situation improve within Iraq, their polit- (DTP) by Turkey's Constitu- ment held a meeting in which it also ex- ical and economic relations with Turkey tional Court on 8 December has pressed its concern over the ban of the have also improved. Kurdistan has proven been met with concern by the DTP. to be a business-friendly region for over EuropeanT Union and other countries During the meeting, outside of the par- 500 Turkish firms such as Genel Energy. around the world. liament building in Erbil, hundreds of But with the new verdict, observers The party’s closure, prompted by al- Having realized the negative impacts of ered this visit to be very important. Prime Kurdish demonstrators took to the streets predict a deterioration in relations be- leged links to Kurdish separatist rebels, the Turkish verdict, the Turkish Interior Minister Salih, for his part, asserted that to protest the Turkish verdict, chanting tween Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey, which has heightened the sense of anxiety and Minister Bashir Attalai did not leave the Kurdistan Region should not be used “Yes, for the unity of all Kurds.” resumed diplomatic ties two years ago. disappointment felt by Kurds in neigh- much time pass before visiting the Kur- as a doorway through which any group Three days later, a larger demonstration Omar Nuraddin, a Kurdish Member of boring Iraq. distan Region two weeks after the DTP makes cross border assaults,” said occurred to protest the DTP ban. Parliament from the Kurdistani Alliance, Iraqi Kurdish parties as well as average closure. Attalai met with both the Presi- Ahmad. Over 50 Kurdish journalists in northern expressed his concern over the ban: “We people have been vocal about their disap- dent of the Kurdistan Region Massoud The closure of the DTP comes at a time Iraq have issued an appeal against the ver- hope that this decision does not reflect the proval of Turkey's action to ban the only Barzani and Prime Minister Barham when Turkey is trying to open a consulate dict of the Turkish Constitutional Court, Turkish government’s overall position pro-Kurdish party in the Turkish parlia- Salih. in Kurdistan. Turkey has long asked Iraqi saying that it casts doubt over the validity against the Kurds. Of course, anything ment. The office of the President of Kur- Twana Ahmad, Press Secretary of the Kurds to assist in the fight against the of Turkey's democracy and only serves to that happens in Turkish domestic affairs distan issued the following statement: KRG Prime Minister, told SOMA Digest Kurdish rebels of the PKK who are based strengthen the separatist PKK’s cause. between the government and Turkey’s “The presidency was pleased with the re- that Turkey’s Interior Minister and Prime in northern Iraq's mountains. However, Halgurd Samad, a Kurdish journalist Kurds will directly affect relations be- cent reforms and conciliatory policies in- Minister Salih encouraged free trade be- the Kurds have said they cannot cooper- based in Erbil, says: “This decision legit- tween the Kurdistan Regional Govern- troduced by the Development and Justice tween Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan. ate, claiming it is beyond their capability. imizes the PKK’s fight; it tells Kurds ment and the Turkish Government.” “The Turkish Interior Minister consid- Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 5 A common destiny American author maintains that only compromise by all parties can yield solution to Iraq’s problems.

Lawen A. Sagerma basis (Arab, Kurd etc) and differ greatly on SLEMANI ideologies. As such, there is inevitably a real he Americans were hailed as he- concern for a unification to stabilize the roes as they came and rid Iraq country or real national reconciliation. But and the Kurdistan Region of a Randal is optimistic. dictator that had tormented his “The British stitched together Iraq out of people for over 35 years. But this disparate Ottoman Wilayets, but nearly a Twar of liberation soon became more com- century of cohabitation, even one marked plicated as the country descended into by so much barbarity, does mean that the chaos and became a hotbed for terrorists various parts have come to share a common that took the opportunity to further desta- destiny. I realize that many Iraqi Kurds will bilize the situation. disagree violently,” he said. “The proximate cause for Iraq’s travail While it remains a Kurdish dream that after Saddam's overthrow was the theolog- one day there will be an independent Kur- ical idiocy of the American neo-conserva- dish state, Randal concedes that this may not tives who induced George W. Bush to go to be a wise move. war in the first place. They knew next to “I do not think that independence is rea- cuse the short-sighted brutality of the United Despite the bloodbath in the rest of the He added: “The principal reasons terror- nothing about Iraq and succeeded in sidelin- sonable option for land-locked Iraqi Kur- States. Rather it is testimony to the Iraqi ge- country the Kurdistan Region has managed ism has been limited in the KRG areas is a) ing those Americans who did,” said distan no matter how much Iraqi Kurds netic code long used to violent misrule.’ to come out of the liberation process rela- the Kurds have fought a ‘forward’ war in Jonathon Randal, author of ‘After Such deserve and may dream thereof. Obviously Iraq or the Kurdistan Region cannot be tively unscathed and acts of terrorism are a and elsewhere and b) [Kurdistan Knowledge, What Forgiveness? My there is hope, but how much any govern- mentioned without the issue of Kirkuk and rarity. President Massoud] Barzani and [Iraqi Pres- Encounters with Kurdistan’ and a former ment now can be expected to accomplish Article 140. As it stands, Kurds have made “The Kurds so far have managed to avoid ident Jalal] Talabani at long last decided to foreign correspondent for the Washington remains a conundrum,” he said. the most concessions on the article and its the worst violence largely because the prin- operate in different arenas rather than con- Post for nearly 30 years. What has also endangered any progress implementation seems to have hit a dead ciple struggle for power has been played out tinue to fight for supremacy in Kurdistan.” “What passed for serious post-war plan- the country has made and caused Kurds un- end. among Iraqi Arabs, Shiite and Sunni,” said ease is the phased out withdrawal of Amer- “Article 140 and the whole Kirkuk prob- Randal. ican troops in Iraq. There is the fear that the lem are so fraught with emotion and politi- security apparatus is not capable to deal with cal complications that by now any sensible the predicted surge of violence that may observer would be tempted to conclude that ‘Article 140 and Kirkuk are so fraught ensue after the last American soldier leaves only a thorough political compromise could Iraqi soil. start to solve the problems involved,” said with emotion that any observer would “So far, everywhere except Kurdistan, Randal. Iraqis have demanded in public that the “No party is going to get everything it conclude that only compromise could Americans leave and end the occupation. feels is its due. And that is embarrassing for One thing seems clear: the pro-war enthusi- Kurdish leaders who have nailed their col- solve the problems involved...’ asts who back in 2002 and 2003 thought the ors to the Kirkuk mast,” he added. United States would station troops in Iraq ad infinitum were indulging in wish fulfill- Jonathon Randal ment,” said Randal. “They pointed to the presence of Amer- ning was deliberately overlooked. That was ican troops in Germany and Japan more a formula for disaster. But the real cause of than a half century years after the end of the post-war disorder was the 35-year-long World War Two and assumed once in Iraq Baath party rule which extinguished what- the American military would never leave,” ever slight democratic traditions had ever he said. existed in Iraq -- and they were slight in- Echoes of Vietnam deed,” he added. Randal explains however that a more re- Randal also explained that a further com- alistic assessment was to be found in Amer- plication was the Americans’ inability to ican views of Vietnam. hold out any ‘carrots whatsoever to the “The USA got out of Vietnam in 1975 Sunni Arabs [which] meant [that] those who and Americans forgot the Vietnam conflict traditionally had run the show in Iraq felt for a generation,” he pointed out. that armed resistance was worthwhile, in- The issues of Abu Ghraib, Haditha, deed a necessity.’ Blackwater and to a lesser extent Guan- Many have linked the terrorism in Iraq to tanamo enraged Arabs around the world and Al Qaida insurgents who opposed the more so Iraqis at home and were quite pos- American-led invasion and now seek to sibly the ingredients in the strengthening of wreak as much havoc as possible. anti American sentiments. “I have always thought that Al Qaida in “I somehow feel that the principal-and Mesopotamia was basically a franchise op- negative impact of Abu Ghraib, Blackwa- eration which waxed and waned without ter and Guantanamo was on America’s rep- real direction from Al Qaida ‘central’ run by utation at home and among its allies as the Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden,” said Ran- bulwark of human rights,” said Randal. dal, adding that this does not mean that Al “Perhaps cynically, I would argue that Qaida in Iraq is a ‘toothless tiger’ but rather Iraqis of all walks of life and all religious that their ‘operations are relatively few and and ethnic backgrounds looked on those ex- aimed at undermining the [Prime Minister cesses as hardened survivors of even worse Nouri Al] Maliki government.’ excesses that they had endured during 35 Iraq has always been a divided country, years of Baath party rule.” religiously (Sunni, Shiite), on an identity Randal added that this was not to ‘to ex- 6 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

LOCAL NEWS COMMUNITY|&PERSONALITIES

XFM plays Halabja families hope to find the music your children they lost in 1988 bombings. way

brand new English radio sta- The lost children tion is bringing in the listen- Aers in Slemani. Staffed with Awara Jumaa talented young music lovers, XFM been seen in Bu Ali Hospital in Iran, and offers good entertainment, interesting HALABJA had been with a known charitable person information and even comedic ad- who had said she wouldn’t give them to verts with their two stars ‘Aba and he saw her mother on the ground, lifeless. Assuming anyone but their family,” he says. Raza’ who have quickly achieved Yusuf explains that there was renewed stardom, locally at least. she was dead, 11-year-old Azheen Faqrideen took her hope when Ali Asmin, hailed as ‘the lost Rawand Karadaghi, manager and son of Halabja’, was found last month. owner of XFM, said that the station six-month-old brother in her Sarms and went to look for her father. “I haven’t ever been hopeless in find- has great ambitions to help bridge the ing my children, but when Ali was gap between foreign and Kurdish cul- She never found him. Faqrideen Salim Hama Yusuf was not found, it gave me even greater hope for tures. finding my children,” he said. So far, the radio station only covers in the city at the time of the attacks, he recounts, but he returned to find his wife Yusuf believes that although the Min- the city of Slemani but there are plans istry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs has of- to air in the rest of the Kurdistan Re- in a precarious mental state, informing him that their two children had gone fered some help, they haven’t been as gion and 105.7FM will soon be avail- effective as he would have liked. How- able in Erbil. To interact with missing. ever, he hopes that the return of Ali will The lost children. The families of those who have lost their children frame their listeners, they have launched their “The gases had made her unconscious and she wasn’t aware of her surround- improve their efforts in finding the other pictures on the wall and believe that they will one day return. Alwan Ali who lost own website (www.x-fm.com) and lost children. four of her siblings is hopeful after the return of Ali. (photo by Mihraban Salam) created a Facebook group where fans ings even when she did come round,” he says. Alwan Ali lost four siblings during the have shown their support. chemical bombardment of Halabja in “One family had said that they had Ali lost both her parents in the chem- 1993 the first thing they asked of the The station plays up-to-date music 1988 but she is adamant that they are still seen my daughter with my son in her ical attacks on Halabja and her grandfa- government back then was to help find and all new releases are available alive. arms and they had assumed that my wife ther assumed the role of parent. She the lost children of Halabja. The last with the top 10 and top 40 played “I know for sure that my siblings were was dead. The family said they heard my recounts that even up to the uprising in count added up to 42 lost children. weekly. alive because up until Kirmashan in the daughter say to my son: ‘Mom is dead, 1991 her grandfather continuously “At that time the Ministry of Martyrs The main language of presentation hospital they were with us, and in re- I’m going to take us to dad.’” searched for her lost brothers and sisters. had not been established and the Kurdis- is in English as large numbers of gards to their health, they were really No doubt they are still alive “In 1991 we finally lost hope that we tan Regional Government did not have Kurds have returned from abroad. well. However after they were taken by Yusuf has heard nothing of his two would ever find our lost children,” she strong relations with other countries Karadaghi aims to use music and en- one of the nurses, they did not return and young children since that day, but he has says. such as Iran in order to ask them for help tertainment to narrow the social gap were lost,” she recalls. no doubt in his mind that they are still The return of Ali Asmin ignited much to find the lost children,” he says. between locals and returnees. “After the chemical bombardment we alive. hope for those families who continue the Media must raise awareness As the programs available on started making our way to Iran. The chil- “I don’t think they are dead. I still be- search for their lost children. “We have visited Iran many times and XFM are mainly in English, some dren were washed at the hospital and lieve that they are alive. News of my “My brother has come back from Eu- spoken with members of the Iranian might feel marginalized because not their names were registered.” everyone in the Kurdistan Region is children had reached me that they had rope and now with Ali government concerning fluent in English. However, XFM and a group of represen- the lost children. We had aims to familiarize locals with the tatives they have gone to ‘After Ali was asked that through their English language and there is Kur- Iran to try and find the media they increase dish input in their programs. lost children of the found, it gave awareness and help in Shalaw Ahmad, presenter of the chemical bombardment finding the children. upcoming morning show, says that he of Halabja,” says Ali. us hope that They agreed but we later aims to inform the local youth about Finding Ali was an ini- saw that what was music, and to show them that there is tiative of the former many more of promised had not been a wider range of music available be- Minister of Martyrs and our lost carried out,” laments sides hip-hop and R&B. Anfal Affairs but their ef- Akram. Most of XFM’s staff have returned forts seem to have been children would Akram is even less from abroad themselves and under- in vain as many concede satisfied with the work stand all too well the cultural barriers. it is not enough. return to us...’ of the KRG and its Min- Tawar Rashid, co-presenter of the “I don’t feel as though istry of Martyrs and R&B show, says: “I think XFM is a they have done anything Anfal Affairs. way for young people to get their to help find our children, but I really “There were no more officials left that voice heard and tell the world what it hope that the sixth cabinet of the Kur- we hadn’t asked for help from but they is they really want and need.” distan Regional Government will now kept none of their promises. Ali gave us XFM plans to have at least five take a serious step in doing what they hope that there are children who were hours of live programming a day in can in their power to help find the lost lost but who are still alive, and this was the New Year, in which listeners can children,” says Ali. a wake-up call for the government.” participate by calling in. More will be found According to Akram, finding Ali was Kurdoz Salih, co-presenter of both “After Ali was found I thought that proof for the government that their de- the R&B and Hip-Hop shows, says: one of our children had returned; it made mands were not for nothing and that they “I want to entertain the youth of Kur- no difference. All that was important were right in attempting to find the lost distan and keep them updated on was that a lost child from Halabja had re- children. music, and I am really excited about turned and it gave us hope that many “Now, on the demands of the families our big plans for the future.” more will be found,” she adds. of the people of Halabja, Hero Ibrahim Araz Abid Akram, vice president of Ahmed has created a board using the — BY LAVA TALABANY the committee for those affected by the KurdSat channel to visit Tehran to cre- IN SLEMANI Hope after tradegy. The atrocity of Halabja continues to haunt the residents of chemical warfare on the city of Halabja, ate a network and relations between the the chemical bombarded town who lost their loves ones. (photo by Aram Eissa) explains that when they were formed in media here and there,” says Akram. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 7

