From the Heart of Kurdistan Region

The only English paper in Iraq - No: 508 Mon. October 05, 2015

Peshmerga
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid

valiantly
drive back
ISIS
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 The Kurdish Globe No. 508, Monday, October 05, 2015 2

Unifying Peshmerga UK, South Korean are ready to

continue assisting Peshmerga
Forces is a Strategic

GLOBE PHOTO
Strategy!

By Gazi Hassan

For a long time the division of Peshmerge
forces into groups, parties and political
components has been a big issue that has
weakened the political situation in Kurdii
istan. Unifying Peshmerge during the varii
ious phases of armed struggles had varioi
ous goals and concepts; this importance
continues to exist in East, West and North
of Kurdistan. We see that the society has
been facing dire problems due to politici
cal disagreements among political parties
in Kurdistan, or because of the unilateral
tendency or ideological and political self-
imposing. This would clearly, as a negati
tive factor, lead to a deteriorating political
situation and more division and self-annihi
hilation, then totalitarianism in decisions
and settling the important steps.
In the Kurdistan Region, after quarti
ter of a century’s experience of Kurdish
self-autonomous rule, four parliamentary
elections and eight government cabinets;
discussions and works regarding unifyii
ing the Peshmerge forces in a united and
equal form is still being discussed in medi
dia and among the public. The unified
Peshmerge should obviously be under the
commander and administration of Minii
istry of Peshmerge. The political parties
should agree to hand their forces over to
Ministry of Peshmerge for establishing
an official unified army of Kurdistan.
The Kurdistan Region President has
already stated an official decision few
months ago calling upon Ministry of
Peshmerge to work towards unifying the
Peshmerge and gave the Minister of Peshmi
merge full power and authority. The decisi
sion is crucial, not because the political
parties are giving away their armed forcei
es, but because the prerequisite of current
stage needs a unified, joint and powerful
Peshmerge force, not party-controlled
one, so that at least efforts can be made
on two levels:
First: to continue the successes and victi
tories in their fight against ISIS.
Second: So that the allied countries such
as America, Germany, Britain, Austria,
Hungary and Czech can send direct militi
tary support to Peshmerge, and if they
had to, have a talk with Baghdad prior to
that.
It’s important to guarantee the role of
other components of Kurdistan in the unifi
fied force of Peshmerge such as (Assyrii
ian, Syriac,Cheldan, Ezidies, Kakayies
and Turkmen) to have their share in the
military service, because some political
parties say that those components should
not gain votes within the Peshmerge forcei
es, without even reminding themselves
that the Christians, especially from 1961
and on took part in the armed revolution
in Kurdistan against the Iraqi governmi
ments and played important roles in all
aspects.
The Turkmens also have played importi
tant role, the Kurdish Ezidies and Kaki
kayies have struggled beside Peshmerge
and all of those played roles in KRG insi
stitutions.
According to my understanding and
view to the developments and political
predictions, America, as a friend to Kurds,
is interested in an organized Peshmerge
in one form within the frame of one law
as one army in Kurdistan. So if the politici
cal parties didn’t do this, how would they
talk about getting ready for making the
grounds for the State of Kurdistan? Why
should they talk about reforms in another
political aspect? Why should they talk
about changing the ruling system in Kurdii
istan Region instead of improving life and
military capability of Peshmerge forces
and providing new warfare techniques
and gaining heavy weaponry and modern
training? As I said, the Americans and the
European friends understand the role and
impact of unifying Peshmerge in a united
form much better than some political parti
ties do. Thus, unifying Peshmerge must
be a strategic strategy.
Kurdistan Region President
Masoud Barzani today met with
General Tom Beckett, UK’s senior
defence advisor of the Middle East
at the Ministry of Defence.
President Barzani and General
Beckett discussed the ongoing effi
forts to defeat ISIS terrorists, inci
cluding preparations to retake the
city of Mosul. They also discussed
logistical and training needs of the
Peshmerga forces.
President Barzani thanked the
UK and other coalition members
Chaldean Patriarch Calls for
Protection of Christian Rights
A Patriarch reminds the Iraqi Parliament for the amendment of
a controversial law limiting the rights of Christians
The Chaldean Patriarch, Mar Louii
is Raphael I Sako, has sent a letti
ter to the Iraqi Parliament asking
for an amendment to the law undi
der which a child is registered as
a Muslim if one of the parents has
converted to Islam.
The Chaldean Patriarch says the
norm is contrary to Article 37-2
of the (controversial) Constituti
tion which states that "the State
shall guarantee the protection of
the individual from all forms of
intellectual, political and religious
coercion."
for their support of the Peshmerga.
General Beckett, for his part, laudei
ed the role of the Peshmerga forces
and described them as admirable.
He added that the UK stands ready
to continue assisting them.
On October 30, Barzani also reci
ceived the Korean ambassador to
Iraq, Sung Wong Chu, to discuss
the Iraqi and Kurdistan's political
and security conditions. The Ambi
bassador reiterated his country's
readiness to assist Kurdistan, espi
pecially the Peshmarga.
"The law is unjust and discrimini
natory against Christians, as well
as a clear form of persecution." He
calls for the amendment of the law
so that the minor is allowed to keep
the religion he/she belongs to until
they are of age (18 years). At this
point, it is up to the young person
to choose what religion to profess,
in a conscious and free manner.
In his letter, Mar Sako states that
this is not true freedom and is askii
ing the governors and statesmen to
be careful, otherwise the country
risks social collapse."

