Destruction of Western Kurdistan by absolutely EVERYONE

[Anthea]

Amnesty exposes US, UK complicity

in torture-ridden SDF camps

Amnesty International exposes in a new report the involvement of the US and the UK in detaining thousands, including British citizens, in camps and facilities controlled by the US-backed SDF in northeastern Syria, where disease, torture, and mortality rates are near-unprecedented

The report indicates that the Western-backed SDF is accountable for widespread human rights abuses against individuals detained since the conclusion of the ground war against the Islamic State (ISIS) over five years ago.

Amnesty asserts that the US plays a significant role in various aspects of the detention system, which comprises a minimum of 27 underreported facilities where suspected ISIS affiliates are detained, including the al-Hawl and Roj camps.

As per the report, among the 56,000 detainees are 30,000 children and 14,500 women, along with over 20 UK nationals. Additionally, individuals who have been deprived of their British citizenship are included, notably Shamima Begum, who was 15 years old when she left East London to join the ISIS and is currently located in the Roj camp.

In further detail, the report reveals that the United Kingdom has allocated more than £15 million to support the enlargement of a significant detention facility operated by the SDF, known as Panorama. This facility detains males, including boys, who are reported to be suffering from inadequate access to food and medical care, leading to a rise in illnesses and diseases. Amnesty highlights a distressing tuberculosis outbreak within the facility, with one to two deaths occurring each week as a result.

UK urged to stop blocking repatriation amid torture reports

Sacha Deshmukh, the charity’s UK chief executive, said: “Continued inaction from the government amounts to connivance in the unlawful detention of UK nationals amid misery, disease and possible death."

“The UK government has a responsibility for all its citizens, including Shamima Begum, which it can’t cast off when that might suit it,” he added.

He urged the UK to cease obstructing the repatriation of its citizens and to assist in establishing a fair procedure for determining who should be released and for bringing ISIS criminals to justice.

The report, which features interviews with 126 present or former detainees, presents distressing accounts of torture.

Yusuf (pseudonym), one of eight individuals held in an SDF detention center near al-Shaddadi city, who provided testimony to Amnesty, said: “The worst was when they came inside the room … carrying plastic pipes, cables, steel pipes, and they beat us everywhere … Every 15 days, they would take us out, in the yard, all naked … [The guards] were raping people with [a] stick … Once they took me [out of the cell] with another guy … They brought an electricity cable from the generator, and they kept torturing us by electricity … I think the guy next to me died. He stopped moving and screaming.”

Another detainee mentioned that during a visit by US soldiers to the facility in December 2021, "they were able to see the blood on the wall."

Amnesty exposes horrors, urges US accountability

The report highlights significant levels of gender-based violence within al-Hawl, which includes assaults on women by IS affiliates for perceived moral violations and instances of sexual exploitation by security forces and private individuals. Additionally, women have been unlawfully separated from their children.

Amnesty notes that among those detained in the detention system are victims of ISIS, including survivors of the Yazidi genocide, individuals subjected to forced marriage to ISIS members, and victims of child recruitment

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general, said: “The US government has played a central role in the creation and maintenance of this system in which hundreds have died preventable deaths, and must play a role in changing it.”

It is worth noting that the Syrian areas under the control of the SDF are experiencing a continuous deterioration in the living conditions, with frequent demonstrations denouncing the marginalization of the Arab clans in the region, with the US-backed forces being accused of stealing oil and depriving the people of their right to obtain fuel, which led to the deterioration of agriculture and the economy and the spread of unemployment among the people.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... n-sdf-camp

[Anthea]

US forces stole more oil from Syria

SANA states that the 45-tanker US convoy carried oil stolen from the al-Jazeera oil fields into northern Iraq through the illegal al-Mahmoudia crossing

Citing local sources, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that US military forces smuggled a new consignment of stolen Syrian oil to its bases in Iraq.

It stated that the 45-tanker US convoy carried oil stolen from the al-Jazeera oil fields into northern Iraq through the “illegal” al-Mahmoudia crossing.

Back in November, a rocket strike targeted the US occupation base in the Conoco gas field, northeast of Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria, in response to the American aggression on the cities of al-Mayadeen and al-Bukamal.

US troops claim to be occupying the area in order to rid the region of terrorists, yet the US has strategically implanted itself there for the purposes of stealing Syria's natural resources as well as destabilizing President Bashar al-Assad's government.

In December of 2022, Syria's foreign ministry said the US occupation forces and their affiliated military groups' systematic lootings of Syrian oil, wheat, and other national resources have amounted to direct losses valued at $25.9 billion and indirect losses valued at over $86 billion.

