Latest news with #Arabization
Rudaw Net
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Efforts intensify to restore 900,000 dunams of confiscated lands in Kirkuk: MP
Also in Iraq Dust storm hospitalizes over 3,700 in Iraq Over 1,300 suffocation cases reported in southern Iraq amid dust storm Iraqi parliament passes bill to make Halabja the 19th province Iraqi strike kills suspected ISIS members in Salahaddin A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Efforts are underway to return more than 900,000 dunams of land confiscated from Kurdish citizens in Kirkuk province, a Kurdish lawmaker representing Kirkuk in the Iraqi parliament told Rudaw on Tuesday. The vast tracts of land were seized under decisions issued by a Ba'ath-era commission known as the Northern Affairs Committee, which was tasked with overseeing the Arabization campaign in the provinces of the Kurdistan Region, as well as in Kirkuk and other disputed areas with significant Kurdish, Turkmen, and Christian populations. Kirkuk MP Habib confirmed to Rudaw that efforts have intensified 'in the past two weeks to address the issue of Kurdish citizens' lands that were seized under the decisions of the Northern Affairs Committee of the defunct Ba'ath Party, estimated at around 900,000 dunams.' These lands were supposed to be returned to their original Kurdish owners or usufructuaries in accordance with Iraqi Cabinet Resolution No. 29 of 2012, but the decision was never implemented. Cabinet decision No. 29 of 2012, orders the cancellation of all decisions related to agricultural lands owned or usufructed by non-Arabs in Kirkuk province, whose contracts had previously been annulled or whose usufruct rights were extinguished by the Northern Affairs Committee of the former Ba'ath regime. The decision aims to restore the legal status of the lands to what it was before those Ba'ath-era decisions, and it is considered binding and enforceable. MP Habib said that stated that 'the issue will soon be resolved per a new agreement [among political blocs],' and added that Kurdish citizens whose lands were seized, or whose usufruct rights were annulled, would be required to fill out official forms to initiate the process of reclaiming them. The Northern Affairs Committee of the dissolved Ba'ath Party had previously revoked the contracts of Kurdish citizens that granted them the right to own or work on these lands, and reallocated the properties to Arab settlers who had been transferred to Kirkuk as part of a policy aimed at altering its demographic composition. For his part, Kakarash Sadiq, head of the office for the implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, told Rudaw that the issue has two dimensions. On one hand, it involves lands whose agricultural contracts were extinguished, covering more than 3,000 dunams. On the other hand, it concerns properties that were fully expropriated, after which new contracts were issued to Arab settlers. According to Sadiq, this latter category falls under the jurisdiction of the Iraqi justice ministry, and official correspondence will be sent to the first and second real estate registration departments in Kirkuk to begin the legal process of returning these lands to their rightful owners.
Shafaq News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Leader Barzani on Anfal campaign: Iraq must end Chauvinistic actions
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani commemorated the 37th anniversary of the Anfal campaign, calling on the Iraqi government to prevent the repetition of "chauvinistic policies" against the Kurds. In a statement, Barzani described the campaign carried out by the former Iraqi regime as "one of the most horrific crimes of the last century," during which more than 180,000 citizens were martyred or went missing due to inhumane operations that affected all areas of the Kurdistan Region. The campaign, he added, coincided with "chemical bombings, Arabization policies, forced displacement, and the destruction of thousands of villages and the economic infrastructure," emphasizing that these crimes were part of a broader plan aimed at targeting the existence and identity of the Kurdish people. The leader called on the Iraqi government to "assume legal and moral responsibility for compensating the victims," stressing that the true honor for the martyrs of Anfal lies in uniting efforts to serve the homeland and build a brighter future. About The Campaign The Anfal campaign, which began in 1986, escalated in 1988 and continued through 1989, was led by Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali." He served as Secretary General of the Ba'ath Party's Northern Bureau and military governor, with military operations directed by former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim. On May 3, 2011, the Iraqi High Criminal Court classified the campaign as a 'crime against humanity and genocide,' convicting al-Majid, who was also behind the chemical attack on Halabja. He was executed on January 25, 2010. The Kurdistan Regional Government has designated April 14 as an annual day of remembrance for the victims of this genocide.