the source says, indicating the young man’s sheer desperation with the prospect of ‘removal’. There have been reports that mem- bers of the ASAISH, the Kurdish secu- rity forces, have been involved in forcefully dragging resistant returnees off planes arriving in the Kurdistan Re- gion from the UK, sometimes allegedly by means of violence. Ahmed Mahmoud (unrelated to Mari- wan Azad), 30, arrived in the UK as a refugee and is now a British citizen. He says he is ‘disgusted’ by the rumours of the way of handling by the ASAISH forces. “It is far from being acceptable be- havior,” he remarks. Ahmed further criticizes what he terms as being the ‘ill-fated efforts’ by the British immigration authorities in lumping together cases from the three northern Iraqi governorates of the Kur- distan Region as opposed to those from the , saying “cases vary greatly from individual to individ- ual, independent of geographical loca- Kurdish asylum seekers forcibly tion. Someone from Kirkuk could face a different threat than someone from removed from UK. Sharazur or Chamchamal, but both have very real and valid reasons for being granted the right to be harbored safely in the UK.” Many of the refugees arriving in the Booted out UK from the Kurdistan Region are young men looking for a way to finan- Raz Jabary supposed to do? How does the govern- cially sustain themselves and their fam- ment ensure that these men do not end ilies back home. Despite this the British LONDON up in the illegal trade to make a living?” government has been regarded as being ifty young Kurdish refugees Ever since he left his hometown, adamant in enforcing less strict policies living in the UK were de- Serkawt has not seen his family and towards refugees arriving from the same ported to the Kurdistan Re- wishes to one day see his mother – now districts but as families – often with gion on 17 December 2009 a widow – again. Recently, Serkawt small children – compared to individual by British authorities in a even had a one-to-one meeting with his asylum seekers. moveF expected to coincide with the The matter of immigration is cur- constituency Member of Parliament recent tightening of the country’s im- John Butterfill, attempting to make rently a very dominant topic in the UK, migration policies. The British gov- progress on his case. His scenario is a seemingly further emphasized now due ernment now considers the Kurdistan to the upcoming general elections Region in Iraq to be relatively safe and planned for May 2010. stable and therefore does not see the Indeed, the ruling Labor Party’s adop- necessity in granting a large propor- ‘How does the tion of a tougher stance on immigration tion of refugees from the region the gov’t ensure with the elections just around the corner status of citizenship. is believed to have had some effect. A The travel advice given by the British that these men poll conducted by the Guardian news- Foreign & Commonwealth Office paper published on 15 December 2009 makes a clear distinction between the do not end up in showed Labor closing in on the Conser- Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq, vatives with only a gap consisting of describing ‘a continuing high threat of the illegal trade single figures remaining. terrorism throughout the country except Voters’ general impatience with what in the Kurdish Region.’ Nevertheless, to make a they believe to be the ineffective tack- Kirkuk is not regarded as inclusive to living?’ ling of the problem has nationally fu- this exception. elled favorite perceptions of the British Serkawt Ali, 23, arrived in the UK in National Party (BNP), often referred to 2003 after fleeing Kirkuk from the valid representation of those faced by and regarded by other political parties – scene of the Iraq war. His father was many similar young Kurdish men who including the Labor Party – to be ‘fas- killed in 2004 in a terrorist bomb attack. are in personal disarray. cist’ in nature. “The authorities here know of my fa- Mariwan Azad Mahmoud, 26, was Immigration is the major subject by ther’s assassination. It serves as proof of one of the 50 Kurdish refugees who which the BNP likes to distinguish itself the kind of personal dangers I would were put on a plane back to the Kurdis- from the other parties, claiming to be the have been exposed to in Kirkuk,” says tan Region. Mariwan had been in the ‘only party opposing mass immigration Serkawt. Still, Serkawt has not yet been UK from 2000. He was working – with- into the UK,’ as stated in its 2007 man- granted the status of ‘indefinite leave’ out a permit – in a food outlet in ifesto which is still in employment. which would authorize his permanent Bournemouth when immigration offi- Estimates of the total number of eth- stay in the country. cers entered the premises and put him in nic Kurds in the UK have remained “There are no human rights in this captivity. vague so far, worsened by the non exis- country with regards to refugees as op- A source close to Mariwan who tence of a ‘Kurdish passport’. This num- posed to other main EU countries,” says wishes to remain unidentified tells of ber ranges from 70,000 as claimed in the Serkawt. how he spoke to him on the phone be- ‘Communities in Britain’ book series to He criticizes the British authorities: fore he was put on the plane. 100,000 according to the Kurdish “Some young desperate refugees are not “He was being held in a cell and told Human Rights Project (KHRP) and granted a work permit. What are they me he was planning to hang himself,” Council of Europe. 8 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 Cool riders Two wheelers are all the rage in the region’s capital Erbil.

“The average ages of those that come to guarantees. Any motorbike that is brought buy motorcycles range between 18 and 55 comes with a form, which is filled in, and years of age,” he says. a copy of the identification card of the In the market, there are a number of buyer. The form and a copy of the identi- new bicycles and motorbikes displayed in- fication card are taken to the Vehicle Reg- side the showrooms, and in front of the istration office.” This is all the paperwork shops are the second-hand bikes. This not that is involved for a purchase of those so subtle separation illustrates the differ- mode of transport. ence in the price ranges of the new and There are many motor transportation used bikes. vehicles that are available in this same The most expensive motorbike on the market for all types of uses and ages. Quad market has a price tag of US$30,000, and bikes have also become a popular buy on is known as the ‘Oday’, named after the the market. Demand is on the rise for son of the former dictator of Iraq, possibly “I want to buy this for my 18 year old motorcycles in the an allusion to the man’s taste for extrava- son as we have a big area of land and it’s Kurdistan Region. The gance and speed. good for him to keep busy. I much rather vehicles are mostly In the same market, there are others es- he has the quad bike to ride than a motor- shipped from China, pecially the second hand ones that sell for bike that he would take onto the danger- complete with all the as little as US$200. There are many me- ous roads,” says Mam Ali. paperwork, to Basra. chanics available, not only to fix and check It is more common to see motorbikes on They are then taken the motorbikes but to aid in assembling the roads of Erbil where the roads are bet- overland to Erbil. them. Everything one could possibly need ter than those in Slemani, for instance. But for their motorbike can be found in this problems arise with the buying and selling market. of second-hand bikes as Ahmed explains. Roshna Rasool Shipped from China “Sometimes a bike is stolen in one city Most of these bikes are shipped over and is brought to Erbil to be sold on the ERBIL from China to Basra and then transported second-hand range, and this causes a lot of he city of Erbil has become a overland to the region’s capital, Erbil. chaos once it’s sold and later known to be source for bicycle and motorcy- According to Karim Oman, another stolen,” he says. “The issue here is that due cle lovers who feel that two motorcycle merchant, those who purchase to the low price it’s sold, many do not ask wheels are much cooler than four. motorbikes from Erbil aren’t always resi- for the paperwork and this is why prob- Those merchants that sell these dents of the area. lems arise.” vehiclesT do so in the bazaars which are “It is an open market and we get many The market is not only full of prospec- opened mostly on Fridays, despite most people from all over the Iraqi region from tive buyers, but also those who wish to places being closed on this day as it is a Kirkuk, Slemani, Salahadin and other ‘window shop’ or experience what it’s like day of rest in the country. areas that come especially for the motor- and see the art of mechanics displayed on Kawa Ahmed, a motorcycle vendor, ex- bikes,” he says. the market. plains that people of all ages and back- In regards laws and guarantees for mo- grounds come to buy from him. torcycles, Ahmed says: “There are no

