Political Strategist Mohamed Gula on Emgage's Endorsement of Rep. Gerry Connolly: 'After He Started to Talk in a Way We Wanted Him to Talk,' We Endorsed Him; He Asked Us to Frame His Response to Octob
Gula also revealed that Connolly approached Emgage for assistance in framing his public statements following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacres in southern Israel. According to Gula, Emgage's condition for endorsing Connolly was that he reject any endorsement or funding from AIPAC and have no affiliation with the Democratic Majority for Israel advocacy group.
Emgage is a U.S.-based Muslim civic engagement organization focused on voter mobilization, political advocacy, and leadership development.
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Rudaw Net
5 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
SDF delegation arrives in Damascus to resume talks with Syrian government
Also in Syria SDF accuse Damascus-affiliated groups of ceasefire breaches Syria launches probe into gruesome Suwayda hospital killing amid backlash SDF demands groups 'supported by Turkey,' Damascus cease attacks Syria cancels Paris talks with Rojava after unity conference A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A delegation from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria (Rojava) arrived in Damascus late Monday for renewed talks with Syria's interim government, Rudaw has learned. The discussions aim to advance the implementation of a key agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led forces into the Syrian military structure. Rudaw's correspondent in Damascus, Dilkhwaz Muhammad, reported that 'an SDF delegation has arrived in the Syrian capital' to launch a new round of talks on implementing the March 10 agreement between SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The Abdi-Sharaa landmark agreement outlines the integration of 'all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria [Rojava] under the administration of the Syrian state,' and establishes a 'ceasefire across all Syrian territory.' Since its signing in March, several rounds of discussions have been held to finalize the implementation of the deal. According to Muhammad, the SDF delegation is led by Elham Ahmad, foreign relations co-chair of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES). In a late July interview with Rudaw, Ahmad said that while the talks with Damascus were making progress, they 'had not yet reached the level of formal negotiations.' She described the meetings as 'a form of dialogue' aimed at addressing the broader Syrian issue. Emphasizing Kurdish officials' support for a decentralized political system in Syria, Ahmad then-argued that centralized rule has long contributed to the country's instability. Decentralization, she said, would ease the burden on the central government by allowing regional administrations to oversee services, cultural affairs, language policy, and internal security. Ahmad also noted that a key obstacle to implementing the Abdi-Sharaa agreement lies in differing interpretations of the integration process. While the SDF seeks to join the Syrian army as a cohesive unit, Damascus insists on integrating fighters individually into existing military units. In late July, Qutaiba Idlbi, director of American affairs at Syria's foreign ministry, told Rudaw that a follow-up meeting between the Syrian government and the SDF was scheduled to take place in Paris "soon" to finalize the integration process. However, the Syrian interim government abruptly canceled the Paris talks on Saturday, citing a recent unity conference in Hasaka - attended by more than 400 representatives from various Syrian minority groups - as a breach of the Abdi-Sharaa agreement. The conference called for amendments to the transitional constitution, which critics say gives excessive powers to interim President Sharaa while sidelining non-majority communities. A government source told state media that 'this conference has dealt a blow to the ongoing negotiation effort. Accordingly, the government will not participate in any meetings scheduled in Paris.' While the SDF delegation's visit to Damascus suggests an easing of tensions, it remains unclear whether the canceled Paris talks will be rescheduled.