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Senior U.K. Editor STAFF WRITERS

Gazi Hassan +964 750 7747784 Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel Zakaria Muhammed
Weekly paper printed in Erbil zakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.com +964 750 475 3897
gazihassan2013@gmail.com bashdar@hotmail.com
First published in 2005
Salih Waladbagi
salihas2006@gmail.com +964 750 4912996
www.kurdishGlobe.net ARTS EDITOR Reviser
Diyaco Qayoumy +964 750 4036252 Honar Osman ADVERTISEMENT
Address: Erbil, Massif road diyaco.kurdishGlobe@gmail.com honar.hawler@gmail.com info@glitter-iraq.com Cell: +964 750 4055888
 The Kurdish Globe No. 508, Monday, October 05, 2015 3

Kurdistan: Land of peace and various religions

President Barzani visits Patriarch of Assyrian Church of the East in Erbil
Kurdistan Region Presidi The President said that
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid

dent, Massoud Barzani, visii there shall be no place for

ited His Holiness Mar Gorgi
gis III, the new Patriarch of
the Assyrian Church of the
East in Erbil today to congi
gratulate His Holiness and
to welcome the relocation
of the seat of the Assyrian
Church of the East from
Chicago, USA, to Erbil.
Hi Holiness Mar Gorgis
III was consecrated as the
new Patriarch of the Assyrii
ian Church of the East on
Sunday in a ceremony that
also marked the relocation
of the seat of the Church to
Erbil.
The President lauded the
decision to bring the seat of
the Assyrian Church of the
East to the Kurdistan Regi
gion, describing it as a signi
nificant and historic develoi
opment that will positively
contribute to peaceful co-
existence in the region.
religious discrimination
in the Kurdistan Region.
President Barzani emphasi
sized that the rights of
Christians and all other reli
ligious and ethnic communi
nities in Kurdistan will be
protected.
For his part, His Holiness
Mar Gorgis III welcomed
President Barzani and expi
pressed their appreciation
for the efforts of the Presidi
dent and of the KRG for
their support of the religious
and ethnic minorities.
He added that Kurdistan
offers a notable example
of peaceful co-existence in
the Middle East. He also
praised the bravery and
sacrifices of the Peshmerga
forces in defending religi
gious and ethnic communiti
ties in the fighting against
the ISIS terrorists.

Peshmerga valiantly drive back ISIS

from areas south of Kirkuk
Kurdish forces said they
drove the Islamic State
militants out of villi
lages near the oil city of
Kirkuk in northern Iraq on
Wednesday, in an offensi
sive backed by air strikes
from the U.S.-led coaliti
tion.
The assault consolidated
their control over Kirkuk
and brought the Peshmergi
ga closer to the insurgents'
bastion of Hawija, around
55 km (34 miles) west of
Kirkuk.
Around 3,500 Peshmi
merga took part in the
operation beginning early
on Wednesday southwest
of Kirkuk, the Kurdistan
Region's Security Council
said in a statement.
By late afternoon, Kurdii
ish forces had secured
140 square km (55 square
miles) including a number
of villages and the Ghara
heights, "further diminishii
ing ISIL's ability to attack
Peshmerga forces and putti Kirkuk hospital. alition forces. autocrat was in power, are oil reserves. from the Peshmerga since
ting additional pressure on Coalition warplanes The Kurds took full conti seen by the United States The Peshmerga have the U.S.-led coalition
ISIL in Hawija." struck 30 militant positi trol of Kirkuk last summer and its coalition partners been widening a buffer started bombing the insurgi
Kurdistan's Security tions during the ground when the Iraqi soldiers as a vital deterrent against around Kirkuk city in a seri gents.
Council said at least 40 offensive, including three abandoned their bases in the Islamic State, which ries of offensives in recent The Kurds already conti
Islamic State militants Humvees, three pick-up and around the city as Isli wants to redraw the map months. trol most of the territory
had been killed in combat trucks and a suicide car lamic State militants overri of the Middle East. Apart from the gains they claim as their own,
and others were seen fleeii bomb, the Security Counci ran around a third of the Kurdish leaders say they around Kirkuk, the frontli and have little incentive to
ing the battlefield toward cil said. country. will never give up the ethni line between Peshmerga push further into predomini
Hawija and surrounding There was no immediate The Peshmerga, who nically mixed city, which and the Islamic State has nantly Arab towns and villi
areas. Fifteen Peshmerga independent confirmation have gained battlefield expi sits outside the formal hardly moved for months. lages, except when there
also were martyred, acci of the details of the report perience fighting Saddam boundary of their region The Islamic State has not is a direct threat to their
cording to a source in a or comment from the coai Hussein's forces when the on some of Iraq's largest been able to take ground region.
 The Kurdish Globe No. 508, Monday, October 05, 2015 4

Barzani attends Chinese National Day Ceremony on Erbil

President of Kurdistan human values. He also on October 1. The Republi
Region, Masoud Barzani reiterated his country suppi lic of China was founded
attended Chinese National port for Kurdistan region. on October 1, 1949, with
Day Ceremony held in Erbi Kurdistan Regional Govei a ceremony at Tiananmi
bil on October 1. The cerei ernment's (KRG) speech men Square. The Central
emony was organized by was delivered by Karim People's Government
the Chinese General Consi Sinjari, Interior Minister passed the Resolution on
sulate in Erbil in which who congratulated the the National Day of the
many government offici people of China on the 66 People's Republic of Chini
cials and foreign guests the anniversary of Chinese na on December 2, 1949,
attended. National Day. He also and declared that October
After welcoming presidi called the country for betti 1 is the National Day. The
dent Barzani and the ter supporting Kurdistan National Day marks the
guests, the Chinese Genei Region and helping the start of only one of the
eral Consul in Erbil paid displaced people and refugi Golden Weeks in the PRC.
tribute to peshmerga roles gees in the region. However, there have been
in fighting against the The National Day of the some controversies over
Islamic State (ISIS) terri People's Republic of Chini whether Golden Weeks
rorists and in protecting na is celebrated annually should be kept.