derful university of Linköping, we had show”. Me? I was sitting on my living fore 2005. So the second half of this We were promised jetpacks a university broadband network so fast room floor in Sweden after having re- decade saw WiFi enter our homes, that to this day, a decade later, my in- ceived a phone call from my aunt. I saw the internet become a place to get celebrations, I was sitting in a café on ternet in London is still slower. I re- switched on just before the second lost in for hours. We suddenly started the Champs Elysées drinking a Coke member the first time I saw the plane hit. Of course, there was one to pay a lot of attention to Paris Hilton, that cost a whopping 76 Francs with download speed reach 800 kb/s. moment this decade that rivaled 9/11 though nobody can still understand some friends, the faint ghost of a hang- Google took over from Yahoo as my in its importance as far as I’m con- why. We found out, after 20 years, that over beginning to haunt my head in main search engine. cerned, and that was Operation Iraqi the Scourge of the Jedi was that that gradual crescendo that accom- Napster came, changed the world Freedom. We forget how well it all Anakin killed a couple of children. pany all hauntings. By this time that of internet sharing forever, and went. started. How a lot of people as well as Deep Throat came out of the closet. THE BORNE most anticipated of films, the Phantom At one point I had an AIM account, an the world’s media were seeing it as a George W Bush, who had gotten re- Menace, had turned out to be both ICQ account and an MSN account si- Good Thing. Then, of course, came elected to the great shock of the rest of IDENTITY boring and incomprehensible, and no multaneously. The possibility of the numerous blunders. Blackwater. the world, was continuing his decline flying cars had materialized although downloading movies and watching Abu Ghraib. The lack of WMD’s. into unpopularity. AGRI ISMAIL there was this newfangled thing called them on one’s laptop became a reality. Still, back in 1999, could anyone have was, after a mismanaged and rather In Iraq, mobile phones and internet hoped to see the day that Saddam botched trial, executed in a way that his is my last column of the the Internet. We used to hang out in cafés began connecting us to our Hussein was no longer in power? And was also mismanaged. I moved to decade. That struck me, for some chat rooms and talk to strangers. We friends and families again. Then three while you think about that, think about Baghdad, then to Dubai, then to Suly Treason, for the very first time surfed the web using HotBot and Al- planes crashed into three buildings and this: Mam Jalal is now the President and finally to London. Adult life, com- today. I remember sitting on the floor tavista. My e-mail address at the time changed the world forever. of the Republic of Iraq. Can you be- pletely different from student life, had of my friend’s house in the early hours was something like We’ve always heard people say lieve it? Could that have been imag- finally arrived. There was Harry Pot- of new year’s day 1990 reading [email protected]. I things like “where were you when ined 10 years ago? The day of his ter and Twilight. The iPhone made it comics and whispering, with the sort had 14 mp3s on my computer, which Kennedy got shot?” and here we were inauguration I went to one of the stu- possible to check e-mails while on of amazed anticipation we had for the took about an hour each to download with our own historical focal point. dent bars in Linköping to have a cele- your way to work. I tried and failed to prospect of another Star Wars-movie, on the boxy modem. I had a mobile The following years, I heard of people bratory drink. A Kurdish man had just understand Twitter. Obama got that in another 10 years it will be the phone the size of a brick. We had six sitting in cafés in Vietnam where there become president. If that’s not some- elected. Rage Against the Machine be- year 2000! Surely by the mythical months before we would graduate was applause at the attack, to people thing to one day tell the grandkids, I came the UK’s Christmas number 2000, we would have the hoverboard from high school and have to enter the changing the channel in a Burger King don’t know what is. It’s difficult to one. But we still don’t have any jet- from Back to the Future II, flying cars Real World. The first half of the next to watch the news only to have a come to terms with, but all of this had packs. And, as the name of a very and various jetpacks at our disposal. decade was spent at university, which worker change it back to MTV be- happened before Facebook was cre- good Scottish indie band indicates, we Then, the year 2000 came. After the we thought was adult life but really wasn’t. While in Sweden at the won- cause “that’s the channel we have to ated. Even YouTube didn’t exist be- were promised jetpacks. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 9 Word on the street Aram Eissa asks average Kurds their thoughts on the dissolution of the Iraq Football Association and what their take is on sports in Iraq in general.

Salah Muhammad, 60 (international referee) Kale Ali 38, (athlete) What do you make of the decision? What do you make of the decision? “The decision to dissolve the Football Association “I think the decision came more from a political is not practical; it is a very quick decision and not and tribal source and not a from a sports mind an official one. This has disadvantages for Iraqi because everyone knows very well that Iraq sport and especially for Kurdistan's sport which has progressed and needs more attention not will mean Erbil's players can’t participate.” more neglect.” What do you make of sports in Iraq? What do you make of sports in Iraq? “Sport is progressing, our stadiums are rebuilt “Everyone says that sport has progressed Ibrahem Qasim 49, (head of Kurdistan Football and in Slemani alone we have four stadiums, but I think the progress is little in Association) which are exemplary in the whole of Iraq. In comparison to all those youngsters who What do you make of the decision? addition our players are participating in dedicate themselves to sports especially “This decision will affect every single individual in international games.” young women. The government should take into consideration that we almost have football in Iraq. The Olympic Union must be no social problems like those in the past.” independent and this decision should be canceled then the old union should come back.” What do you make of sports in Iraq? “I think all the different sports must be supported equally but this depends on the people who encourage that particular sport. I think now people realize what sports they like to do or watch so it is up to them.”

Fazil Abdulrahman 52, (civil servant) What do you make of the decision? “I'm very sad about the decision but it is a conflict between Hussen Said and Ahmed Razi but there is a hand of the government in it also. I do think that FIFA’s decision is 100 percent right. Until the elections, the situation should remain like Sardar Hama 48, (football player) this.” What do you make of the decision? What do you make of Sherwan Kamal, 35 (referee) “FIFA's decision is right 100 percent sports in Iraq? What do you make of the decision? because the government has mixed “We say that sport has “The political decisions will have a big impact on sports. politics with sport; tribal conflicts have progressed but sports are not only for males as FIFA's decision is correct, but it should have excluded Erbil entered into sport too. They don't unfortunately female participation in sports has Club and allowed them to participate in the Asia Champi- want Erbil clubs to go outside and been delayed. Seminars and sports onships as they have been preparing themselves for a long participate because they envy that gatherings should be held for that purpose and time.” Erbil has become the sports gate of also financial support must be provided.” What do you make of sports in Iraq? Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.” “Sport in Slemani is lagging behind Erbil and Dohuk What do you make of sports in Iraq? which is caused by the lack of a suitable budget for “The Ministry of Sports is not doing Slemani's club. But Erbil and Dohuk are supported by the and hasn't done any important political parties.” achievements in sports; the progress that came to sport especially in foot- ball is because of the Iraqi political and international situations.”

Bakhtiar Muhammad 52, (retired teacher) Rekan Kamal 20, (sports institute student) What do you make of the decision? What do you make of the decision? “The government can't interfere in sports “This is a political decision and politics affairs. This is political interference which shouldn’t have a place in sports. This will be will make the situation worse so I think it of a great disadvantage to Erbil because should carry out elections in the Unions Erbil’s clubs have long been trying very hard without governmental interference in the to progress.” process.” What do you make of sports in Iraq? What do you make of sports in Iraq? “The government doesn't support the sports “The progress of sports is related to the support it receives from the clubs enough and the organizations don't government. The government has not provided enough equipment and there are support the national teams enough either.” not enough halls and stadiums for practicing which has also had a negative impact on sports in the country.” 10 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

EDITORIALS VIEWS|&COMMENTARY

While drawing down violence and Kurdistan is due to the city’s oil reserves. ernments in Iraq. If the Kurds could make THE KIRKUK QUESTION restoring normalcy to Iraq had topped for- However, on 1July 2009, the Kurds assured concessions over anything, it is unlikely mer president George W. Bush’s agenda everyone that they are ready to end even they would abandon Kirkuk. since the overthrow of the late dictator Sad- their ownership over their oil reserves just Kirkuk cannot be left unresolved by the dam Hussein, Kirkuk is expected to take po- for the sake of the resolution of Iraq’s prob- Americans. Doing so could bring disastrous NAMO ABDULLA litical center-stage for Obama in his dealing lems. They allowed the production of the oil consequences. On the other hand, the sec- with post-2010-election Iraq. of its two main reserves of Tawke and Taq- ond major ethnic group of Iraq, the Kurds, fter many parliament ses- dominated by Sunni Arabs. Kirkuk is a multi-ethnic province inhab- Taq to be distributed by the central govern- cannot be ignored. This issue would delay sions, the passage of the The Kurds objected to the second pro- ited by Kurds, Arabs and Turcomans. It is ment equally to all Iraqis. If Kirkuk gets US withdrawal, if a quick solution is not election law was made posal of the election law on grounds that the also home to 25 percent of Iraq’s oil re- annexed to Kurdistan, the KRG should still found. The best and easiest way for US possible through US pres- 50 additional seats had been unfairly dis- serves. It has often been considered a “tick- allow the central government to be respon- President Barack Obama is to be frank with sure on the Kurdish lead- tributed against the Kurdish governorates. ing time bomb” that could explode anytime sible for all oil matters. This should be set all Iraqis and persuade everyone that it is in Aership to compromise over the extra They questioned why a Sunni-Arab popu- if wrongly handled. One living in Kirkuk or by the law. their best interest to respect the constitution parliament seats. The Kurds agreed to lated province like Mosul were granted 12 familiar with the city’s people knows that However, for the Kurds, Kirkuk is not of their country. gain fewer seats than what they thought additional seats, while no extra seat was as- the residents there have no problem with only about oil. It is more symbolic. It stands they were entitled to. In return for this signed to Slemani, a Kurdish populated each other. The problem has been politi- for their honor and dignity. It is the issue of Namo Abdulla is an Erbil-based Kurdish concession, the White House ex- province. cized by political figures. a land for which thousands of Kurds have journalist and editor-in-chief of pressed its support for the implementation The political battle over the parliament The Arab elites of the city, backed by the perished throughout the last 50 years on Hawler Tribune (hrtribune.net) of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution. seats were mainly fought between the Sun- Shiite-led central government, and Turco- order by successive Arab-dominated gov- online newspaper. US support for Article 140 is seen by nis and Kurds. The Kurds were the second man leaders, aided by Turkey, have a fairly Kurds as US support for the annexation of powerful group in Iraq after the Shiites similar view on Kirkuk. Instead of formu- Kirkuk to the Kurdistan Region. Whether thanks to the Sunni boycott of the 2005 elec- lating a clear policy for Kirkuk, they are op- or not the US will keep its promise does not tions. But this time the Sunnis, as their pop- posed to its annexation to the Kurdistan change the fact that Iraq’s security and its ulation is almost equal to that of the Kurds, Region. Both Turkey and the Baghdad gov- politics are still dependent on the United want to replace the Kurds. Even one seat ernment fear a scenario whereby the Kurds States. The difficulties that the passage of could play a decisive role in the Sunni-Kurd would declare independence as soon as they the election law entailed also displayed how struggle to become second and, in turn, win control Kirkuk’s oil. unlikely it was for Iraqis to be able to solve the office of the president of the Republic of The Kurds have a similarly narrow view. their difference on their own. Iraq. They follow a blind ethno-nationalist rhet- Iraq’s Vice-President Tariq Al Hashimi, The Kurds have already backed down for oric, that is, Kirkuk should return to Kur- the main representative of the Sunnis in a US promise of Kirkuk. The Kurdish com- distan. They have done so, instead of Iraq’s politics, vetoed the first approval of promise showed two things. First, that the proposing fair arguments and to convince the election project because he thought it did Kurds still trust the Americans more than the Kirkukis to favor Kurdistan. The Kurds not grant enough seats to expatriate Iraqis. they do any other Iraqi. They still believe should abandon this way of speaking and Most of the Iraqis living abroad are Sunni that their being openly pro-America and free Kirkukis to decide about the future of Arabs who fled from the country in protest pro-West makes them more favored by their city whether they want to join Kurdis- over what they perceive is the Shiite domi- America. Secondly, Kirkuk was more im- tan or not. nation of Iraq in 2003. Throughout the mod- portant for the Kurds than having better rep- The main reason why opposing parties ern history of Iraq, the country had been resentation in Baghdad. do not approve of Kirkuk becoming part of

