Latest news with #Barzani
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
KRG: No forced returns for displaced Iraqis
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) reiterated its opposition to the forced return of internally displaced persons, especially to former ISIS-controlled areas. Dindar Zebari, the KRG Coordinator for International Advocacy, announced during the Conference on Missing Persons in the Middle East and North Africa that 'the people of Kurdistan have borne the brunt of atrocities—from the notorious Anfal campaign to the crimes committed by ISIS against Yazidis and other minorities,' reaffirming the KRG's deep commitment to uncovering the fate of the missing and ensuring accountability for crimes of enforced disappearance. Zebari recalled the disappearance of over 182,000 civilians during the Anfal operations, including 8,000 Barzani men, noting that the remains of victims have been recovered from 75 mass graves across Iraq, with 3,659 victims identified and returned to their families. The KRG has worked to rescue victims of ISIS. Out of 6,417 documented cases of Yazidi abductions, 3,587 individuals have been freed, while 2,830 remain missing. The official backed international recommendations on addressing enforced disappearances, including criminalization, investigative reforms, and better protections for vulnerable groups—measures already incorporated into the region's 2021–2025 Human Rights Action Plan focused on justice and survivor support. He also called on the international community to fulfill its humanitarian responsibilities and provide the technical, financial, and logistical support needed to accelerate investigations into enforced disappearances. Zebari highlighted cooperation with the United Nations Investigative Team (UNITAD), which led to the preservation and digitization of more than 408,000 pages of investigative files—documents he described as essential for future legal proceedings against ISIS perpetrators. He pointed to the KRG's rehabilitation and support initiatives, including the Psychological Treatment Institute in Duhok, a center documenting genocide-related sexual crimes, and a facility dedicated to assisting liberated women. 'These institutions have collectively provided psychological and legal support to over 1,278 survivors,' Zebari pointed out. He also showcased the KRG's use of advanced forensic tools, including DNA analysis, as a vital means of identifying remains and offering closure to victims' families.
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Leader Barzani calls for order, partnership in Iraq
Shafaq News/ On Monday, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Masoud Barzani, called for strict adherence to Iraq's constitution and renewed his support for the principles of partnership, consensus, and balance as cornerstones of the country's political process. His remarks came during a meeting at the Salahuddin resort in Erbil with tribal and community leaders from al-Anbar and the Baghdad Belt. The visiting delegation raised proposals focused on governance, equitable representation, and local development, while also commending the Kurdistan Region's role in hosting displaced families during the ISIS conflict. Barzani welcomed the dialogue, describing post-2003 political mismanagement and constitutional violations as key sources of Iraq's instability. He stressed that any durable solution must begin with the restoration of constitutional order and inclusive governance involving all components of Iraqi society.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani: Protecting minority rights is a principle not a slogan
Shafaq News/ Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed on Monday that safeguarding the rights of all components in Kurdistan is a deeply held principle, not a mere slogan. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is home to a diverse mosaic of ethnic and religious communities, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenians, Yazidis, and Shabaks. Speaking at the opening of the Church Endowments Administration Conference in Erbil, Barzani said that his participation reflects clear support for all components of the Kurdistan Region, especially for Christian citizens, 'who are an essential part of the fabric of this society and Kurdistan's shared history.' 'This land has been known for thousands of years as a place of peaceful coexistence, acceptance of others, and fair participation in rights and duties.' He stressed that minority rights are not symbolic rhetoric, but 'firm principles and concepts we genuinely believe in,' adding that peaceful partnership must be the foundation of society. Barzani recalled that since the establishment of the Kurdistan Parliament, there has been a strong emphasis on inclusive representation, noting that peaceful coexistence has been a key factor in Kurdistan's stability and strength. Barzani reiterated that the diverse communities of the Kurdistan Region 'are not guests, but an inherent and rooted part of this land.' 'Kurdistan has always embraced all, historically providing space for freedom and peaceful coexistence,' he said. 'Achieving these principles can only be done through a clear legal framework that guarantees rights and protects diversity.' He called for accelerating the passage of a dedicated law for the management of Christian endowments that aligns with Iraqi legislation and ensures protection against encroachments. 'Such a law would not only be a legal framework but a clear message that Christians' rights are protected, their presence is guaranteed, and their ancestral heritage is safeguarded.'
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Leader Barzani marks 49th anniversary of Gulan Revolution: A legacy of Kurdish resilience
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani marked the 49th anniversary of the Gulan Revolution, praising the resilience and sacrifices of the Kurdish people and Peshmerga fighters in pursuit of freedom and dignity. In a statement, Barzani described Gulan as 'one of the most significant chapters in Kurdistan's resistance,' and a natural extension of the Great September Revolution. Despite the unfavorable conditions and the forced displacement of thousands, he noted, the Gulan uprising was launched through a calculated and determined organizational and military strategy. Barzani paid tribute to the fallen fighters and honored the courage of those who took up arms or endured hardship rather than surrender. 'This uprising proved to the world that the will to fight for freedom in Kurdistan is unbreakable and ever-burning.' The Gulan Revolution began in 1976 after the collapse of the 1975 Algiers Agreement, when the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) reorganized its resistance against the Baathist regime. Drawing on shifting dynamics in the Middle East, the movement reignited hope among Kurds for justice and self-rule.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani marks 49th anniversary of Gulan Revolution: A call for unity
Shafaq News/ Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday commemorated the 49th anniversary of the Gulan Revolution, hailing it as a testament to the Kurdish people's unshakable commitment to liberty and dignity. In an official statement, Barzani paid tribute to the 'immortal martyrs and heroic fighters' of the uprising, honoring those who gave their lives in pursuit of freedom. "Gulan was a reaffirmation of the people's refusal to accept injustice or occupation," he added, calling it a powerful continuation of the Great September Revolution led by the late Mustafa Barzani. The Kurdish president urged all sides to protect the constitutional and federal achievements secured through decades of struggle and to uphold the legacy of the revolution with unity and cooperation. 'Let Gulan inspire us to work together for a better future,' he said. The Gulan Revolution began in 1976 after the collapse of the 1975 Algiers Agreement, when the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) reorganized its resistance against the Baathist regime. Drawing on shifting dynamics in the Middle East, the movement reignited hope among Kurds for justice and self-rule.