UK, South Korean are ready to Barzani Meets Father of

continue assisting Peshmerga Drowned Kurdish Tot
The father of Syrii
ian Kurdish toddler who
drowned off the coast of
Turkey visited the Kurdii
istan Region President
Masoud Barzani on Septi
tember 29.
President Barzani said
that the incident proves
that Kurds continue to
suffer injustice and violi
lence.
In offering his condoli
lences to Abdullah Kurdi,
Barzani declared that all
Kurds have been saddi
dened by the tragedy.
Abdullah Kurdi-who
lost his family while atti
tempting to cross the
Aegean Sea to the EU-
thanked Barzani and the
people of the Kurdistan
Region for showing sympi
pathy and support to his
family.
Photos of Aylan Kurdi’s
dead body, washed ashore
on a Turkish beach on
September 2, provoked
serious international debi
bate over the migration
crisis faced by the EU.
Aylan, alongside with
his brother and mother,
drowned in the Aegean
after fleeing their home
in Syrian Kurdistan
searching for a better life
in Europe.

Kurdistan Region Presidi also discussed logistical assisting them.

dent Masoud Barzani todi
day met with General Tom
Beckett, UK’s senior defi
fence advisor of the Middi
dle East at the Ministry of
Defence.
President Barzani and
General Beckett discussed
the ongoing efforts to defi
feat ISIS terrorists, includii
ing preparations to retake
the city of Mosul. They
and training needs of the
Peshmerga forces.
President Barzani
thanked the UK and other
coalition members for their
support of the Peshmerga.
General Beckett, for his
part, lauded the role of
the Peshmerga forces and
described them as admirabi
ble. He added that the UK
stands ready to continue
On October 30, Barzani
also received the Korean
ambassador to Iraq, Sung
Wong Chu, to discuss the
Iraqi and Kurdistan's poli
litical and security conditi
tions. The Ambassador
reiterated his country's
readiness to assist Kurdii
istan, especially the Peshmi
marga.