Sectarian warning signs Truth be told, Iraqis cannot afford political defend communal interests while, in real- At this stage of Iraq’s nascent democra- divisions that threaten to separate citizens ity, they only do so to preserve positions of tization efforts, it may be useful to carefully from one another, and it seems that the mass power or promote narrow objectives. study the situation in Lebanon. Calls for existing compacts that prevent political graves or bombing attacks will not end until If Lebanese sectarian politicians call for secularism, which would presumably abol- evolutions, precisely to avoid mass graves, such time when officials will address basic abolishing sectarianism, their Iraqi counter- ish sectarianism, are not popular in Beirut and perpetual conflicts? ethnic and religious concerns. On the con- parts promote policies that ensure sectarian because Lebanese politicians never both- In many ways, Iraq and Lebanon resem- trary, unless Baghdad adopts fresh initia- differences, which cannot be good for the ered to create the necessary domestic con- ble each other, although the latter’s endow- tives, the potential for an all-out civil war in country. sensus after the Ta’if Accords were signed. ments are more modest. Naturally, the Iraq cannot be ruled out. In electoral maneuvers or various ap- Baghdad may wish to embark on the op- major difference between the two countries How could Iraqis avoid a potential civil pointments, considerable suspicions are posite track, to build up genuine consensus must hover around the practice of civil war in the months and years to come as oc- generated, with leaders questioning each that no arms must be tolerated in the hands wars, an established and sad reality for cupying forces gradually withdraw? While others’ motives and long-term goals. As of any sect or militia, if the country is to DEMOCRACY IN Lebanon throughout contemporary history. what follows might be an optimistic propo- Iraq witnessed recently, sophisticated death contemplate a secular model. Can Iraqi With weak central authority, Lebanon’s 18 sition, the time is most propitious for Bagh- squads have spread havoc, further inflam- leaders identify clear objectives, avoid sus- IRAQ recognized religious communities honed dad to call for a Constitutional Compact, ing sectarian fighting. Inasmuch as the pur- picious motives, and reject the sectarian op- the art of individualism, which literally pre- similar to the 1989 Ta’if Accord for pose of these death squad killings is to tion? vented the creation of a nation even if ex- Lebanon, which proposed to abolish polit- undermine the public’s confidence in its While it is a fact that Shiite Iraqis are a DR JOSEPH KECHICHIAN isting institutions guaranteed basic ical sectarianism. Of course, the Lebanese own security forces, Baghdad confronted majority, “numerical democracy” is always hen the Speaker of the Lebanese freedoms. In Iraq, under the monarchy, mil- postponed Ta’if’s application sine die, an impossible dilemma. a short-term phenomenon, which engen- Parliament, Nabih Berri, called itary regimes as well as the previous dicta- which is the reason why their national rec- By purging thousands of “suspect” se- ders political opposition. A more effective Won his government to form a Na- torship, sectarianism was practiced with a onciliation is in the doldrums, something curity forces from the nascent and still democracy, even a sectarian one during in- tional Committee to Abolish Sectarianism vengeance even if it was always hidden be- Iraqis may wish to avoid. What is sorely largely haphazard and police, terim periods, is one that enhances minor- in the country’s political life, ostensibly to hind lofty rhetoric. Few were empowered needed in Baghdad is for the leadership to Baghdad cleansed the ranks according to ity perceptions of full justice regardless of rid the Land of the Cedars from this ugly to offer alternatives since no one dared to appreciate how nefarious sectarian mobi- ethnic and religious criteria, which pre- sect or ethnicity. The Iraqi political estab- legacy, many called foul. Similarly, when speak of reconciliation. No one could admit lization can be as the country emerges from vented reconciliation. Needless to say, such lishment can avoid future mass graves and the public was told that another mass grave to the existence of sectarian problems be- decades of warfare. Courageous voices to steps are not conducive to effective nation death squad attacks, or a myriad bombings, was discovered west of Kirkuk, or when cause everyone shared a common destiny. eliminate domestic privileges are seldom building, because those who were dis- by adopting a visionary post-sectarian fresh attacks against civilians, allegedly Yet, and just like Lebanon, Iraq is com- heard but that is exactly what Iraq could use missed formed a ready-pool of putative country that would promote secularism committed by elements disguised as Iraqi posed of various religious and ethnic com- these days. Inasmuch as the public is militiamen capable and willing to oppose without neglecting private ethnic and reli- security forces, Iraqis were rightfully hor- munities with common as well as divergent against the idea of abolishing sectarianism, the state. Iraqi Sunnis in particular feel in- gious affiliations. rified. What is one to make of this renewed interests. It seems elementary that Iraqi Iraqi leaders must refrain from stroking the creasingly disenfranchised, while Shiites emphasis on sectarianism, whether in politicians should be aware of existing di- egos of advocates who sponsor sectarian di- desperately try to avoid sectarian violence, Dr Kechichian is an expert in Gulf Lebanon, Iraq, or elsewhere throughout the vergences precisely to avoid the type of ca- visions. To be sure, some support such even if blaming recent attacks on “tribal dis- Arab affairs and author of several Muslim World? What would it take to alter tastrophes that the Lebanese lived through. methods on the grounds that political parties putes” clarifies little. books. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 11 REDEMPTION AND RESILIENCE IN THE RED JAIL The Amna Suraka complex stands testament to Iraqi Kurds’ courage to incorporate their painful past into their promising future. The world needs to know their story.

DR CYNTHIA P. SCHNEIDER

he shell of a building that domi- Nothing personifies the dual qualities of izenry capable of fueling economic and po- pora who were educated in European uni- Center, and the regional government (as nates the entrance to the Amna redemption and resilience that characterized litical progress. versities and those who will be graduating well as the U.S. government which pro- Suraka complex was illuminated Kurdistan for me more than the reclamation AUI-S is operated as a meritocracy; any- from universities in Iraqi Kurdistan in the vided funds for the American invitees)– at- with streaks of light, reminiscent of the infamous Red Jail as a museum and one who has the potential can apply and future? A good sign is that these issues are tests to the importance of culture in Slemani. of the bars of the cells once historical site. It is truism that to reclaim his- succeed, provided he or she is willing to aired in the open. An extremely powerful With all of the new construction in Sle- Thoused there, as the voice of an elderly tory, to move beyond a painful past, one work hard to maintain the school’s high PSA (public service announcement) pro- mani, a program that has worked well in the woman broke the night. In the perform- must first face that history, understand it, standards. Acting Vice Chancellor, Profes- duced by the NGO Heartland Alliance con- U.S. – the 2 percent program – might help ance that marked the finale of the mo- and preserve it as a lesson for future gener- sor Josh Mitchell (someone I am proud to demns forced marriages through a heart jump start the artistic community in Sle- mentous first day of the First Annual Post ations. The Amna Suraka complex accom- call a colleague from Georgetown Univer- wrenching video that compares forced mar- mani as well as beautify the city and foster War Arts Festival in Slemani, the mother plishes all these goals brilliantly. I was sity) illustrates the significance of a merit- riages to imprisonment national pride. According to this program, of the Festival’s organizer, British Kur- fortunate to have the honor of being intro- based university with two stories. One is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUr98 2 percent (or less) of the total construction dish artist Adalet Garmiany, revealed that duced to the Amna Suraka by Lady Hero about the member of the cleaning staff who YTHprc) . The PSA addresses the issue of costs of new buildings in certain cities and she and Adalet had lived as refugees in who described in detail how the prisoners spoke English so well that Prof. Mitchell forced marriages in human terms, and urges states of the U.S. must be dedicated to this shattered building during the mid were rounded up, taken secretly to the Baath persuaded him to apply to the University. families of Kurdistan not to condemn their newly commissioned art in and around the 1990s while Adalet was an art student. As security headquarters that was the Red Jail, Not only was he accepted, but the young sisters and daughters to this fate. It is a brave building. Typically, the “2 percent law” is had happened to so many other Kurds, and held there often for years on end. She man now aspires to study at Georgetown and powerful message. enacted by urban mayors and applies to all their home in Kirkuk had been razed by showed us the small cells into which dozens University in Washington DC. Additionally, Finally, Slemani is known as the cultural new buildings -- public and private. Addi- Baathist forces. Although after 1991 they of people, including women and children Prof. Mitchell speaks with pride about the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, but people I met tionally, simply furbishing new government had been freed of the systematic persecu- were crammed. She pointed out the cruel 16 percent rate of failure among the stu- there, including artists, felt that the city had -sponsored buildings and complexes (such tion perpetrated by Saddam Hussein, the bureaucratic precision of the “family por- dents. While it may seem odd to celebrate lost momentum in this regard. Artists felt as the American University in Slemani) Garmianys had no place to live. Demon- traits” taken systematically of families out- failure, Prof. Mitchell takes this as proof that uncertain about their future without a with works by living artists from Slemani strating the astounding resilience that I side their houses before they were taken the students’ work is the only criterion on stronger artistic climate, community, or and other parts of Kurdistan would pump came to associate with Kurdistan during away to be incarcerated, usually for no of- which they are judged. Everyone has an market. Hero Ibrahim Ahmed is an extraor- much needed funds into the artistic econ- my five day visit there in early Novem- fense other than presenting a perceived equal opportunity to succeed; no one is ad- dinary patron, supporting young, avant omy. ber, the Garmianys lived in deprivation threat to Saddam’s government. A guide, vantaged by their family or other connec- guarde artists as well as more established I returned from my first visit to Kurdistan for two years – no water, electricity, or who himself had been tortured in the Red tions. Prof. Mitchell believes, and I could ones, but she cannot single-handedly sup- moved by the extraordinary resilience of its even window panes to protect them -- so Jail before 1991 when Kurdish fighters ex- not agree more, that this type of meritocracy port the arts in her region. Within the group people, and full of admiration for their that Adalet could finish his studies. What pelled the Baath army from Kurdistan, de- is essential for the future economic and po- of arts and cultural leaders invited for the courage in incorporating their painful past a powerful act of redemption to reclaim tailed the horrors that took place in the litical health of Iraqi Kurdistan. Post War Arts Festival, were gallery owners into their promising future through the that same shell of a building as the dra- sound proof torture chambers. The signs of progress that are everywhere from Iran and Turkey who had helped Amna Suraka complex. It is a story that matic backdrop for a performance that Alongside these painful, but important in Slemani also have a potential downside: spearhead independent artists’ movements needs to be told around the world, but es- captured both the pain of the past and the reminders of Kurdistan’s past, are galleries the inevitable clash between modernity and in their countries. Their experiences might pecially in America, where little is known hope for the future! And, standing among which house collections of clothes and other tradition. What will be the future of society be helpful to artists in Iraqi Kurdistan. about the part of Iraq where not one person the spectators were the people who en- artifacts that tell the story of the society and in Iraqi Kurdistan? A modernized version Hopefully, in future years, the Post War Arts has been killed in conflict since 2003. abled the refugees to return to Kirkuk -- customs of the Kurdistan Region, as well as of Islam, tempered by the experiences of the Festival, and its speakers and guests, will in- Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed and her sister a large gallery exhibiting contemporary art. people from the Diaspora who are return- teract more directly with the artists in Sle- Cynthia P. Schneider, PhD, is a Hero. When she read about the plight of While many of the works referenced as- ing home? Or the more traditional society mani, and exchange ideas about how to distinguished professor in the refugees such as Adalet and his mother, pects of Kurdistan’s troubled history, just as that still condones forced marriages and nurture artistic communities. That the Post practice of diplomacy at Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed set about raising many offered hope for the future, often in honor killings? Will social mores around War Arts Festival took place at all – and its Georgetown University, and a the funds to build houses for them. whimsical or witty artistic language. Zana marriage adjust to accommodate the ac- success owed much to the support of Hero Senior Non Resident Fellow at the Through her leadership a hundred fami- Rasul’s installation piece of bullet boxes and complished young women from the Dias- Ibrahim Ahmed, Khak Press and Media Brookings Institution. lies were able to move into new homes in books (with an excellent commentary by Kirkuk. Alan Attoof) moved me with its eloquent Although extraordinarily moving, the references to the violence that has over- story of Adalet Garmiany and his family’s shadowed life in Iraqi Kurdistan for so long, return to Slemani is not exceptional in Iraqi the efforts of Saddam to destroy Kurdish Kurdistan. Time and again I heard of people culture and memory, but also to the re- who had fled Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in the silience of the people of Kurdistan. The 1980s to rebuild their lives from scratch in same boxes that carried bullets used to kill different parts of Europe, only to abandon it them were salvaged as bookshelves by stu- all to return to the Kurdistan Region to dents from Kurdistan. begin all over again after the fall of Saddam The newly opened American University in 2003. Many more who were unable to of Iraq-Slemani, further testifies to the re- flee the country kept rebuilding and mov- newal of Kurdistan. Legend has it that ing within Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Prime Minister Barham Salih said as the living as Internally Displaced Persons bombs began to fall on Baghdad in 2003, (IDPs) or within the collective towns built “When this is all over, we will build an by Saddam Hussein to keep a watch on the American University in Slemani.” True to Kurdish people. Kurdistan seems to possess his word, Salih has been the driving force in abundance what southern Iraq so sorely behind the American University of Iraq-Sle- lacks: a sense of unified identity. This is mani (AUI-S), currently housed in tempo- hardly surprising, given the people of Kur- rary quarters, but destined to move to a new distan’s common history and background, site, where it will be able to accommodate as opposed to the patchwork of ethnic and some 5,000 students. Unlike other universi- religious diversity within the country whose ties in the region and in Iraq, the AUI-S is borders were drawn by the British. Still, it is based on American liberal arts education, regrettable that more of the good news of where courses are taught in English and Kurdistan’s revival and renewal does not where students are required to think criti- reach the outside world (or at least, the U.S. cally and independently. The larger goal of media). AUI-S is to develop a civically engaged cit- 12 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 IDES OF MARCH LETTERS Lost and found I was equally delighted to learn how proud she is of her Kurdish origins, I was touched upon reading your re- Many Kurds fear that the introduction of the Change despite the fact that she has been port about young Ali Asmin, who raised outside of a Kurdish milieu tracked down his birth mother 21 and has had very little contact with Party will diminish the Kurdish position in Baghdad. years after they were separated dur- Kurdish customs. I think the ing the chemical bombings of Hal- Kurdish people would be happy to abja in 1988. I can only imagine the welcome her to Kurdistan if she is emotions felt by his mother, who ASOS ASKARI serious about her intentions to had thought her son dead all these explore her years. But I wish that a little more fter much deliberation, op- dates are elected. This is in stark contrast to oppose Kurdish rights over Kirkuk would roots. May she had been written about his adoptive position and confusion, the the closed list which was used in the last na- not be as vocal when stating their opinion achieve greater mother, who gave the boy love and Iraqi national elections are tional elections, wherein voters voted di- against elections and referendums, which success in the shelter all these years. Moreover, I due to be held on 7 March rectly for the party and did not have much they have done since 2003. Article 140 of coming years. sincerely hope that the Kurdish au- 2010. The purpose of influence on which of the party's candidates the Iraqi constitution states that a referen- And may I take thorities are sparing no effort to lo- Athese elections is to determine the 325 would represent them. dum in Kirkuk should be carried out to de- the opportunity cate the town’s other lost sons, members of the Council of Representa- The issue of Kirkuk has been at the cen- termine whether Kirkuk (and other disputed to convey my whose families have never given up tives of Iraq. tre of Kurdish politics, with a vast majority areas) should be part of the KRG but to date heartfelt thanks on them. The membership of the Council of Rep- of the Kurdish population believing that no such referendum has taken place. to the team behind SOMA Digest resentatives currently stands at 275 mem- Kirkuk should be a part of Iraqi Kurdistan. To many Kurds who live abroad, elec- Name withheld for a job well done. bers and will increase to 325 so as to ensure There have been countless delays, cancel- tions and in particular voting, does not have LONDON Janna Shahbazi that “all groups of Iraq's population are rep- lations and withdrawals by different groups the same aura it once did. After the fall of DUBAI resented.” The elections are seen as a cru- when the issue of elections has come up in Saddam Hussein and the subsequent na- A Kurdish superstar cial step to ensure that Iraq continues with its respect to Kirkuk. Arab and Turkomen tional elections in Iraq, many Kurds went to transition from dictatorial rule to democracy. groups wanted to give Kirkuk a “special the polling stations in many different coun- Thank you for the interview with The White House has described it as a “de- election” to determine its fate but the Kurds tries. I went to vote in Manchester, England Rania Kurdi featured in your last CONTACT US cisive moment for Iraq's democracy.” have been against this from the outset. with family and friends. Every person I issue (“Rania Kurdi: I’m proud of my name’ p.6 issue #65). I’m a great The elections were originally scheduled The issue of Kirkuk and other disputed spoke to was not only happy to vote but felt LETTERS TO THE EDITOR for mid January 2010, after an election law territories, such as Mosul, will only be pro- that it was their right and their duty to fellow fan of Ms Kurdi’s, and I believe she Want to be published in SOMA? We’d was passed by a majority in the Council of visionally decided, subject to an investiga- Kurds to vote. Unfortunately, this is no is a great role model for young women in the region. She is by far a really like to know what you’re thinking. Representatives in No- longer the case. If you’ve got a comment on one of our more respectable alternative to the vember 2009. It took Many are disil- stories, or about an important issue, sim- more than two months lusioned with not more raunchy stars who have risen ply email it to: Although the Kurds have adopted policy to fame in this region by exploiting to obtain a qualifying only the elections [email protected] majority, delaying the as per Iraqi law, the deadlines on Kirkuk but with the whole their bodies. She stands for what a process severely. Fur- political process in genuine female artist should be Letters may be edited for purposes of space, clarity and decency. thermore, vice-presi- have continually been ignored. Kurdistan and about; her art and not her sexuality. dent Tariq Al Hashimi Iraq. While ac- used a veto to ensure knowledging that that the election law was not passed straight tion by a committee of the electoral progress has been made, many believe that away. commission. From a Kurdish point of view, the Kurdish administration led by the PUK The vice-president only withdrew his it would seem that the Arabs, Turkomen and and KDP did not reach its full potential (as veto when a deal was reached which he be- foreign powers do not want to see Kirkuk they believed that the future offered so much lieved to be fair (to address Sunni Arab dis- fall under the banner of the Kurdistan Re- more). Now, with the introduction of the content) but many believe that it was only gional Government (KRG). Change Party (Goran), many see the Kur- because of pressure from the United Nations Although the Kurds have continually dish vote as a diluted vote and one which and in particular, the United States, that the adopted and carried out policy in accor- will no longer carry the same power it once parties unanimously agreed to hold elec- dance with Iraqi law and the constitution, did. tions in 2010. the deadlines on Kirkuk have continually The fear is that the interests of the The proposed voting system is scheduled been ignored with many factions ensuring PUK/KDP alliance and that of Change will to be an "open list" system, which means an election did not take place, in fear of Kur- not coincide and lead to those who oppose that voters will have some influence on the dish success. I truly believe that if all the oil the Kurdistan Region to exploit it. The peo- order in which a party's or faction’s candi- in Kirkuk dried out tomorrow, those who ple I have spoken to since the last election are in the belief that even if they did vote, their votes would not count and would therefore be meaningless. The problem with Iraqi politics is that there is so much mis- trust and lack of transparency that many Kurds abroad believe that there is a huge chance for electoral fraud. It is my view that although many of the Kurds abroad do not participate in politics, it is not for want of trying. Some Kurds abroad feel as if they have been abandoned but if given the opportunity, they would once again go to the ballot boxes in the same spirit as they did in the previous national election. Whatever the outcome, there are going to be winners and losers but one thing is for certain: if Iraq truly wants to show itself as a democratic country in the Middle East, it must ensure that these elections are safe and just for voters and also show that Iraq is fi- nally able to conduct its own affairs. Iraq as a country will need to show that it has and is attempting to neutralize the sectarian di- vide, for if it does not, then Iraq as a whole will ultimately suffer. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 13