Rudaw Net
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
IHEC bars polling location changes in disputed territories ahead of Iraqi elections
Also in Iraq Iraq arrests seven suspected ISIS members in three provinces Iraq advances PMF law amid US calls for greater control over the force Iraqi parliament to vote on Halabja's long-awaited provincial status 150 Lebanese refugee families prepare to return home from Iraq: Baghdad migration ministry A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Voters will not be allowed to change their polling location in the disputed territories between Baghdad and Erbil, Iraq's electoral commission said on Wednesday, as the country prepares for its October parliamentary elections and voter registration gets underway. "Changing polling stations [where a voter must vote] within provinces or from one province to another is allowed, except in Kirkuk, Nineveh, Salahaddin, and Anbar [provinces], to protect the demographics of those areas," Jumana al-Ghalai, spokesperson for Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), said during a presser. Kirkuk and parts of Salahaddin province are among the areas disputed between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Iraq's parliamentary elections are tentatively scheduled for October 2025. In late February, Iraq's planning ministry announced the final results of the country's first general population census in 37 years, revealing that Iraq's population has reached 46.1 million. The census, which began in mid-November 2024, is expected to directly impact the October elections, particularly in disputed territories such as the aforementioned provinces, as parliamentary seats are allocated based on population size. Kurdish officials voiced concerns over potential manipulation or politicization of the census data ahead of the process in November, fearing it could alter the demographic balance to their disadvantage, especially in oil-rich Kirkuk. During the crucial days of the census, many native residents of the disputed province returned en masse to be recorded as inhabitants of their hometown. Kirkuk and other disputed territories were subject to Arabization policies under Saddam Hussein's Baath regime, with Kurdish inhabitants displaced and their lands given to Arab settlers. Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution outlines a process for resolving disputes over these areas. Beyond seat allocation, the census also affects ethnic and sectarian representation, potentially shifting the influence of Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and others in these regions, which could impact regional power dynamics and the formation of Iraq's next government. Voter registration renewal for Iraq's next polls began on Tuesday and will remain open for a month, according to IHEC. Over a thousand registration centers have been set up across the country. During the presser, Ghalai stated that those who have not yet registered can visit their nearest center with the required documents. She added that those born in 2007 have increased the number of eligible voters by over one million, bringing the total to 29 million. Additionally, internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in Shingal will be able to cast their ballots either in their camps or outside, provided they hold proper identification papers.
Jordan News
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
King: A Salute to Our Arab Army, a Source of Pride and Honor - Jordan News
His Majesty King Abdullah II extended his congratulations to the brave men and women of the Armed Forces and security services on the occasion of the anniversary of the Arab Army leadership's Arabization. اضافة اعلان In a post on his account on the platform "X," His Majesty said, "On the anniversary of the Arab Army leadership's Arabization, a salute to our Arab army, a source of our pride and honor. May God protect our homeland and bless the efforts of the brave men and women of the Armed Forces and security services."
Roya News
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
King sends salutes to army on Arabization anniversary
His Majesty King Abdullah II led commemorations with a message honoring the anniversary of the Arabization of the Jordanian Army Command, a key milestone in the nation's military history. He praised the Arab Army's essential role in defending Jordan and protecting its holy sites. In a statement on X, King Abdullah II said, "As we celebrate the Arabization of our army's command, we salute our Arab Army—a source of pride and honor. May God protect our country and bless the brave men and women of our Armed Forces and security agencies." في ذكرى تعريب قيادة الجيش، تحية لجيشنا العربي المصطفوي، مصدر فخرنا واعتزازنا. حمى الله وطننا، وبارك بسواعد نشامى ونشميات القوات المسلحة والأجهزة الأمنية — عبدالله بن الحسين (@KingAbdullahII) March 1, 2025 The occasion marks the historic shift to Arab-led military leadership, a source of national pride for Jordanians. The king's tribute highlighted the army's ongoing contribution to Jordan's stability and sovereignty, recognizing the dedication of its personnel on this significant day.