Masrour Barzani criticizes world leadership Masrour Barzani

for ignoring Kurdish sacrifices
Barzani slams world leaders for overlooking Peshmerga role against ISIS
The Chancellor of the Kurdii
istan Region Security Council
(KRSC) Masrour Barzani said
it’s a shame world leaders igni
nored the Peshmerga sacrifices
in the war against terrorism.
70 world leaders attended the
opening of the United Nations
Assembly on the 30th Septembi
ber in New York.
Masrour Barzani wrote in a
series of tweets on his official
twitter account said that it’s
shameful that neither global
leaders nor Iraqi PM Haider
al-Abadi mentioned the Peshmi
merga’s successes against Isli
lamic State.
“Peshmerga remain as the
only reliable and most effecti
tive ground force defeating
ISIL – clearing and holding
over 20,000 sq km of territi
tory,” Barzani said.
“It is indefensible for Iraqi
officials, supposedly represi
senting all the country’s commi
munities, to not cite Peshmergi
ga achievements,” he said in a
sneer towards Iraqi representi
tatives who participated in the
UN assembly.
Moreover, he was disappi
pointed at world leaders igni
noring the Peshmerga’s role
in the war against IS. Even US
president Barack Obama did
not mention one word about its
main partner against the IS in
Iraq, and Syria: the Kurds.
“It’s very disappointing to
see success and sacrifices of
Peshmerga in the war on ISIL
overlooked by global leaders
participating in UNGA,” he
said.
Security chief Masrour Barzi
zani in a meeting with US
consul-general Matthias Mitmi
man on September 29 told him
that Kurdistan expecting more
from the United States.
“Iraq isn’t fulfilling its consi
stitutional obligations to Kurdii
istan and Peshmerga,” Barzani
told Mitman.
emphasises bilateral
relations with the Sudan
The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Regi
gion and Head of Security Council
(KRSC) Masrour Barzani received the
Consul General of Sudan to Kurdistan,
Awad Yassin.
During the meeting, the two sides
discussed the situation in Iraq and the
Kurdistan Region, particularly the situai
ation of refugees and displaced persons
and relations between the two sides.
The Sudanese Consul stressed, "the
need to develop relations between the
two sides," adding that "his country
will consider the Kurdistan Region as
an important factor for the stability of
the region.”
Mr Yassin praised the role of security
forces in the Kurdistan Region with high
honor, that the government is protecting
the people’s security and stability of the
territory in this troubled region.
 The Kurdish Globe
Prime Minister Barzani
speaks on current situation
in Kurdistan Region
On the sideline of the
consecration ceremony
of His Holiness Patriarch
Gawergis Sliwa, the new
Patriarch of the Assyrian
Church of the East last
week, Kurdistan Region
Prime Minister, Nechirvi
van Barzani responded to
questions from journalists
pertaining to the current
situation.
Prime Minister Barzani
described the return of
the Chair of the Patriarch
of Assyrian Church of the
East to Erbil, after eighty
years, as a significant
and historic event for the
Kurdistan Region. This
is, he said, due to peacefi
ful coexistence among all
religious and ethnic commi
munities, which prevails
in the Region. He said,
“The return of the Chair
of the Patriarch of Assyrii
ian Church of the East to
Erbil is an important start
and an honor for the Kurdii
istan Region.”
Regarding the issue of
displaced people, Prime
Minister Barzani said,
“Around 1.7 million refugi
gees and IDPs have been
accommodated in the Regi
gion. The Kurdistan Regi
gional Government has
done and will do whatever
it can to assist them, desi
spite the fact that the Regi
gion faces a very difficult
financial situation.”
Commenting on the oil
issue, Prime Minister Barzi
zani said, “the sole route
of exporting the Kurdistan
Region’s oil to the interni
national market is through
Turkey, and if the pipeline
is sabotaged or damaged,
it would cause significant
losses for the Region.” He
called upon those responsi
sible to cease their destructi
tive actions, saying the
pipeline is the main source
French veterans fight Islamic State
alongside Peshmerga
We will prove France fights terrorism everywhere, volunteer says
A number of French vetei
erans are planning to join
Kurdish Peshmerga in the
fight against Islamic State
(IS) militants in northern
Iraq.
The soldiers previously
served with the French
army in Iraq, Afghanistan
and Somalia and will use
their battlefield experiei
ence against IS.
One of the veterans told
the French Le Figaro
of the Kurdistan Region’s
livelihood. Prime Minister
Barzani reaffirmed that in
the meetings with Turkii
ish officials, the KRG has
asked for further security
tightening of the Kurdisti
tan-Ceyhan pipeline.
On the Kurdistan Region
Presidency issue, Prime
Minister Barzani said,
“The message of Kurdii
istan Region President
Masoud Barzani was clear,
and all sides must work to
reach an agreement over
the issue.”
Answering a question
about the four parties’ propi
posal to elect the Region’s
President either by the
parliament or by the peopi
ple’s direct vote, Prime
Minister Barzani said that
the proposal is not coherei
ent, as the parties suggest
that the president, when
elected by the people’s
direct vote, must hold less
power than when he is
elected by the parliament,
while it should be the oppi
posite.
Prime Minister Barzani
said that the issue of the
Kurdistan Region presidi
newspaper that he was
motivated to join the war
after watching executions
and punishments carried
out by IS.
The French veterans told
the Kurdistan Region’s
Peshmerga officials that
there are over 1,000
French jihadists fighting
alongside IS, but they
wish to join the Peshmerga
to prove that France fights
terrorism everywhere.
dency is not related to
President Masoud Barzani
and “in his latest message
he urged the political sides
to reach a realistic solution
which is in the interest of
the Kurdistan people.”
He expressed his hope
that political parties will
adopt a realistic approach
and that the next meeting
on 6 October 2015 will
bring a resolution in the
interest of the people of
the Kurdistan Region.
Regarding institutional
reforms, Prime Minister
Barzani said that since the
formation of the eighth
cabinet, the KRG has undi
dertaken reform tasks at
KRG ministries and institi
tutions. He reiterated that
reform efforts must conti
tinue. He also shed light
on the possible liberation
of Mosul, saying that “libei
eration of Mosul is very
important for the security
of the Kurdistan Region,
but until now there is no
serious plan. When such
a plan is ready, the Kurdii
istan Region will decide
to engage its Peshmerga
forces or not.”
Reports claim that three
veterans have already arri
rived in the Kurdistan Regi
gion and others will join
them within few weeks.
The French government
passed a law in 2013
which bans French people
from travelling abroad
and receiving a salary for
armed service, but the
veterans stressed that they
will receive no salaries as
volunteers.
Prime Minister Barzani
receives high ranking UK
and Korean officials
Kurdistan Region Prime
Minister, Nechirvan Barzi
zani, on Wednesday, Septi
tember 30, 2015, received
United Kingdom Minister
of State for International
Development, Mr. Desmi
mond Angus Swayne and
his accompanying delegati
tion.
Kurdistan Regional Govei
ernment Deputy Prime
Minister, Qubad Talabi
bani, Minister of Interior
Karim Sinjari, and Chaldi
dean Archbishop, Bashar
Warda, were also in attendi
dance.
Minister Swayne expi
pressed appreciation to the
Kurdistan Region’s people
and government for acci
commodating and assistii
ing hundreds of thousands
of displaced people in the
midst of a financial crisis
and active fight against
terrorism.
He discussed efforts to
provide additional assisti
Prime Minister Barzani and
Al-Shahristani discuss the situation in Iraq
Kurdistan Region Prime
Minister, Nechirvan Barzi
zani, on Sunday, Septembi
ber 27, 2015, received
Hussain al-Shahristani,
Minister of Higher Educi
cation and Scientific Resi
search in the Federal Govei
ernment of Iraq.
The two sides discussed
the current political, militi
tary and security situation
in Iraq, as well as the econi
nomic and financial situati
tion in the country. They
also discussed the relations
between Erbil and Baghdi
No. 508, Monday, October 05, 2015
tance in health and educati
tion. He reaffirmed the UK
Government’s interest in
furthering relations with
the Kurdistan Region.
Prime Minister Barzani
expressed his government's
gratitude for the assistance
the UK has been offering
the Kurdistan Region. He
welcomed further developmi
ment of relations with the
UK, including economic
ties, and stressed the urgi
gent need for additional
assistance from the interni
national community.
He explained the Regi
gion’s response in accommi
modating displaced people
seeking refuge in Kurdistan
Region, the war situation
against the Islamic State
terrorist organization, ISIS
and the effectiveness of
Peshmerga forces, as well
as the financial crisis due
to the failure of Baghdad
to provide Kurdistan Regi
gion's full share from the
dad, and ways to address
the outstanding problems.
In the meeting, which was
also attended by Dr Fuad
Hussein, Chief of Staff of
Kurdistan Region Presidi
dent, Prime Minister Barzi
zani briefed the Iraqi Minii
ister about the war against
the Islamic State terrorist
organization, ISIS, in the
Kurdistan Region and the
progress made by Peshmi
merga forces.
Prime Minister Barzani
also talked in details about
the economic situation and
5
federal budget as agreed
with Erbil.
PM Barzani also met
South Korean Ambassador
to Iraq, Mr. Jang Won-Jo.
Both expressed interest in
furthering good relations.
Ambassador Jang commi
mended the Kurdistan
Region's people and govei
ernment for accommodatii
ing and helping hundreds
of thousands of displaced
people despite severe fini
nancial constraints.
He also praised the role
of Peshmerga forces for
their effectiveness in fightii
ing terrorism and providii
ing security.
A primary purpose of this
visit was to deliver humi
manitarian assistance for
displaced people.
Prime Minister Barzani
and Ambassador Jang also
discussed the security situai
ation and relations with
Baghdad.
the financial crisis and its
repercussions in the Kurdii
istan Region.
Mr. Hussain al-Shahri
ristani visited Kurdistan
Region, representing the
Prime Minister of Iraq, Mr.
Haider al-Abadi, to attend
the consecration ceremony
of His Holiness Patriarch
Gewargis Sliwa, the new
Patriarch of the Assyrian
Church of the East, which
was held in Saint Yohana
Church in Ainkawa district
of Erbil.
 The Kurdish Globe No. 508, Monday, October 05, 2015 6