INVESTMENTS BUSINESS|&MARKET NEWS

construction over an area of 100 acres. It will consist of 270 rooms and suites, three Banking on progress. or four cafés, five restaurants, a sports cen- ter, one main conference hall which will hold up to1,000 guests, and another hall Iraq’s banking system with a capacity of about 400 guests. The Millennium franchise exists in more than 130 countries. More than 3,000 inter- needs a complete overhaul. national designers are involved in this proj- ect, most of whom are English. “We have dealt with more than 15 coun- ew would dispute that America’s erated from Iraq’s exaggerated subsidy tries in the Middle East as far as quality war in Iraq has been good for system, he said, allowing for more contents, services and size to be able con- business. Seven years after the funds to be available to the government F sider it a five-star hotel. We are monitoring US-led invasion ousted the former to enter into Public Private Partnerships everything carefully,” says Mustafa. regime, Baghdad is seeking to pass (PPPs). The Millennium Hotel, as far as Mustafa laws to strengthen the country’s econ- “As in any free-market oriented is concerned, has been compared to the omy, and no effort is spared in wooing economy, the government should mon- seven-star Burj Al Arab in Dubai: “I would foreign companies to form joint ven- itor and administer those investors for consider it on par with the Burj Al Arab. tures with state-owned enterprises, their performance and certain regula- The only difference is that instead of being mainly in the oil sector. tions need to be passed to enhance this surrounded by water, it is set against a “Iraq’s economy is based on a single model,” he said. “The KRG’s Invest- mountainous landscape.” product structure; oil. The revenue is ment Law is one of these steps that need Raising the bar then allocated to different sectors on a to be replicated in the rest of the coun- Lalezar is a recent addition to the list of pro-rata basis,” said Hawre Riwandizi, try.” hotels in the city of Slemani and it has, by Marketing Executive of Crescent Pe- Ensuring stability and security is all accounts, raised the bar in terms of hotel troleum Company. paramount to luring investors especially standards in the Kurdistan Region. However, at a time when giant en- in a conflict ridden country like Iraq. Slivan H. Jamal, Manager of the Lalezar ergy corporations around the world are “Security is the most important ele- Hotel, explains that he felt some things busy developing alternatives, most ex- ment for any potential investment. were missing in other hotels. perts are calling for greater efforts to When security provision becomes a “The lobby is the central place of any “diversify” Iraq’s economy. budgetary burden on projects, it also hotel and requires a great deal of attention “Oil will cease to be the sole source creates a psychological deterrence, re- for it to become an ideal place where peo- of energy one day. If we continue to pelling investors from having on- ple can meet and get a service,” he says. have this economy until then, we may ground presence in insecure areas,” said Be our guest. Hotels No doubt, much attention to detail has all be broke the next morning! The fact Riwandizi. “Security has been one of gone into the family-run Lalezar for it to is that Iraq has multiple resources that the cornerstones of business growth in have become the highest standard hotel in can be assembled to construct a sound the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.” in the Kurdistan Region the city. For his part, Jamal expressed the and thriving economy. To name a few, Riwandizi explained that as in any hope that other similar caliber hotels would agriculture, minerals, tourism and water other process, transparency and ac- soon crop up so as to “encourage tourism resources,” said Riwandizi. countability need to be realized before and the economy in the Kurdistan Region.” The post-2003 leadership of Iraq has any action becomes tagged democratic. reach for the stars. The Lalezar has 22 standard rooms and inherited a socialist economy that “There are currently parliamentary three suites with in-built Jacuzzis. adopted extremely centralized methods committees to oversee and participate Galawizh H. Rashid & Jen A. Sagerma “Most rooms have a balcony to enjoy of planning, where the capital plans, al- in the budgetary process at the INA the view, which is important as people locates and implements all service and level. Nevertheless, insufficient and enjoy life and can afford to enjoy their stay SLEMANI don’t pay to stare at a blank wall,” adds development projects on behalf of all limited information that is made avail- inside Kurdistan,” explains Mustafa. s the city of Slemani ex- Jamal. regions and provinces. able to the public results in a budget No effort was spared by the Investment pands to meet the needs of The rooms have a Scandinavian influ- “This has partially worked under the which lacks the priorities and demands Board in Kurdistan to ensure that all new a growing population, ence using good quality wooden furniture former regime simply because the cen- of the most important stakeholder in the hotel projects meet the highest standards, local businessmen attrib- and an earthy color scheme. The finishings tral power was not open for regional or governance portfolio of the govern- says Mustafa. At the heart of this approach ute much of the progress around the hotel are immaculate, unlike provincial inputs,” said Riwandizi. ment, the public.” andA development to the stable security is the knowledge that these new ventures other hotels in the Kurdistan Region. The Additionally, all economic practices Riwandizi pointed out that all basic conditions in the Kurdistan Region. could otherwise never succeed, as the ob- were exerted on strengthening the po- service projects need to be addressed Farouq Mala Mustafa, owner of Asiacell jective is to lure international firms to in- litical and economical grip of a certain and implemented to ensure a social and Slemani’s five-star Millennium vest in the Kurdistan Region. political group. “With the advent of a welfare system for Iraqis. Hotel, also highlights a significant eleva- The owner of what could possibly be- A greater variety of democratic era, it was quickly under- “The financing of those projects tion in living standards, which has raised come Slemani’s grandest hotel cites the stood that developmental needs vary should be devised in a way to ensure af- the bar for the service industry in general. Lalezar, a boutique hotel in the Sar Chnar quality hotels can from place to place and hence the need fordability by average citizens and As such, the hotel business has become neighborhood, as the ‘classiest’ hotel in help boost the for a bottom-up planning process quality of services,” he said. a highly competitive sector. At present, Slemani at present. emerged as a necessity,” said Riwan- The absence of a viable banking sys- there are at least 100 hotels in the whole Bigger and better number of visitors to dizi. tem has become an obstacle to eco- province of Slemani with 15 of them in “Lalezar is possibly the classiest hotel the region, and and restaurant right now in Slemani but it is Iraq’s GDP is incapable of achieving nomic growth for Iraq. According to Dukan and one in Rania. Some of these revitalize tourism. growth, as most of the national budget Riwandizi, Iraq’s banking system needs have been around since the establishment next to none. We need more. Clients are de- is allocated for the Operational Budget. to be rehabilitated on par with the con- of the no-fly-zone in 1991, while roughly manding bigger and better,” says Mustafa, The Capital Expenditure Budget is ditions prior to Saddam Hussein’s rule. who welcomes healthy competition in the 75 percent opened after the ousting of the hotel also offers a steam room, sauna, gym roughly 30 percent of the Total Budget. “The banking system is, in fact, the sector. Baathist regime in 2003. The newer ones and restaurant. This is partially due to the inflated flesh and blood of a robust economy. A greater variety of quality hotels can naturally offer more in the way of luxury, This could set the ball rolling as most workforce of the government. There are various banking institutions help boost the number of visitors to the re- which has compelled the older ones to up- concur that the Lalezar is way ahead of the “To break this cycle, the government in Iraq that compete to deliver the best gion, as well as upping the type of visitors. grade their services if they intend to com- competition in the area. needs to stimulate the economy through available services, yet the need for a This is what revitalizing the sector is all pete and survive. The bulk of the clientele “We had marble brought in from India, encouraging Foreign Direct Investment contemporary and efficient banking about, says Mustafa. is no longer comprised of refugees, war- tiles from Dubai, lighting from Turkey, and (FDI) into the economy, whereby such system has never been greater than it is Although the progress of development worn journalists or aid workers. Today’s numerous other decorative features from workforce can be rehabilitated and today.” is clearly evident throughout the Kurdistan hotel guests are mostly foreign dignitaries, India, China, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Aus- trained to work in a different setup for Region especially in the capital Erbil, businessmen, tourists and even well-to-do tralia. Anything I couldn’t find I had made the private sector,” said Riwandizi. — BY VANIA KAREEM Mustafa claims that he wants to do some- families from other parts of the country. specially using local carpenters and iron The national budget must also be lib- IN SLEMANI thing different in his hometown. “The hotel business in Kurdistan is lu- mongers,” he explains. crative now. There are people who want to The Millennium Hotel is currently under 14 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