Trump had commented on the US troops' illegal presence in Syria, blatantly declaring, “We’re keeping [Syria’s] oil. We have the oil. The oil is secure. We left troops behind only for the oil.”

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ses-in-ira

[Anthea]

Kurdish Writer Kidnapped by PYD

A Kurdish writer and poet has been abducted by forces from the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the town of Darbasiya, Hasakah province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Sunday

The SOHR report raises concerns that Ghamgin Ramo may face torture or become one of the many individuals who have gone missing in similar circumstances.

In recent months, the PYD has been implicated in numerous arrests and kidnappings, particularly targeting journalists, activists, and members of the Kurdish National Council in Syria (ENKS). The arrests have sparked fears of increasing repression by the PYD in areas under their control.

In early July, widespread protests erupted in .Western Kurdistan, also known as Rojava, against the ongoing detentions and abductions carried out by groups affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

During these protests, PYD forces reportedly kidnapped several high-ranking members of the ENKS, including Suleiman Oso, the president of the council, and other prominent figures

The protests were marked by violence, with PKK-affiliated youths reportedly attacking demonstrators, resulting in injuries to Naif Abdullah, a leader in the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Syria, lawyer Mohammad Mustafa, a leader in the Kurdish Yekiti Party - Syria, and several other participants.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/857021

[Anthea]

Kirkuk Leadership Elections

The leader of the Sovereignty Alliance in Kirkuk has stated at a news conference that Kirkuk is a diverse city where everyone should participate in the formation of the local government. He has accused the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of disrupting negotiations and making unilateral decisions in the province

Khalid Mafraji, the head of the Arab-led Sovereignty Alliance in Kirkuk province, mentioned that their alliance had formed a bloc with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Turkmen, as well as other parties, to secure a majority in the council.

"However, because the PUK was not with us, we did not meet in the past few days and postponed the meeting at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister," he stated.

"We have not severed ties with any party in the negotiations. We held talks with the PUK, and they demanded the governor's post. The KDP and the Turkmen also sought the post," Mafraji noted.

Furthermore, Khalid Mafraji explained that they won a majority in the council and planned to meet, but then the PUK refused to participate on the grounds that the meeting must be closed.

"Unfortunately, the PUK made a dictatorial decision and disrupted the negotiations. In the last few days, there was an agreement among the Arab leaders, and we decided to attend the meeting together," he said.

"Mohammed Hafez, who was a former leader of the Sovereignty Alliance, was removed from the council due to deviation and non-compliance," he added.

The PUK, the Turkmen Front, and several Arab members of the Kirkuk Provincial Council elected the governor and the speaker of the provincial council in Baghdad on Saturday night. Rebwar Taha, a Kurd from the PUK, was elected as the new Kirkuk governor, and Mohammed Hafez was elected as the speaker of the Kirkuk Provincial Council.

Before the meeting, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Turkmen Front, and Arab coalition factions in the Kirkuk Provincial Council refused to participate, calling it "illegal."

Meanwhile, the United Turkmen Front in Iraq (UTI) has stated that the meeting to elect the governor and speaker of the Kirkuk Provincial Council in Baghdad violates the law and agreements and will file a complaint in court to annul the decisions.

"What happened last night at the Rashid Hotel in Baghdad is a violation of the law," Hassan Turan, leader of the United Turkmen Front in Iraq, told a news conference.

"Our first comment is on the formation of the Kirkuk local administration outside the structure of the Kirkuk Provincial Coalition formed by the Sudanese Prime Minister," he added.

He also noted that the meeting contradicts Article 4, Paragraph 13 of the Provincial Council Election Law, which states that "the distribution of powers must be a fair representation to ensure the participation of the provincial communities, taking into account the election results."

"Although the meeting at the Rashid Hotel was held without the agreement of the communities in Baghdad and without the presence of the Turkmen community, this violates the text of the minutes of the first meeting of the Kirkuk Provincial Council on July 11," Turan explained.

"Therefore, the meeting to elect the governor and council speaker is a flagrant violation of the law. Everyone knows that the meeting was held without the knowledge and invitation of the Speaker of the Provincial Council. We will resort to the judiciary to annul any decisions made at the meeting at the Rashid Hotel," the Turkmen leader indicated.

He also criticized some political leaders, saying that they have turned Kirkuk into a bargaining chip for their own benefit, which has nothing to do with serving the people of Kirkuk. Voters do not recognize the election results and electoral balance. We have also filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court to re-audit the voter registry for the upcoming elections.

"Some believe that solving Kirkuk's problems involves merely distributing posts. However, the fundamental issues in Kirkuk require organizing and restoring trust between communities. We believe that what was done on Saturday night undermines that trust," he said.