NEWS BAR Kurds rebuke PM Abadi for his speech

ISIS does not take killed
terrorists’ bodies to Mosul
A Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
official said that the Islamic State
(ISIS) does not take the bodies of
killed fighters to Mosul for burial.
Due to Pehsmerga attacks in coordini
nation with Coalition Forces airstrikes,
many ISIS's fighters get killed daily.
According to Saeed Mamumzini, the
KDP official, ISIS does not want to
transfer the bodies to Mosul in order
their fighter would not negatively affi
fected. ISIS buries most of the bodies
in the flat areas far from the city of
Mosul.
The State of Law Coalition
attack Foreign Minister
In a statement, the State of Law Coaliti
tion Iraq accused the Foreign Affairs
Minister for keeping silence against
the death of Iraqis in Hajj.
More than 700 Muslim worshipers
were killed in a stampede near Saudi
Arabia’s holy city of Mecca on Thursdi
day, a disaster that raised questions
about the country’s ability to manage
the safety of the millions of pilgrims
who travel to its holy sites each year.
in the UN General Assembly
Kurds MPs in Baghdad criticized PM Haider
Abadi for not mentioning Peshmarga advances
in the UN General Assembly in New York
The Iraqi Prime Minister, purged tens of square kilomi
Haider al-Abadi, attended metres from the ISIS.
the United Nations General The US Secretary of State,
Assembly in New York. PM John Kerry, attracted the atti
Abadi gave a speech about tention of the world to the
the general situation in Iraq, major advances of the Peshmi
in particular the anti-ISIS merga in the military attacks
war. to drive back the ISIS.
Speaking to the leaders, In response to PM Abadi’s
PM Abadi hailed the role silence to mention Peshmergi
of the Iraqi Shiite militia ga advances, the Kurdish The Kurdish MPs asked not been as effective as the
groups in the fight against political blocs in the Iraqi him to try to represent all Peshmerga forces in the
terrorism, without mentionii Parliament rebuked Abadi the Iraqis when he attends fight against the ISIS.
ing the outstanding role in a press conference sayii the international ceremoni The MPs reminded the
of the Kurdish Peshmarga ing that PM Abadi should nies and conferences. Iraqi PM that the formation
“The Peshmerga forces of his cabinet and the designi
forces. not forget the effective role
are part of Iraqi defense nation of his position have
His speech was simultaneoi of Peshmerga to counter
ous with Kurdish Peshmargi terrorism. system but PM Abadi did been agreed upon through a
ga forces launching a huge They also said that Abadi not mention their role in political consensus and that
and wide-scale offensive in should have shown respect liberating large areas south he should not misuse his
the south of majority Kurdii to the huge number of Peshmi of Kirkuk.” post and ignore the decisive
ish-populated oil-rich city merga martyrs and injured They also added that the roles of the Peshmerga.
of Kirkuk. The Peshmerga in the battle. role of Shiite groups has