Legal barrels. Without an oil and gas law, Iraqi economy will continue to languish.

Zheno Abdulla Dr. Ali Hussen Balu, Head of the Oil SLEMANI and Gas Committee in the Iraqi Parlia- he Iraqi budget for the New Year ment, explains that more than 70 members is nearly US$70 billion, 90 per- of the Iraqi Parliament have submitted to cent of which is dependent on withdraw confidence from Shahristani, the the export of oil. Nearly US$20 Oil Minister. billion will be in deficit. “In the last few years, the export rate has TOne of the most important points eco- not increased even though a lot of money nomic analysts always draw attention to is has been spent in that sector,” he points out. that Iraq depends completely on the export The issue of a vote of no confidence for of oil but the problem lies in the fact that oil Shahristani will be discussed again in the 10,233,732,000,00 ID but some commen- or increasing oil export should be com- “It is hard for Iraq to export that amount prices are unstable in the international mar- very near future, he adds. tators claim that unnamed parties in Iraq pensated from their budget.” without the Kurdistan Region’s production kets. The budget specialized for progress- Increasing the export rate will have a are calling for the regional government’s It is obvious that this point refers to the and while the world is in an economic cri- ing oil production was US$6 billion in significant impact on the budget of Iraq for portion to be decreased because their seats Kurdistan Region because it stopped ex- sis, the price of oil will not be stable until 2008 and if one looks to Iraq’s current 2010 which is supposed to price a barrel of in next year’s parliament will be reduced. porting oil into the international ports from that crisis is solved,” says Balu. year’s selling chart, oil at US$62 with an “Certain parties are talking about the mid September. At the time, this was at the Pressure from US, UN one can see that the output of 2,000,100 new number of regional seats in the Iraqi rate of more than 100,000 barrels a day and The oil problem in Iraq will be solved price of oil has in- Iraq’s export bpd. But Balu ex- Parliament and saying that we have 43 was supposed to have increased to 250,000 by an oil and gas law as well as a law for creased from US$37 plains that this rate is seats out of 325 which makes up 13 per- barrels a day. distributing the budget in Iraq which for the to US$71 barrels per rate has not subject to change as cent of the seats in parliament but we are Oil export problem last five years has not progressed. Some day (bpd). changed oil prices are not sta- depending on the previous decision during The regional oil export problem is not people hold that the first barrier to solving Iraq’s export rate ble and are depend- Ayad Allawi’s governance which allocated new. It began with the start of the oil con- those problems is Shahristani and those has not changed rea- reasonably over ent on the global 17 percent of the Iraqi budget for the Kur- tracts and now the central government has who are close to Nouri Al Maliki. sonably over the last economic situation. distan Region,” says Dr Ismael Shukir, announced that it won’t pay portions to oil For his part, Balu believes that there is a four years, which is a the last four The deficiency Deputy of the Finance Committee in the companies which, as per the Kurdistan Re- lot of international pressure especially from big problem for the amount is evaluated Iraqi Representative Assembly. gion’s oil contracts, must be paid by the the United States and the United Nations country’s economy years, which at 21,682,000,00 “It is impossible to let the regional por- government from the export money. This to agree on a law with the Kurdistan Re- that lacks a strong in- Iraqi Dinars (ID) and tion be reduced from 17 percent and we, caused the Kurdistan Region to stop its oil gional Government. frastructure. Some poses a problem 23 percent of the the Kurdistani List, reject any attempts to exports in mid September of 2009. “If that law is enacted then the oil sec- commentators refer- general budget has do this,” he adds. This will have a direct impact on Iraqi tor will progress in Iraq generally and in ring to the situation been allocated to the Sami Atrushi, a member of the Finance oil exports. According to predictions, the the Kurdistan Region especially, because when the exports stopped put the blame on investment budget which amounts to Committee, explains that Kurds only have Kurdistan Region’s production should be there are many oil companies that work in the faulty policy of Oil Minister Dr. Hus- nearly 23 trillion ID. The Kurdistan Re- one note on the current Iraqi budget, which 450,000 barrels a day but the Iraqi oil pro- the region and have presented their pro- sain Al Shahristani, who seems to be sup- gional Government’s (KRG) share of the is supported by a decision by the minister duction will not reach 2,100,000 barrels a posals,” says Balu, who also believes that ported by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al general budget is 17 percent which of oil which says: “Any region or province day if the Kurdistan Region’s production Shahristani is the main obstacle in front of Maliki. amounts to approximately that has an impact on reducing the budget is stopped. the law.

‘Circumstances in ‘Iraqi traders have ‘There are no plans by the ‘The budget to develop ‘These allocations are very Kurdistan are suitable for suffered a lot throughout agriculture ministry in provinces allocated to small compared to what attracting businesses.’ this year because of the brotherly Iraq to stop Basra which reach 220 bil- those provinces need.’ lack of a clear picture of granting licenses for Iraqis lion Iraqi dinars for KAREEM MOHSEN, Iraqi MP, SINAN AL CHALABI, Kurdistan importing Jordanian criticizing 2010 federal budget regional trade minister, stressing the nature of the Iraqi 2010... is not enough to for allocating inadequate funds the need for cooperation with economy and its agricultural products.’ rehabilitate electricity sta- to provinces. international communities on the duality - capitalism and SAEED AL MASRY, tions. There are three occasion of a ceramics fair held socialism. Non plans or legislations in Erbil last month. Jordanian Agriculture Minister, distribution of the 2009 on Iraqi market remaining open if adopted ‘The project’s first stage budget has affected Iraqi for Jordanian agro-products. the situation will last until 2011. The first ‘Missan’s share of water traders. Some companies in Basra team is for legislative through the Tigris River have gone bankrupt and ‘The public sector will will be very reform, the second for should be 180 cubic had to sell their assets to not develop without good...’ institutional reform, the meters per second, but it pay off their debts...’ cooperation and third for private sector receives only 40.’ reform, and the fourth for ABDULRAZEQ AL ZUHAIRI, partnership with the SHELTAGH ABOUD, Basra investment circulation.’ HASSAB LAZIM, Head of Head of the Iraqi Chambers of private sector.’ Governor, claiming that Basra’s Missan’s Agricultural Commerce, on dual Iraqi econ- share of the budget does not ABDULHUSSEIN AL ANBAKI, NOURI AL MALIKI, Iraqi PM, Committee, on lack of water omy and non-distribution of suit its population nor its Iraqi PM’s economic advisor, on cooperation between public causing 20 percent reduction 2009 budget causing heavy economic and geographic on plans to shift Iraq to market and private sectors. of farmed areas in Missan. losses to traders. importance. economy. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 15

INSIDE Color me beautiful Culture with natural henna ROSHNA RASOOL IN SLEMANI

FILMS MUSIC LITERATURE HERITAGE

Kirkukis famed for syrupy sweet kahee

t is a traditional dish that is normally eaten in the mornings as breakfast Iwith kaymagh, a very thick cream. Kahee is still made in the city of Kirkuk and many enjoy it as their morning treat. Wasta Mohammed, 28, has been making kahee in Kirkuk for the past seven years. “Kahee is made from dough of nor- mal flour, oil, water, yeast, salt and a bit of bicarbonate of soda. Once the dough is made, it is left for an hour to rise. Then, it is kneaded with oil and cut into different pieces,” he explained. “The kahee pieces are baked in the oven and glazed with syrup before The former Baath regime’s attack on Kurdish bookshops and literature has left its mark on the city of Kirkuk. Many students of the city lament that they cannot find suitable Kurdish sources. they are served to customers.” (photo by Dastan Nouri) Many visitors that come to Kirkuk do not go home without buying kahee. districts, then the bookshops and finally The kahee shops even receive cus- it changed the name of the city from tomers from Tikrit, Diyala and the Kirkuk to Ta'mem meaning nationaliza- cities of the middle and south of Iraq. Burning books in Kirkuk tion,” said Arf Qurbani, a Kurdish jour- The traditional food is very much a nalist and writer. hit with residents and visitors. Qurbani believes that the former “Every time I come to Kirkuk I go Six years after the ouster of the Baathists, Kirkuk regime reached its final and very dan- and eat kahee because it is delicious. gerous limit when they tried to change Although there is kahee in Erbil, the residents continue to suffer the consequences the national identity of the city. ones in Kirkuk have a distinctive taste. “It started with a very dangerous step I always take some home with me,” of the regime’s attack on Kurdish literature. which I think was the worst and this said 34-year-old Sangar Osman. was through destroying Kirkuk's indi- Ali Abdulla, 40, concurs: “Every viduality by banning them from educa- morning I come to this shop and eat it rally it was not long before these ko- decrease in Kurdish readers,” said tion,” he said. with kaymagh. I meet so many people Awara Jumaa cales became targets of the former Hewa Hasan, a university student who “When someone went to a library to from the other cities of the Kurdistan KIRKUK Baath regime. laments that it is sad that students have borrow a Kurdish book they were told Region here and I have formed so s progressive journal- The libraries were a good excuse for to depend on other sources rather than that that particular book had already many new friendships.” ism developed in the the regime to arrest the owners and Kurdish ones because of the difficulties been taken out by another reader when One piece of kahee costs a mere 750 city of Kirkuk, the Kur- close or burn down their libraries. Umar in locating good Kurdish sources. it actually was not and just kept in stor- Iraqi Dinars (ID) and more than 1,000 dish press centers Bekas and Jabar Aso, both owners of “If we need to find sources for our re- age.” pieces are sold in all of Kirkuk daily played a crucial role in shops selling Kurdish literature, were search, we have to search on the inter- Qurbani recounts that this eventually especially during the holidays. promotingA intellectual advancement frequently arrested by the regime and net which is not culminated into a “Kahee is a strong and calorie- in the city. were always hounded by the govern- good because most ban of sorts over packed breakfast, which is great fuel Alongside journalistic growth, book ment. Their families also suffered as a of the net libraries The Baathists Kurdish books. especially for the laborers,” said 52- shops were a very common place for consequence. Selling Kurdish books are not reliable,” “After a period year-old Muhammaed Mustafa, a selling newspapers, books and other was something of a crime back then. said Sozan Sher- removed all of time, they trans- kahee shop owner. publications. They had a significant im- Another method utilized by the for- wan, a student of ferred all Kurdish In Kirkuk alone, there are more than pact on encouraging literacy and in- mer regime in their attempt to reduce the college of edu- Kurdish books books from the 20 shops that are specialized in making creasing the number of readers in the the number of educated people was to cation in the Uni- general library and kahee. Some are owned by Kurds, oth- city. change the names of Kurdish libraries versity of Kirkuk. from the library put a ban on Kur- ers by Arabs or Turkmen. The most If one looks to the history of journal- so that there was no indication whatso- She, too, is sad- dish books in the popular kahee shop is called Kahee Al- ism and press in the city of Kirkuk, it is ever over what purpose that edifice dened over the lack and put a ban bazaar citing dif- Bahir, which is owned by a Turkman. clear that there were attempts to serve served, and as such, reducing the num- of Kurdish book- ferent excuses and Of course, not everyone is a fan of the city’s information needs. With pub- ber of customers for Kurdish books. shops in the city. on Kurdish books then forced them to kahee. lications in circulation, there arose a Abbasi Hirmi, Asriya, Umar Bekas, The public li- close the Kurdish As Ari Ata puts it: “I’m very sur- need for a place to gather and access Hamid Batasi were among the 36 book- brary in Kirkuk is in the bazaar. bookshops alto- prised that they eat all that fat and various reading material and possibly shops in the city that had a positive im- an old one and gether.” sweet together, I think they will be even to hold discussions. pact on the residents of Kirkuk until doesn't contain much Kurdish sources. Qurbani believes that a chauvinistic sick.” Libraries were the only places that they were persecuted. Now only a “When the Baath regime came to Arab mentality has had a devastating could serve this function. They quickly handful of them remain. power, it employed every method to impact on the city. Even six years after — BY AWARA JUMAA became popular venues where Kirkuk’s “I'm very sad that we don't have erase the city's reality and history by the liberation process, no more than two IN KIRKUK educated classes would gather and hold many Kurdish bookshops in the city changing cultures, languages and Kurdish bookshops can be found in discussions on a host of issues. Natu- anymore and this is a big factor in the names of schools, even the names of the Kirkuk, he pointed out, ruefully. 16 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