"As Turkmens of Kirkuk, we are concerned about the peaceful coexistence of communities in Kirkuk and the restoration of trust between them. Six months ago, we submitted our proposal to the parties because the problems in Kirkuk have deep roots and involve economic, land, and joint administration issues that require the agreement of all communities."

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/857040

Everyone knows the TRUTH

The Arabs who live in Kirkuk on STOLEN Kurdish land should be removed from Kirkuk

Sadam ILLEGALLY drove Kurds from their homes, lands and businesses

When Sadam was executed for his crimes against humanity, especially the slaughter of Kurds, the Arabs should have been removed from Kirkuk

Israel is doing what Sadam did only on a much larger scale

Pushing people from their homes and lands in order to control same is ILLEGAL

[Anthea]

Western Kurdistan considers delaying

local elections indefinitely

Northeast Syria (Western Kurdistan) authorities are discussing an indefinite delay of local elections amid Turkey’s military threats, if Kurds go ahead with the vote, an informed source revealed on Tuesday

“Yesterday, we discussed the matter with the autonomous administration. We believe that these elections should not be held at this time. There is no need to set any date for the elections at all,” the leader of one of the Kurdish parties who took part in the meeting with the Western Kurdistan authorities, told Rudaw English on Tuesday, on the condition of anonymity.

“Western Kurdistan is experiencing a very sensitive situation. We should delay the elections to a suitable time so that we can have a successful process,” the source continued.

The politician added that he told the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) officials and the electoral body that now is not suitable for local elections.

Sinam Mohamad, the ruling Syrian Democratic Council’s (SDC) representative to the US, told Rudaw English on Tuesday that some political parties “have requested the postponement [of the elections]. However, no decisions have been made so far.”

The SDC is the political arm of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de facto army of Western Kurdistan.

The polls were initially set for June 11. They were delayed to August after Turkish opposition and threats to carry out a military offensive against the Kurdish enclave, if they did not delay the vote.

The United States has also called on Western Kurdistan authorities not to proceed with the vote, citing a lack of fair and free conditions.

DAANES said in June that the postponement was a response to the demands of the political parties participating in the elections and “to implement the polls in a democratic manner.”

“I believe that the elections will not be held in August and will be postponed to a suitable date,” noted the source, stating that the authorities shared their stance that the polls should be delayed indefinitely. “Hence, I believe the elections will be postponed indefinitely.”

A top Western Kurdistan official on Tuesday confirmed to Rudaw English on the condition of anonymity, due to the sensitivity of the subject, that there was a meeting between DAANES and participating parties regarding the future of the elections, adding that no date has been set for the polls yet.

According to the municipal elections law, the political parties should be given 20 days to campaign for the polls. Therefore, the elections are not possible in August - unless the authorities make an exception and breach the law - and have been effectively delayed again.

People’s and Women’s Alliance for Freedom, which includes the ruling Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Together for Better Services alliance and four other political parties are racing for municipal seats.

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS/KNC), an umbrella group of main opposition parties in Western Kurdistan, are boycotting the elections. The ENKS, which is a member of the Turkey-backed Syrian opposition, does not recognize the Kurdish administration.

Sulaimani Oso, ENKS leader, told Rudaw English in late May that elections will not be fair because the PYD is militarily powerful and claimed that thousands of security force members will be forced to vote for the ruling party’s candidates.

PYD is the political army of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) - backbone of the SDF.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /200820241

Poor Western Kurdistan has been bullied and torn apart

[Anthea]

Remembering the Amûde cinema fire

Mothers grieve for their children who died in the fire

On 13 November 1960 hundreds of Kurdish schoolchildren, most of whom were under the age of 14, perished in a blaze at a cinema in Amûde, Syria. Death tolls vary between 180 and 300 children. No one knows for sure except that almost every family in Amûde lost a child that day.

The Egyptian horror film ‘The Midnight Ghost’ was playing. The director of the subdistrict of Amûde had ordered that all elementary aged schoolchildren attend the film. Algeria at that time was fighting for its independence from France and proceeds from the film were to be donated to the Algerians.

This was the last showing of the day and 500 children packed into the wood, straw and clay structure that was designed to hold 200. Most were crammed in next to each other on long benches; many stood where they could find room. The projector had been running all day showing the Egyptian film to hundreds of others. In this last screening it overheated and burst into flames, igniting the projection room. Flames spread quickly through the building.

The children inside panicked. They ran towards the exits—two narrow doors only 80cms wide—falling and tripping over one another. The doors opened inward and with the children inside piled up against the doors they could not open them.

Amûde had no fire department. Engines were called in from Qamişlo and Hesîçe (al-Hasakeh), but arrived too late.