Rudaw Net
7 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
SDF accuse Damascus-affiliated groups of ceasefire breaches
Also in Syria Syria launches probe into gruesome Suwayda hospital killing amid backlash SDF demands groups 'supported by Turkey,' Damascus cease attacks Syria cancels Paris talks with Rojava after unity conference Damascus says Rojava unity conference serves 'foreign agendas' A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria (Rojava) issued a stern warning on Monday, accusing groups affiliated with the interim government in Damascus of repeatedly violating a recently signed ceasefire and engaging in provocative activities in multiple areas under SDF control. In a statement, the SDF said that 'groups affiliated with the Damascus government have been attempting to provoke our forces, beginning with suspicious movements in several areas, especially in the vicinity of the town of Deir Hafer [east of Aleppo] and its surrounding villages.' The Kurdish-led forces emphasized that their personnel 'have remained patient and have not responded to these continuous provocations. However, if they continue to target our forces, we will be forced to respond in legitimate self-defense.' SDF chief Mazloum Abdi and Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa on March 10 signed a landmark agreement which outlines the integration of 'all civil and military institutions in northeast Syria [Rojava] under the administration of the Syrian state' and establishes a 'ceasefire across all Syrian territory.' A follow-up agreement, signed in early April reportedly with American representatives, established a joint security framework for the Kurdish-majority neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh in northern Aleppo, alongside provisions for continued prisoner exchanges between the two sides. In Monday's statement, the SDF further reported that other Damascus-affiliated groups 'have been gathering for several days in the vicinity of Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, intensifying their patrols. Furthermore, their drones have been flying over the neighborhoods almost continuously in a clear and obvious provocation, with one of them exploding on the outskirts of this area.' The SDF condemned these actions as clear violations of the agreements and called on the Syrian government to 'control the behavior of these rogue elements' and avoid measures that could risk the collapse of the fragile accords. The Kurdish-led forces urged Damascus to commit to de-escalation and to work toward preserving civil peace in Aleppo and across the region. The statement comes amid mounting tensions over the implementation of the SDF-Damascus agreements. On Saturday, the Syrian interim government abruptly canceled planned negotiations in Paris with the SDF, citing a recent unity conference held in Hasaka, in eastern Rojava, as a breach of the Abdi-Sharaa agreement. The conference, which brought together more than 400 representatives from various minority communities across Syria, called for amendments to the transitional constitution, which critics argue grants sweeping powers to interim President Sharaa while marginalizing non-majority groups. A government source told state media on Saturday, 'The government affirms that this conference has dealt a blow to the ongoing negotiation effort. Accordingly, it will not participate in any meetings scheduled in Paris.'
Rudaw Net
7 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Erbil authorities pledge justice for slain victims in gas station shooting
Also in Kurdistan Erbil launches first stage of green belt project President Barzani welcomes new US consul, reaffirms partnership with Washington US-led coalition support for Peshmerga to continue: Peshmerga ministry official Halabja not its own constituency in Iraq's parliamentary elections A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Erbil governor on Monday pledged that justice will be served in the wake of last week's deadly shooting that killed three people in the Kurdistan Region, assuring the victims' families that the law will have the final word. Omed Khoshnaw further cautioned against framing the incident as ethnically-motivated. Speaking at a joint press conference with the families of the victims in the Kurdish capital, Khoshnaw told reporters, including Rudaw's, that "the law will take its course," emphasizing that the "regrettable incident" should not be framed through an ethnic lens "as some channels have unfortunately portrayed it." It was 'a crime that was committed,' Khoshnaw stated, noting that 'there was no prior relationship between the perpetrator and the victims.' He further reaffirmed the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) full support for the bereaved families, noting that the accused is already in custody and will be held accountable. 'The law will take its course,' Khoshnaw pledged. The deadly shooting that sent shockwaves across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq last week, occurred on Wednesday after a dispute over spilled fuel escalated at a gas station along the Erbil-Kasnazan west of Erbil city. An eyewitness then-recounted to Rudaw that the altercation escalated when a gas station employee retrieved a Kalashnikov rifle and opened fire on a customer and another individual after they reportedly refused to pay for the spillage. Among the victims were Iraqi bodybuilder Hamoudi Riyadh and his friend Abdullah Adnan. A third civilian was reportedly caught in the crossfire and killed, according to Rudaw's correspondent on the scene. At Monday's press conference, Adnan Ibrahim - the father of one of the slain victims - called for the perpetrator to receive 'capital punishment, which is execution," and for any parties who were negligent to be held accountable. He expressed gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for its swift action and commitment to justice, noting that the suspect was arrested 'less than an hour' after committing the crime. Ibrahim also thanked preeminent Kurdish leader and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) head Masoud Barzani, as well as Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, for their 'solidarity with the victims' families.' The tragic shooting has reignited concerns over the widespread availability of firearms in the Kurdistan Region. Despite efforts by the KRG to regulate gun ownership, illegal weapons remain a persistent security threat. Black markets for firearms - ranging from handguns to sniper rifles and machine guns - continue to thrive, with an estimated 70 percent of the Region's population reportedly owning a firearm. In 2022, the Kurdistan Region passed a weapons law aimed at tightening control. Article 15 of the law stipulates that 'any individual who does not own a license, carries, sells, repairs, or distributes a firearm will be jailed for one to three years and fined between two million to five million dinars (approximately $1,500 to $3,800).'