10 years: “It’s more sensitive to my scalp Color me and is more natural, and the colour I achieve is like an aubergine colour which I Mark of distinction like.” Sawen Bakir, a retired beautician, says Ancestors’ tattoos now taboo. beautiful those who go to the salon go to get their hair dyed chemically but wouldn’t go to the Roshna Rasool salon to get their hair dyed by henna: “The ple apparatus. Natural henna is difference is that henna is more messy and QALADEZE “There are many steps to take in order to time consuming and so it is often done at n many Kurdish villages, it is still achieve the final result of the required tattoo- preferred over home, whereas the chemical dyes often common to find women with dis- ing,” said Hajia Miriam. “First the skin must need someone with some knowledge to do tinctive tattoos on their hands or even be cleaned thoroughly. A bamboo is taken chemical dyes. it well, and of course takes less time to faces. In the past, women in the Kur- and dipped into a paste made of dried goat’s achieve results.” distan Region were skilled in draw- milk which is mixed with ash.” Tattoos like this were all the rage once There are some that use henna solely for ingI tattoos. Nowadays, due to the This paste is placed over the desired pat- upon a time. (photo by Aram Eissa) Roshna Rasool the beauty benefits, but there are others availability of new technologies in the art tern and then a needle is pricked hard onto SLEMANI who, after frequent use of henna, claim they of tattoos, the traditional mode of applica- the skin and very quickly to minimize the this arch. listening in the sun, it is get headaches or an itchy scalp when they tion is not as commonly practiced. pain. The area needs to be stationary and the Another popular mark was dotting. The a beautiful burnt orange stop using it. They believe the only way to The application of tattoos in the traditional person should not move. The final color dot was marked in the dimple, or cleft, of the shade but a darker red or relieve themselves of such irritations is to Kurdish form had been common even up would be a bluish green shade and when chin and often had a line coming down from a deep purple are also re-apply the henna. There are some women until the 1980s. Interestingly, tattooing was done with such basic instruments, the pat- it stretching down the neck with dots on ei- options that are avail- who use it solely for the pleasant smell it more common among women than men, terns were not always clear or very complex ther side of the line. ableG to Kurdish women who use henna leaves. in comparison to the tattoos of the modern and even the areas of the body where the The difference between the markings of on their hair in their quest to emulate the The henna is made into a paste with marks were applied were different. Women age. men and women of that time, was that many look of Indian actresses. warm water. Instead of using just normal would typically choose the face and hands, The popular areas for tattoos were at the men would not always have it on areas that According to some women, many years water, some add tea or water boiled with whereas men would usually have it on their end of their eyebrows, the cheeks, chin, and were commonly exposed, such as the upper ago, before conditioners and dyes came to fresh chestnut peels. This is believed to chest and arms. the back of the hand. However other areas, arm. The patterns of choice also differed in the Kurdistan Region, women used henna leave a richer color. “The women who would do this in the which were not as popular but not unheard that men would opt for patterns of arrows on their hair for these purposes. Once the paste is formed, it is applied on past years were young women, often of, were between the breasts, upper thigh, and lions. It is very common to see older men Henna is made from dried henna leaves the hair and bound in plastic then a cloth teenagers,” explained Nazanin Mahmud, a around the belly button, the back, and the with marks on their arms with the name of which are ground into powder. Henna is a and left for six hours or more. It is also village girl. arms. Often, women opted for these loca- their first love. beauty product popularly used throughout common to leave it overnight. It doesn’t Hajia Miriam, an elderly woman, added tions on the body so as to achieve more sex Nowadays, tattooing has not only the region for its healthy properties. cause any harm if one leaves it on for longer that many of those women who got tattoos appeal for their husband. It is also said that changed in terms of patterns, colors and in- Jamal Ahmed, a shopkeeper, spoke of than eight hours and it is actually recom- would do so during the months of spring as back in the day people believed that tattoos struments used, but also the acceptance of the types of henna available in the bazaars: mended that it be kept on longer for a last- it was said that the weather helped in pre- on the body would keep away illnesses or tattoos in society. Now tattooing has become “There are those which are naturally made ing color, unlike the chemical dyes which venting infections and the area that was even help cure them. somewhat unacceptable, but like previous from the real leaves; however there are can harm the hair and the scalp and leave an marked would heal quicker. What’s in a name generations, it is an art which appeals to the some that look like henna powder but con- undesired color if left on for too long. If one looks back to the previous years on The patterns had special names such as youth. tain more chemicals. The ‘milkhwar’ and In the house, it becomes part of a love how tattooing was performed, one would be “mangi yek shawa” literally translated to Men tend to get it done more than women ‘gul’ henna are the original types.” hate relationship as many women love to surprised by its simplicity. A sewing needle “month of one night”. This was a vertical line as these days, it is considered inappropriate Ahmed added that 500mg of milkhwar use it and find the smell appealing although or a needle of some sort was habitually used. marked from the hairline straight to just for women. If women do get a tattoo, it henna sells for a reasonable 1,500 Iraqi Di- it is common for men to hate it. In addition The traditional patterns such as the dots often above the space between the brows. The line would be done on an area that is not com- nars (ID) in the bazaar. to its common usage as part of a beauty reg- seen on the chin of many older females or on would end with an upside down C, repre- monly exposed, in stark contrast to the cus- Nasika Omar, a housewife, explained imen, henna is used to celebrate matrimo- their foreheads were effected using that sim- senting the moon and a dot was placed below toms of yesteryear. that she has been using henna frequently for nial events. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 17

COMPILED BY AWARA JUMAA N IN ERBIL Lifestyle JEN A. SAGERMA IN SLEMANI

DINING FASHION INTERIORS LEISURE

As modernity seeps into everyday life in Kurdistan, affluent young Kurds find ways to reconcile global trends with tradition. As the Kurdistan Region ushers in 2010, society has come a long way since the dark days of the double sanctions when nothing was available except for what was smuggled through the black markets. Today, there is everything from high class beauty spas to restaurants serving an array of international cuisines. Lifestyle, a vista to an emerging society, shows how far we’ve come. IN FOCUS She’s got the look

here is certainly no trip worth the drive. ety of services and treatments, shortage of beauty cen- London Spa is separated into such as hair, makeup, face mas- ters in Slemani due to different treatment areas with sages, bridal hair and makeup, the overwhelming flowery curtains that add to the pedicures, manicures, full body grooming demands of calming atmosphere. massages and much more. localT ladies but finding a place The reception staff is friendly The London Spa is an equal that meets requirements and and their service with a smile opportunity employer and as ever rising standards has be- makes clients feel at ease straight such, they employ a multicultural come a little easier now with the away. While the truly discrimi- staff. In their employment is a opening of the London Spa. nating patron may deem their lady from the Philippines who is Construction of the spa started skills as falling short of European specialized in manicures and in July 2009 and it opened its standards, for Slemani, they have pedicures. doors to the public in September well and truly set the bar. Owner The treatments may be a little of the same year. It was not long Lana Ali is back from the United pricey for most as a manicure will before it became a favorite for Kingdom and being a law gradu- set you back 25,000 Iraqi Dinars those who like to be pampered. ate with a LPC from Oxford Uni- (ID) and the nails are finished off Located to the right of the large versity, she decided to take a with OPI color varnishes that are shopping store Istanbul Bazaar on break from law and fill the inade- world renowned. Salem Street, it is a discrete set- quacy that she saw in the hair and Finally, no spa can call itself ting for the spa, away from pry- beauty sector in Slemani. thus if it does not impart a sensa- ing eyes. This allows women to The spa's client list comprises tion of serenity and bless during feel comfortable and without ladies of certain means who wish and after treatment. London Spa trepidation that a man may acci- to enhance their beauty and come will no doubt set a trend in the dentally waltz in while they have out feeling refreshed. Kurdistan Region, and one can a mask on their face, or their toe There is a broad range of treat- expect a slew of imitations to nails are being clipped. Albeit, ments on offer that focus not only crop up soon. Still, chapeau to some concede that this gives it a on the face but the entire body. In London Spa for setting a new bit of a dungeon feel. comparison to the other salons in standard in the beauty and relax- Its location is a bit hard to the city, this is a first as many ation industry. reach because of the traffic, but only concentrate on hair and London Spa offers a wide variety of treatments and services for the women of the city the wide range of treatments on makeup. — BY DIDAR ABDULLA of Slemani. Their service with a smile makes the customer feel at ease straight away offer all under one roof makes the London Spa offers a wide vari- IN SLEMANI and has really set the bar for standards in the beauty and relaxation industry.

Choli Minaret An Italian job Choli Minaret, measuring 36 meters high, A taste of Italy has made its way to is a major attraction in the Kurdistan Slemani. Roma restaurant offers a range of Region’s capital city of Erbil. It has a large pasta and pizza dishes, and now have dedicated garden aptly named Minaret added rice dishes to the menu all in Park, which spreads over 15,000 square generous portions and reasonably priced. meters. Established by the Kurdistan The presentation of the dishes may not Regional Government (KRG) in 2006, the always be great but none fail to tickle the park has quickly become a popular taste buds. There is a selection of salads hangout among residents and visitors alike. and fresh juices to start the meal with and Foreign tourists especially enjoy the site. service is polite. Even the choice of music The Choli Minaret itself is the work of is in tandem with the concept of an Italian architect Wasta Masud Murad in the year restaurant. One permanent fixture in the 1232 AD. The construction of the minaret decor is a parrot, who can sometimes get was approved by the ruler of Erbil at that over excited, but not enough to distract time, Sultan Muzafar Kok Bariof. The from your dining experience. As long as minaret is the only remnant of the mosque standards don’t slip this restaurant will Minaret Park in Erbil is a popular destination that was destroyed many years ago. Italian food lovers can count on Roma continue to be popular pick. among residents and visitors alike. restaurant for an authentic and tasty meal. 18 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 HISTORY