ISIS killed 600 religious

clerks this year
Iraqi Fatwa and Jama'a Commission
stated that the Islamic State (ISIS)
fighters have killed 600 religious
clerks in the areas they occupied.
The killing of this great number was
under different weird excuses. Some
of them were killed because they
were not ready to give up performii
ing Tarawih prayer during Ramadan
Month.
Several ISIS fighters
killed in Dijla Area
On October 1, the Zervani peshmerga
fighter in coordination with Coalition
Forces killed several ISIS terrorists
who were trying to plant bombs under
the bridge of Ashq Village near Mosul.
Based on Peshmerga sources, all the
fighters were entrapped and none of the
left alive.
U.S. Embassy Announces Application Period for the
2016 Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdi mentoring, and cultural acti a desire to strengthen their bility requirements, and acci
dad is pleased to announce tivities. The Fulbright Visiting teaching and leadership skills. cess to the online application
that the application period for Scholar Program is one of the Applicants must demonstrate can be found at: http://iraq.
the 2016 Fulbright Visiting flagship international educi fluency in spoken and writti usembassy.gov/fulbright-visii
Scholar Program is now open cational exchange program ten English and have a focus iting-scholar.html. Questions
until November 15, 2015. In sponsored by the U.S. governmi in one of the following fields and how to apply can be addi
support of the U.S.–Iraq Strati ment. of study: American Literature, dressed to Iraqfulbrightscholai
tegic Framework Agreement, The selection process is engineering, science and techni ar@iie.org.
this program will provide 22 merit-based, and applications nology, English teaching/lingi
Iraqi scholars the opportunity are open to Iraqi full-time guistics, or cultural heritage Applications must be reci
to spend ten weeks at a U.S. university junior faculty who preservation. ceived by November 15,
university to undertake activiti exhibit a clear commitment Detailed information about 2015.
ties in faculty development, to classroom teaching and the program, including eligibi