After the fire; examining the ruined cinema

Eyewitnesses at the time said that the projectionist and owners of the cinema had left after the fire broke out and the doors had been blocked from the outside. They also said that when parents and residents attempted to save the lives of the children trapped inside, the police stopped them claiming it was ‘too dangerous.’ However, one local resident, Mihemed Deqorî, managed to save 11 children from the blaze but perished while trying to rescue a twelfth.

Kurdish sources estimate 283 to 300 perished in the cinema fire. An Egyptian newspaper Akhir Daqiqah cited 200 dead and 450 injured. The Egyptian magazine al-Musawir reported 180 dead and 121 injured. Many of the seriously injured children later succumbed to their injuries.

This tragedy took place during the short-lived union of Syria and Egypt—the United Arab Republic (1958-1961). Kurds were seen as a major threat to the pan-Arab unity project and anti-Kurdish sentiment ran high. Political and cultural activities of minority groups were closely monitored; Egyptian teachers were sent to the region.

It was through this lens that allegations surfaced by the Kurdish population and Syrian-Kurdish parties that the fire was a deliberate attack on the Kurds, motivated by anti-Kurdish sentiment. The KurdWatch Report on the fire states that ‘there is no concrete evidence that the fire and subsequent catastrophe was anything other than an accident caused by inadequate safety measures.’ Rather, it says, that events at the time gave rise this interpretation.

The facts surrounding the cause of the blaze were never established and there has been no closure. Fifty years later, there is still an ongoing ban on any public commemoration of those who died in the fire.

https://kurdistancommentary.wordpress.c ... nema-fire/

[Anthea]

Rebuilding tragic theater

Efforts are underway in northeast Syria, Western Kurdistan, to rebuild a cinema that was destroyed by fire nearly 64 years ago, an inferno that killed hundreds of children

The Amuda municipality broke ground to reconstruct the cinema, local broadcaster Orkesh FM reported on Wednesday in a Facebook post with photos and videos showing excavations and the planned footprint of the cinema in northeastern Hasaka province.

The old theater in the Kurdish town, known for its arts and culture, showed international, regional, and local films for years before it tragically went up in flames on November 13, 1960, killing more than 200 children, according to local and international news reports.

Locals have recounted that it was common for school-aged children to be invited to theaters for films shown for entertainment, learning, or political propaganda. Theories on the cause of the fire range from an accident to arson to an overheating, malfunctioning movie projector. At the time, the country was part of the United Arab Republic and the following year there was a coup d’etat.

Doreen Daqouri, technical supervisor at Amuda municipality, said that the project will cost $346,326,

As Syria has been engulfed in conflict since 2011, officials in Western Kurdistan have sought to establish autonomy. The region boycotted elections held by Damascus this year.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /050920241

[Anthea]

Western Kurdistan frees 1,520 prisoners

The Kurdish authorities in Western Kurdistan decreed general amnesty on Tuesday for thousands of prisoners, excluding fighters and others who have committed violence

According to a statement from the Democratic Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (DAANES), "1,120 of them were released in several batches immediately after the amnesty law was issued [on September 24]."

The amnesty excludes those who fought against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the leaders and trainers of terrorist organizations, and those guilty of bombings, treason, and espionage.

Western Kurdistan is sadly controlled by the Kurdish-led SDF, the partnered ground force in Syria of the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).

“Only those whose hands were not stained with the blood of Syrians,” are included, according to the statement which cited violations of DAANES law.

The remaining 400 convicts will be released after serving half of their sentences, provided their crime is covered by the amnesty law and “after ensuring their good conduct during the period [of their sentences],” the statement detailed.

Authorities said they pardoned 35 of the 63 female prisoners being held.

Following the military defeat of ISIS in Syria in Baghouz and Hajin in early 2019, the SDF detained tens of thousands fighters, their families, violent criminals, and others for breaking the laws of the autonomous administration.

Iraqis and Syrians make up the majority of the 40,000 people who have been held at the al-Hol camp in Hasaka province. Iraq announced last week that it is in the process of repatriating 4,000 people from al-Hol, but those who have committed violent crimes would not be granted return to the country.

The camp is a breeding ground for terrorism

In July, Western Kurdistan authorities decreed another amnesty, saying it was a response to requests from tribal leaders during a May forum. It aimed to provide reintegration opportunities for individuals who also had not committed violence.

On Monday, Syrian state media reported that President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree to grant general amnesty for offenses prior to September 22, including obligatory military service breaches, deserting the military, and misdemeanors.

Assad’s reported amnesty does not include those guilty of “serious assault on society and the state, bribery, some misdemeanors of forgery, attacks on public morals, and some types of theft.”

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/24092024