Notes of a journey town was extremely civil; he gave me a Management then and now room overhanging the river, and 30 feet about it, commanding a fine view of the gain added experience, and/or appear country. This town is said to have formed for interview by a selective board. from Tabriz the boundary of the acquisitions of the Amir This led the individuals to continue of Rawanduz to the south. Altun Kupri, ac- persevering their self improvement cording to the statement of the chief, once and development. The individual pro- contained 8,000 people, but plague and gressing in this way, not only grew through Kurdistan famine had greatly thinned it. professionally but his self confidence August 18 was equally enhanced. We left Altun Kupri in the evening and Yes, it could not be claimed that all Maureen McLuckie ceeded in the direction of S.S.W. over low travelled S.S.E. and after halting four hours promotions were objectively deter- hills for 18 miles, and then travelled for four during the night, reached Kerkuk in the mined, and yes, there was also now LONDON miles to the village of Beherkah, across the morning. The distance was said to be 25 ANWAR M. QARADAGHI and again one or two promotions that The following is an extract from the notes plain of the Tigris. In the evening we trav- miles; we were still accompanied by our did not really look justified. of Lieutenant-Colonel James Shiel entitled elled 10 miles S.S.W to Arbela: the road very useless guard of Arabs, who, however, FLASHBACKS Nevertheless, you could not fail to “Notes on a Journey from Tabriz, through was excellent and level, and far to the left amused us by singing songs. Arabs, Kurds, feel that there was a system that Kurdistan via Van, Bitlis, Se’ert, Erbi and lay the mountains of Kurdistan: the town is and Persians, seem to think the chief excel- roblem solving and decision clearly indicated that for you to ad- Suleimaniyeh in July and August 1836”. placed on a large mound 60 or 70 feet in lence of music is loudness: these fellows making are important skills vance you constantly needed to im- This was printed in 1838 in the ‘Journal of height, and 300 yards in length by 200 in sang, or rather roared, with wonderful Pthat require training and prac- prove your skills, keep up with the Royal Geographical Society of London breadth; it is enclosed at the summit, with a vigour, but not unpleasingly: their favourite tice. Learning to make good decisions developments in your field and en- Volume 8’. This Journal was a scholarly brick wall having bastions, with a few small song was that of their tribe, in praise of the is key, especially for senior managers. hance your contribution to the overall geographic journal published by the Royal guns in them: at the foot of the mound there nobility, courage, generosity, and hospital- There are different decision-mak- work of your organization. Geographical Society from 1831 to 1880. is another town, enclosed by a mud wall, a ity of their Sheikh. Each line seemed to ing techniques that can be learned as Based on this system, individuals Copies can be bought from http://www.abe- great part of it being in ruins, in which re- consist of three or four words, and then a part of a system of Human Resource felt there was esteem in their jobs. It books.co.uk or from spect it resembles both the upper and lower chorus of the word Sheikha: the music was Development that may be geared to provided for a sense of belonging to http://www.amazon.co.uk prices start from town; the latter especially is almost deso- very monotonous, but without any of the senior members of staff. In such a sys- the team. The job title was not just a £12 sterling. late. There are no ruins or remarkable build- disgusting trilling used in Persian singing, tem, instances from real-life situations status symbol; it was a developed at- August 14 ings. A short distance to the west of the which I believe is in imitation of the are discussed within the sessions on titude of loyalty and maturity that en- We left Jelam at day-break, and travel- town, there is an immense brick pillar nightingale. Three miles before reaching how to approach the many choices of sured integrity, competence and no ling in the general direction of S.E. by S. standing by itself in the plain’ it looks old, Kerkuk we passed several naphtha pits, techniques that can be applied during nepotism. This cannot be said of for 10 miles, over low grassy hills, we but seems to be a mohammedan building; which diffused a disagreeable odour to a the decision-making process. many of our present day managers. reached Dab, a small village on the right nothing is known of it excepting that it once considerable distance. In Kerkuk, naphtha In Kurdistan, while it is granted that The KRG managers are undoubt- bank of the Zab, which flowed from nearly is used for lights and fire. Kerkuk is a large progress has been achieved in a vari- edly decent people who are alleged to north; after great detention in procuring open town in a plain, and, like all the towns ety of fields and sectors from 2003 have all contributed in many differing skins to make a kelek, or float, we crossed in this part of the world, is in great part in onwards, the subject of human re- ways and thus feel they need to be re- to the left bank: the stream is rapid and ruins: plague, famine, and, I believe, source management and development warded. However, when compared to about 100 yards in breadth, and said to be cholera has almost destroyed it. Near to it is leave a lot to be desired. There may today's international managerial re- deep. The kelek is formed by tying a num- a fort built on a mound, not very high but have been good reasons for this defi- quirements and decision making ber of inflated skins under an open frame steep. It is said to have no manufactures ex- ciency so far, but it is now high time skills, many of them do not compare and covering the whole with branches of cept a course calico, but there is a consid- that this subject is given due attention. very favorably. This can have the con- trees; it makes a very commodious con- erable trade in gall-nuts, which are brought Perhaps if we go back to the state of sequence of their not being competent veyance. This was guided by two men, from the Kurdistan Mountains. The river of affairs of some five or so decades ago, and knowledgeable in their specific each of whom had a large hollow calabas Kerkuk, called the Khaseh Chair, was now we may note that despite its raw mod- allotted functions and have negative under his arm: one of these watermen took dry: here we saw, for the first time, date esty, compared to today's international effects on their performance and de- a string in his hand and swam across, drag- trees, which would have reminded us, if it progress and managerial demands, in partmental contributions in catering ging the kelek with him, and putting one in were necessary, that we were now in a very Slemani in particular and the country for the people's requirements. mind of the horses applied to a similar pur- hot climate. The women wear immense tur- in general, the right people were by While in the past few years, many pose on the Oxus; the other pushed it from bans which has a very strange effect to a and large, in the right places. piece-meal training courses have been behind. After crossing the Zab, we travelled person not accustomed to see females in the In every establishment, there was a held here and there in our region, they among hills in almost every direction, was the minaret of a mosque. I saw no river east with that head-dress. document called ‘personnel strength’. have not been implemented as a part through the general course was S.S.E. for near Erbil, and the people declared that August 19 This was an approved list of the num- of a system that recognizes individual four hours, or 12 miles, we passed at a dis- there is none. The troops of the Amir of We left Kerkuk after sunset in the ber of staff required together with their needs for specific goals. Examples tance several villages, which were almost Rawanduz made a short resistance at this evening of the nineteenth, and travelling in categories and post titles. This so- from developed countries suggest that all deserted, the inhabitants having built place, but a small and ineffectual mine hav- the general direction of east, arrived before called ‘personnel strength’ was ar- by expending a small percentage of its upon some neighbouring cool spot a new ing been exploded in the mound, they were daylight at an O’ba or summer encamp- rived at through a systematic process income on a proper system of Human village of huts formed of leaves and alarmed and surrendered. Erbil contains ment of Kurds, whose village was behind of analyzing the quantity and quality Resource Development, the region branches. On the approach of winter, they 6,000 people, three large mosques, and two one of the neighbouring hills. The distance of work of each unit of that establish- would be able to generate around five return to their less agreeable, permanent baths. The next march being a long one, was about twenty miles, of which half was ment and thus its need for the number fold extra income as a result of the residences. We then travelled eastward for and the heat being very great, we halted at among hills, with a good deal of ascent. and kind of staff necessary, the details managers' acquired skills. This would two hours, and came in sight of ‘Ali Pasha’s Erbil until the evening of the 17th; we then August 20 of which were documented in indi- not only enhance the efficiency of the camp. It was now dark, and after scram- marched in a S.S.E direction across a flat We left O’ba on the evening of the 20th vidual ‘job descriptions’. employees but also assist thousands bling for another hour through a very bad plain, and passed two villages at a short dis- of August, and, travelling still in the same These then provided for the salaries of unemployed youth. road among hills, we were at length unable tance. After a fatiguing march of about 40 direction, arrived in the morning at a large payable for each post and the qualities It is finally suggested that in each to proceed, and halted near a stream, where miles, we reached Altun Kupri at sunrise. village, which belongs to Suleimaniyeh, of their incumbents, their qualifica- of the three main cities of Kurdistan, we passed the night without any food for This town is placed on an island in the winding among defiles, with a great deal of tions, experience, age and the skills re- or at least in one of them, a properly ourselves or our horses. Altun Su (which I suppose is the ) ascent and descent: about the 20th mile we quired to do the job reasonably well. established management training cen- August 15 which we crossed into the town by a bridge, crossed a wide torrent called the Wai Su, There were also clearly announced tre is founded that can be gradually We marched three miles eastwards to an whence the town is said to have been which probably afterwards becomes the policy requirements for change of job developed to cater for the ever in- eminence, on which a portion of the army named on account of the lucrative toll for- Diyalah, flowing to the south-west. All the titles, and promotions should vacan- creasing demands of managerial dis- of ‘Ali Pasha of Baghdad was encamped, merly levied, Altun Kupri meaning ‘gold people in this village were encamped in cies occur later on within that ‘per- ciplines, including the skills required under Mustafa Pasha; at the summit of the bridge’. The river was shallow, but is deep huts at a short distance from the village: we sonnel strength’. Some of these for problem solving and decision eminence was the small fort of Darvin, at other seasons, and about 50 yards wide were lodged in a most comfortable hut, requirements included the need for the making. which had been taken two days before. close to the tomb of a holy man, a descen- individual to participate on specific before it dives: it was flowing from the N.E. [email protected] August 16 and rises in U’shneh, a district of Persia, dant of the famous ‘Abdul-kadir Gailani, training courses, or job rotations to We left the camp at day-break, and pro- near the Urumiyah Lake. The chief of this who is interred at Baghdad. Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010 19

LIFE SOCIETY|&TIMES

Ramzi Qotbaden’s exhibition at Sardam Gallery. (photo by Aram Eissa)

A concert by Slemani Orchestra with Tawar Chorus Group in the Amna Suraka Museum. (photos by Aram Eissa)

The Kurdistan Region ushered in the New Year with hope, optimism and a slew of artistic and theatrical events that left audiences thoroughly impressed.

The Christian community pray at the old church in Slemani. (photo by Aram Eissa)

A mono-drama performance called Marsh at Tawar Hall. (photo by Aram Eissa) The second Kurdish Film Festival at Slemani’s Culture Hall which lasted for nine days. (photo by Aram Eissa) 20 Issue no.66 Jan 8 - 21, 2010

The teahouse is a popular Kurdish institution, where wisemen (or, wiseguys) gather every evening to discuss life, politics and the future. Dr Sherko Abdullah lends an ear to the talk, and reports what Bayiz and Jwamer had to say...

BAYIZ JWAMER JWAMER JWAMER Do you see any similarity between Christmas and Maybe because everything is immature. So what is your major wish for the new year? Well, it’s the most neglected issue in our country. the political opposition? BAYIZ BAYIZ BAYIZ JWAMER Whom do you mean exactly? The opposition, or Who should be blamed for this? Excuse me, I cannot tell you. Of course. There are too many similarities. For the present situation? JWAMER one, if Christmas didn’t exist, it would be neces- JWAMER What else but oil? sary to invent it. Same goes for the opposition. Why? Is it too personal? BAYIZ BAYIZ Oil? But the books tell a different story. No. The opposition isn’t as vital as Christmas. JWAMER JWAMER In the English books in the Kurdish books, oil is So, why did they invent it? At the chaikhana directed at destroying everything.

I can’t see any issues more How good is your vision? vital than the economy.

BAYIZ BAYIZ So do you wish for all the oil wells to dry up? It’s not invented. I heard that it is imported. JWAMER JAMER Why? To die of hunger? Imported? Is it commercial stuff? BAYIZ BAYIZ Do you think that we would starve without oil? Not purely commercial, but it is imported stuff. Just like Christmas. JWAMER I am not the right person to answer this. Ask the JWAMER political parties. No one imported Christmas. It came by itself. Do you know why? BAYIZ They don’t have time for such silly things. They are BAYIZ busy with vital issues. Yes I know, because children love it. JWAMER JWAMER Vital issues? I cannot see any issues more vital Not only this. At Christmas, everyone wants his than the economy. past forgotten. Christmas is about the present, un- JWAMER BAYIZ BAYIZ like the opposition which hates the present. Full stop. It’s better to start a new subject. Sorry, I cannot mention it. How good is your vision? JWAMER BAYIZ BAYIZ Oh c’mon is it a political wish? A historic one? Cut That’s crazy. Why should he hate the present? He I agree. We should look for a new subject, espe- it short. Is it an economic one? can say whatever he wants. Just tell me why? cially as we are beginning a new year. Sherko Abdullah is editor of Sekhurma Cartoon BAYIZ magazine. What do you mean by economic?