Kurdish Terrorist Man

killed Air Strikes
The Kurdistan Region Security Counci
cil (KRSC) has confirmed that Felah
Kurdi, also known as Aras Saed Feraj
Majid Berzinji, was killed by a coaliti
tion airstrike.
In the early hours of October 1st,
he was targeted in an operation coordi
dinated with the international coaliti
tion airstrike in the vicinity of the IS-
stronghold of Hawija.
“Berzinji was responsible for ISIS
media operations in Kirkuk province
and planning the group’s three car
bombs attacks in Erbil on August 24,
November 19, 2014 and April 17th,
2015,” the KRSC said.
“Berzinji’s death will adversely impi
pact ISIS operations given his role as
a primary coordinator for the group’s
terrorist activities in Kirkuk province,”
the KRSC added.
As battle lines in Iraq become
comparatively more stable,
most of the world has turned
their gaze towards the war in
Syria, particularly after Russi
sia’s entrance this week into
the world’s greatest crisis. I’m
not an expert on Syria, nor do
I claim to be, but as I ponder
what a peaceable solution
could look like, one reality is
clear: Bashar al Assad cannot
stay in power.
I’m not intending to take
sides, but rather jump into the
neutral position of someone
negotiating peace. Consider
the following:
Most estimates agree that at
least a quarter million people
Bashar’s Reality in Syria
By J. Watt
have died so far in the Syrii
ian civil war. Many say the
number could be higher than
300,000, which would make
this the bloodiest conflict
since the wars in central Afri
rica during the mid 90’s.
While that number is staggi
gering it doesn’t represent the
fullness of suffering caused
by this war. Mercy Corps esti
timates 16 million Syrians are
in need of humanitarian assi
sistance (this including both
those inside and outside of
Syria). That’s 70% of Syrii
ians who are lacking basic
needs. Within that number are
11 million displaced people
who have been forced from
their homes, creating the largei
est refugee crisis in the world
since the last World War. The
UN estimates more than half
of Syrian refugees are children
who have missed months, if
not years, of school.
It’s not only overwhelming
numbers but the reported bruti
tality of Bashar al Assad that is
striking. His forces have been
accused (and in some cases
proven) to have used torture,
barrel bombs in civilian areas,
and chemical weapons.
Whether you like Bashar al
Assad or not doesn’t matter.
The war in Syria represents
the most horrendous human
suffering of the 21st century
and Bashar al Assad has sat
over Syria as leader during
it. There’s not one example
in history where such devai
astation has occurred with
a ruler staying in power and
afterwards transitioning to
peaceable, fair democracy.
Never. Many Syrian people,
who have suffered under
their president, don’t want to
go back to living under his
rule, despite whatever good
he may or may not have done
as president before the war
started. So concerning how to
move forward in a peace deal
for Syria we have to acknowlei
edge this reality: Bashar must
step down.
 The Kurdish Globe
Sports News
Aguero bags fastest five-goal haul
in Premier League
Sergio Aguero has made Premier League
history after scoring five goals in 20 minui
utes during Manchester City's 6-1 win
over Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Argentine netted the English top-
flight's fastest-ever quintuple, besting
Jermain Defoe - who netted five in Totti
tenham's 9-1 win over Wigan Athletic in
2009 - by 16 minutes.
Aguero's first goal leveled the score at 1-1
in the 42nd minute, with his fifth coming
in the 62nd minute to round off the rout.
The only other players to hit five goals
in a single match are Alan Shearer for
Newcastle, and Andy Cole and Dimitar
Berbatov for Manchester United, with the
former netting his tally in 54 minutes, and
the latter pair both scoring their goals in
68 minutes.
Luis Enrique: Barcelona
must get better
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has promii
ised his team will improve after a 2-1 defi
feat away to Sevilla on Saturday.
Despite being without superstar Lionel
Messi, who is out for approximately two
months due to a knee injury, Barca's demi
manding supporters and Spain's infamousli
ly unforgiving football press are unlikely
to be kind to Luis Enrique and his beaten
players following their narrow reverse at
Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
"Nobody can be happy with things when
Barca lose - the objective is to get better,"
Luis Enrique said. " said Enrique
Chelsea’s downfall continues
Chelsea's Premier League downfall conti
tinues after suffering a disappointing 3-1
defeat to Southampton at Stamford Bridge
on Saturday night.
All empires crumble, but few collapse
quite as unexpectedly or as quickly as this
one. It’s only five months since Chelsea
was crowned champion and it seemed Jose
Mourinho’s side might be about to establish
a dynasty. But in the aftermath of a fourth
league defeat of the season, with Chelsea
10 points off the top of the table and with
a defensive record better only than Newci
castle, Mourinho looks weirdly impotent.
Neymar to miss
Brazil qualifiers
Brazil will be without captain Neymar
for October’s World Cup qualifiers after
the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)
rejected attempts to overturn his suspensi
sion.
The Barcelona forward was hit with a
four-match ban following his red card
against Colombia in June’s Copa America.
He served half of the suspension by sitti
ting out of Brazil’s remaining matches in
that tournament, against Venezuela and
Paraguay.
What is the benefit of the
current economic depressi
sion in Kurdistan? What
is the best decision that an
investor can take right now
for a long term investment
that could yield a fourfold
return on investment in
around three years time?
There is a rule in entrepi
preneurship that says the
higher the risk the greater
the profit. What is the risk
and what is the profit? The
risk right now is to invest in
Kurdistan in the real estate
sector even though it might
be common sense not to
A Visit to Eden after the Fall:
Yazidis Resume Their Pilgrimage Festival at Lalish
On Wednesday, 23 Septembi
ber 2015, I joined a steady
stream of barefoot pilgrims
making their way to the
shrines of Lalish, the most saci
cred site in the Yazidi religion.
It was the first day of the Yazi
zidis’ three-day Éida Hejya,
or Pilgrimage Festival. Last
year’s Éida Hejya was canci
celled in the aftermath of the
massacres at Sinjar and the
ongoing captivity of several
thousand Yazidi women and
children in the Islamic State’s
self-declared caliphate. With
Lalish’s location a mere thirty
miles from the front lines, the
security situation was simply
too volatile and the communi
nity also felt a need to respect
those in mourning by not obsi
serving the traditional festiviti
ties. But now, in a clear show
of formidable resilience, the
Yazidis have resumed their
annual gathering at Lalish.
Tucked in a fold of the
mountains between Sheikhan
and Dohuk, the valley of
Lalish is a narrow ravine of
dappled shade and age-worn
stones. To preserve the sanctiti
ty of the place, it is forbidden
to hunt animals or fell trees in
the area, and all who enter the
valley must first remove their
shoes. This valley, for the Yazi
zidis, is the site of God’s first
garden, the centerpiece of the
Yazidis’ Eden. Here primevi
val oaks, olive and mulberry
trees form a natural bower
above a cluster of mausoleui
ums, sleeping quarters, and
courtyards. Over the treetops
rise the Yazidis’ distinctive
spires — white, fluted cones
that represent the sun’s rays
descending to the four corni
ners of the earth. Among the
shrines, the chatter of the
faithful mingles with the gurgi
gle of springs and streams.
The air is fresh, tinged only
A Golden Nugget!
By Swara Kadir
do so. Due to the current
situation in the real estate
market, land plots are as
low in price as they can be
at around $250 to $300 per
square meter for an up marki
ket residential piece of land
which sold for around $700
just less than two years
ago.
There would be a consi
siderable profit on the real
estate investment. The reti
turn would be big because
Kurdistan has considerable
crude oil reserves. Sooner
or later crude oil prices are
going to shoot up to near
The author with Asmar, one of the women who administer baptisms at
the White Spring. Photo by Nahro Zagros
with the smell of olive oil
for the wicks and lamps,
which the Yazidis light on the
stones of the courtyards and
in niches.
“There can be, I think, no
spot in the world so beautifi
ful or so peaceful,” Agatha
Christie wrote of her visit to
Lalish in the 1930s. “All is
calm and gentle and peacefi
ful there.” Her description
remains a fitting one even
today.
The mood among the pilgi
grims at the revived Éida Heji
jya was subdued but not sombi
bre. Reverently, they kissed
the ancient trees, doorposts,
No. 508, Monday, October 05, 2015
the one hundred dollar per
barrel price because supply
is limited and in the long
run demand will meet or
exceed supply. This is more
certain because despite the
big technological advances
there is still no real substiti
tute to crude oil as an atti
tractive source of energy.
As the economic and poli
litical situation improves
in Kurdistan, real estate
prices will shoot up again
to possibly fourfold its curri
rent price. The jump would
be this high because of the
imminent demise of ISIS
and thresholds of the shrines.
Thresholds, in particular, the
Yazidis hold as sacrosanct,
for entryways are dwelling
places of angels. I watched
as the devout knelt silently
at the flagstones where they
believe the scales of the Fini
nal Judgment will stand. Yet,
on a more playful note, they
also made wishes by tossii
ing handkerchiefs and tying
knots in colorful silks; some
children circled the catafi
falque of Sheikh Adi, their
foremost saint, in a manner
that can only be described
as skipping; families spread
picnics in the shade; and othei
7
in the near future. This will
catapult consumer confidi
dence in the market.
The Kurdish economic
boom is soon coming after
the bust that is happening
right now. The wise investi
tor like the American John
Templeton will buy now
while things are cheap and
wait for a few years and
then sell at four or five
times the original price !
swara7kadir@aol.com
ers scattered sweets around a
freshly baptized toddler.
A natural fountain called
Kanîya Spî (White Spring)
is the site of baptisms and
ritual cleansing at Lalish. The
smiles on the faces of those
emerging from the baptistery
seemed to defy the horrors of
Islamic State. The apocalypti
tic scenes at Sinjar last year,
beamed abroad via internati
tional media, were worlds
away now. The White Spring
gushes forth from Mount
Hezret — the very name of
which connotes “longing” or
“yearning.” One can imagine
the heartsick faithful turnii
ing toward this oasis of leafy
tranquility, longing for an esci
cape to some prelapsarian era
before vast swathes of their
historic homeland fell to the
ravages of the Islamic State.
Shortly before I departed
from Lalish, a group of six
young men from Sinjar insi
sisted on having their photogi
graph taken with me, simply
because they recognized me
as being American — and
then, over and over again, evei
eryone’s camera had to take a
turn. Their enthusiasm for the
USA was gratifying, though
I was also keenly aware of
how much more the US could
have done to protect the Yazidi
dis’ villages.
The Yazidis’ present situati
tion remains precarious. As
international headlines have
reiterated throughout the past
year, their culture is teetering
on the brink of extinction.
The threat of genocide and
cultural annihilation is very
real, but the resumption of
Éida Hejya at Lalish displays
the Yazidis’ enduring vigor.
Their sliver of earthly Paradi
dise is not yet lost.
By Tyler Fisher
 MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN

