Kurds should NOT be forced to accept Islamic constitution

[Anthea]

PM Barzani joins calls for unity

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has joined calls for unity among Kurdish political parties in a conference to discuss the drafting of a Kurdistan Region constitution on Wednesday

“We cannot ask for unity and move in two different directions,” he told the audience at Erbil’s Rotana hotel. “We cannot read each other’s minds. We have to be close to each other to know what each side wants.”

“What is most important is that all parties talk to each other closely, with an open mind, ready to listen to each other and accept each other…Then we can unite and together move towards that goal,” said the PM.

The conference, held by the University of Kurdistan-Hewler, is attended by top politicians, including President Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy PM Qubad Talabani and UNAMI chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, who made a frank speech calling for an end to party divides.

Members of the Gorran (Change) Movement and the Kurdistan Justice Group are among panelists discussing the drafting of a constitution, which has been in the works for some time.

“There has to be a framework in which we all can work together and that connects us to each other. That framework can also be enshrined in the constitution. What are the things that none of us can stray from? What are the things we can work together on? “ the PM said.

The Kurdistan Region does not currently have a constitution, instead governed by a series of laws, instructions and norms.

In 2019, Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Fayeq called on Kurdish parties to unite and reach agreements before beginning to write a constitution. Work began on a draft constitution that year, but was later suspended.

In April of this year, MPs were asked to re-submit their agreements and disagreements to parliament in order to restart work on the draft.

The constitution is important to “guarantee that those who represent their people are patriots,” and to hold the government to account,” the PM added, also noting its importance for enshrining coexistence in the Region.

“It must be a reflection of respect for all religions and nations.”

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/190520211

[Anthea]

KNK pays visit to Hewler

The delegation, led by KNK Hewlêr co-chair Zeynep Murad, first visited the Kurdistan Parliamentarian Union.

A delegation of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) is visiting Hewler (Erbil), the capital of Federal Kurdistan Region, to hold a series of meetings.

Kerim Behri, a member of the Kurdistan Parliamentarian Union, made a statement after the meeting and stated that they exchanged ideas over the general situation in Kurdistan.

“We especially discussed the problems of Kurdistan and the Kurdish nation. We and the KNK hold similar views. We will cooperate to resolve the problems between the Kurdish political parties," RojNews cited Behri as saying.

Behri emphasized that they will act together with the KNK and they will protect the interests of the Kurdish people.

KNK co-chair Zeynep Murad remarked that they discussed the situation of political parties in Kurdistan. “We had already held talks with the Kurdistan Parliamentarian Union before. We want to continue mutual relations. We will do our best for the interests of the Kurdish people,” she added.

The KNK delegation is expected to hold talks with several other political parties and institutions.

[Anthea]

Time to act together against Turkish occupation

Edhem Barzani Iraq sent an open letter to the Kurdistan Regional Presidency, Iraq, the United Nations, political parties and civil society organizations about the Turkish state's occupation of South Kurdistan

Edhem Barzani, a member of the Executive Board of the KDP, said in an open letter to the Kurdistan Regional Presidency, Iraq, the United Nations, political parties and civil society organizations, that the Turkish state and army have left the Kurdistan territory face to face with difficult conditions and illegal military occupation.

Edhem Barzani said in the open letter: "As it is known, the Kurdistan region territory is faced with heavy repression, especially in the Behdinan area. The Turkish state army, which enters up to 40 kilometres in some regions, exposes the territory of Kurdistan to difficult conditions and illegal military occupation."

Barzani also emphasized that dozens of Kurds have been killed and that the people of the region have been displaced and expelled from their homeland and added: "Kurdistan, this beautiful land, which is common heritage of humanity and the nation of the Kurds, is systematically burned and plundered under the pretext of defense.”

Edhem Barzani added: "I call on all parties in government to put pressure on Iraq, the United Nations and countries that respect human rights and peace, to make efforts to prevent the occupation through border violations, and start negotiations and bilateral relations. Based on its past experiences, the Turkish state does not pull out from a territory where it has settled militarily. The clearest indication of this are Cyprus and Alexandria. So it is time to ring the bells of danger, we all have to approach this situation seriously together. It is time for us to take a stand on this situation by trying all methods at international level."

[Anthea]

Komal wants Islamic constitution

A Kurdish Islamic party said on Thursday they will reject a constitution with less Islamic principles than what is specified in the Iraqi constitution

“We have often said this, we have said we will not accept less than what is determined for the holy religion of Islam in the Iraqi constitution and it’s not acceptable to us, the Justice Group,” Rebwar Hamad, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal), told Rudaw Radio on Thursday.

Komal was previously known as the Kurdistan Islamic Group.

Hamad said the constitution “is for the people of Kurdistan, it can’t just contain the demands of one party and only the powerful parties, the demand and benefit to the public should be taken into account,” but he added, for them, “the holy religion of Islam in the constitution is an important point.”

Article 2 of the Iraqi constitution says Islam is the official religion and no law may contradict Islamic principles. The 2009 draft of the Kurdistan Region's constitution aligns with Article 2 of Iraq’s.

Parties and minorities each have submitted their ideas for a Kurdish constitution, but Hamad said they have formed a committee to collect their ideas to be submitted.

The Kurdistan Region is majority Muslim, but it is also home to many ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians, Yazidis, Kakais, Turkmens, and Arabs.

Minorities in the Kurdistan Region do suffer some discrimination, but the region also receives international praise for its efforts to encourage tolerance and co-existence.

Debate has raged over whether the constitution should be secular or if it should follow Iraq’s lead and adopt Islamic principles, while the Kurdistan Region revives its effort to write a constitution.

Ali Bapir, the head of Komal, said during a conference on the Kurdistan Region’s constitution, “If we look at countries around the world and their constitutions, we see they all respect their religious identity and announce their official religions.”

But the majority of Iraq’s Christians live in the Kurdistan Region and Christian leaders want to see a secular constitution

The Kurdistan Region currently relies on a series of laws, instructions and norms as a substitution for the constitution. It also heavily relies on the Iraqi constitution for numerous issues, especially those related to crime.

Under Article 120 of the 2005 Iraqi constitution, the Kurdistan Region is entitled to have its own constitution – as long as it does not contradict that of Iraq

Kurdish political parties have been struggling to agree on a constitution since then. In 2009, they drafted a constitution, but it was not put forward due to disputes over certain articles.

In April, MPs were asked to re-submit their agreements and disagreements to parliament in order to restart work on the draft.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/030620213

Kurds are only Muslims because they were forced into accepting Islam on pain of death, many thousands did NOT except Islam and there are valleys full of their skeletons