Kurdistan marks International Anti-Drug Day as narcotics crisis deepens
Shafaq News – al-Sulaymaniyah
The Kurdistan Region observed the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday with a wide-scale scientific and awareness conference in al-Sulaymaniyah, as officials raised alarm over the growing reach of narcotics within Kurdish society.
The event, organized with broad governmental and civic participation, focused on confronting what organizers described as a fast-spreading crisis threatening the social fabric—particularly among the youth. Kozhin Othman, coordinator of the conference, said the initiative is part of a long-term strategy to promote public awareness and curb the spread of drugs through education and institutional cooperation.
Speaking during the event, Kurdistan's Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Kwestan Mohamad, warned that Kurdistan—once virtually drug-free, like the rest of Iraq —has since 2003 experienced a dramatic and troubling shift. She cautioned that the Region has become a central corridor linking major drug producers in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to markets extending from neighboring countries to as far as Canada.
In May alone, authorities reportedly arrested 5,746 people across the Region in connection with various crimes, with 1,576—over 27 percent—linked to drug-related offenses, including 81 women.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran approves law to halt IAEA cooperation
Shafaq News – Tehran On Thursday, Iran's Guardian Council approved legislation passed by parliament mandating the suspension of government cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), escalating tensions over the country's nuclear program. Council spokesperson Hadi Tahan Nazif said the bill requires the Iranian government to halt all cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog until 'national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the security of Iran's nuclear scientists and facilities' are fully guaranteed. The legislation passed unanimously in parliament, with all 221 members present voting in favor. The Guardian Council clarified that the suspension applies to all forms of cooperation under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the IAEA's safeguards system. Cooperation will remain frozen until Iran verifies that its conditions are met, including international respect for its sovereign rights and security assurances for its nuclear program. Specifically, the bill demands guarantees for Iran's right to enrich uranium under Article IV of the NPT, which affirms every member state's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Verification of these conditions must come via a report from Iran's Atomic Energy Organization and approval from the Supreme National Security Council. The government is also required to submit quarterly progress reports to both the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the security council.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Deflection tactic: White House dismisses Khamenei's remarks
Shafaq News – Washington/Tehran On Thursday, the White House rejected Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's response to recent US airstrikes, framing his comments as a deflection tactic under growing internal and external pressure. 'When you have a totalitarian regime, you need to save face,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, responding to Khamenei's televised speech earlier in the day. In his first public appearance since the strikes, Khamenei downplayed the damage, claiming the United States 'achieved nothing.' He framed Iran's response as 'a slap in America's face' and accused Washington of inflating its actions for political gain, citing President Donald Trump. Khamenei referenced Iran's missile strike on Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar—a major US military installation in the Gulf—as proof of Tehran's retaliation capabilities, alleging substantial damage. He warned that any future attack on Iranian territory would prompt direct strikes on American forces. The Trump administration pushed back on the narrative, calling Iran's portrayal misleading and asserting that the US strikes were targeted, limited in scope, and designed to degrade Iran's military infrastructure while avoiding broader conflict. The strikes, conducted earlier this week, targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and formed part of Washington's response to what it described as Tehran's accelerated nuclear development.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
US sanctions Sudan over chemical weapons use
Shafaq News – Washington The United States announced that sanctions targeting Sudan over the alleged use of chemical weapons will officially take effect on Friday, marking a significant escalation in Washington's response to the ongoing conflict in the country. The acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security confirmed that Sudan's government used chemical or biological weapons against its own citizens, a violation of international law. Under the sanctions, all non-humanitarian US assistance to Sudan under the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act will be suspended. Only emergency humanitarian aid, food, and agricultural goods are exempt. The measures also prohibit the sale of defense articles, defense services, and construction-related services to Sudan, in line with the Arms Export Control Act. Additionally, all items listed on the US Munitions List are now barred from export. Military financing for Sudan is terminated, and the country is banned from receiving loans, credit guarantees, or financial support from any US agency, including the Export-Import Bank. The sanctions extend to exports of national security-controlled goods and technology listed under the US Commerce Control List (CCL), except in limited, pre-approved cases. A US official noted that some exemptions will be permitted, including applications for licenses to transfer certain defense items to non-governmental actors in Sudan. Export exceptions may also apply for the maintenance of civilian passenger aircraft under previously established guidelines.