ERBIL
WEATHER 35 35 31 27 27 28 32
FORECAST 19 22 18 17 17 14 11

The Kurdish Painter Ehsan Muhammad ( 1965- )

Ehsan Muhammad is a
Kurdish painter from the
city of Kirkuk. He emigi
grated to Netherlands in
the 1990s and settled in
Amsterdam. Ehsan Muhi
hammad graduated from
Directing Studio called
(Aw) which belongs to
Hilversum Television in
Netherlands. His interest
in art dates back to the
eighties. He was one of
those who were making
drawings and painting
without showing them.
He was also a participant
in art review and impressi
sion that was always beii
ing discussed among
local artists. Well in Amsi
sterdam he eagerly started
producing art works and
showcasing them in art
galleries across Holland:
in Amsterdam, Dunhakh
and Rotterdam jointly
with the Dutch artists in
the various galleries and
with Iraqi artists in Dunhi
hakh Municipality Hall in
2001 with a group of Iraqi
and Kurdish artists. He’s
showcased his works in
galleries of ‘Kunst West’
and jointly in Voorbeeld
in Amsterdam. In 2004,
he opened his own exhibi
bition in Brakel Groend
Gallery with some conti
temporary works.
If we take look at Ehsan
Muhammad’s works, we
find a contemporary exai
ample of painting, especi
cially as the artist has reli
lied on the works that are
modern and contempori
rary. Beside every work,
he has a specific topic and
form. The cultural atmosi
sphere from the Middle
East and his birthplace
can be seen in his images
and aspects and forms
that are the artist’s varioi
ous background forms. In
terms of colors, he’s chosi
sen the bright and warm
colors that signify optimi
mism and continuation of
life.
Ehsan Muhammad
seeks artistic view. He
wants to perform a work
that could hold all artisti
tic values. During the reci
cent time, he has carried
out some high-standard
works of art which he inti
tends to show them in the
near future.
Apart from his Kurdish
identity, Ehsan Muhammi
mad’s works, with their
Kurdish forms and culti
ture and styles, signify
his country, Kurdistan.
Organizing colors need
sensitive mind and feelii
ings. The reflection can
be seen in his works easii
ily. Selecting small or big
canvases with the artistic
style of abstract and modei
ern features need special
skills. Ehsan is the one
who wants to reach the
level where he could orgi
ganize his works in this
way. This organization
could be seen in all Ehsan
Muhammad’s works.
By: Ashti Garmiyani

The Kurdish Film “Memories on Stone”

‘Memories on Stone’ conti
tinues to be displayed in Erbi
bil, Suleimani and Duhok
The film is directed by
Shawkat Amin Kurki.
The film which is prodi
duced by Memed Aktas was
the Iraqi selected film in
88th round of cinema prizes
of Oscar in 2006 in Americi
ca. The film was showed in
three cinema halls of ‘Mazi
Mall’ in Duhok on the occi
casion of the Feast of Sacri
rifice on 23rd September
2015 and will continue for
a month.
The Kurdish film has so
far been shown in some
international festivals and
awarded many important
prizes. Its latest internationai
al showcase was marked in
the beginning ceremony of
Duhok’s 3rd International
Film Festival, in “Kurdish
Cinema” section. Displayii
ing the film came on the
anniversary of honoring the
Kurdish director ‘Yilmaz
Gunay’ in Kan’s Internati
tional Festival in 1982.
The film was awarded the
golden prize of the festival
by the jury members, addii
ing to a sum of USD 5000
for the best director, and
the prize of Governer’s of
Duhok’s best long film shot
in Duhok Province with a
sum of USD 10000 to the
director.
‘Memories of Stone’ was
warmly welcomed by cinei
ema fans during the days of
Duhok’s 3rd International
Film, and was showcased
in various opportunities
in halls of Mazi Mall in
Duhok. The film recorded
the highest number of audiei
ence in the festival.
By H.G. Hassan