Latest news with #FeyliKurdishFront
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Feyli Kurdish Front demands recognition, rights on 8th anniversary
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, the Feyli Kurdish Front marked its eighth anniversary with a ceremony in Baghdad, renewing its call for justice, legal recognition, and political inclusion. The event, held at the party's headquarters, brought together political leaders, civil society groups, and activists. Speakers highlighted the Feyli Kurds' long-standing grievances, including forced displacement, confiscated property, and systemic exclusion—urging enforcement of constitutional rulings in their favor. Speaking to Shafaq News, Maher Rashid al-Feyli, Secretary-General of the Front, reaffirmed the group's sole mandate to represent the community's interests, encouraging unity among Feyli Kurds and stressing that achieving formal political and legal status remains the movement's top goal. While open to cooperation with other Feyli organizations, he dismissed broader coalitions, accusing dominant parties of 'stalling efforts' to restore the community's rights. Deputy Secretary-General Hamid Rashid described the anniversary as a 'strategic moment' ahead of national elections, revealing that the Front is actively evaluating alliance offers. 'We're a political home for every Feyli Kurd. Institutional recognition remains our driving mission.' Shamil al-Feyli, Deputy Secretary-General of the al-Walaa Movement, called for unity among Feyli groups, framing the gathering as 'a reaffirmation of a shared struggle for dignity.' Meanwhile, Sabah Nour al-Din, head of the Front's Women's Committee, urged national parties to support the Feyli cause. 'Our suffering demands accountability,' she remarked to our agency, adding, 'Empowering the Feyli community must become a national responsibility.'
Shafaq News
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kirkuk marks Feyli Martyrs Day
Shafaq News/ on Saturday, Iraq's Feyli Kurdish community gathered in Kirkuk to commemorate Feyli Martyrs' Day, renewing appeals for justice, the implementation of court rulings, and stronger political representation within the Iraqi state. The ceremony opened with a recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha in honor of those who lost their lives in state-led campaigns of violence, followed by speeches addressing the historical and ongoing challenges faced by the Feyli Kurds. Amar al-Feyli, head of the Fifth Branch of the Feyli Kurdish Front in Kirkuk, underscored the weight of the day. 'The Feyli Kurdish Front commemorates this painful occasion, which holds historical significance. It is observed to remember the tragedies and disasters the Feyli Kurds have faced throughout the ages,' he told Shafaq News. This year's ceremony came weeks after Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani designated April 2 as the official Feyli Martyrs' Day and allocated a plot of land to establish a dedicated cemetery for Feyli victims. While the move marked a formal gesture of recognition, it has sparked disagreement within segments of the community. Many Feylis argue that April 4 is more historically appropriate, as it aligns more directly with the dates of mass deportations and executions carried out by the former Baathist regime. The Feyli Kurds, an ethnically Kurdish and predominantly Shiite minority, were subjected to systematic persecution under Saddam Hussein's government, particularly during the 1980s. Thousands were stripped of citizenship, forcibly deported, imprisoned, and executed in what historians have described as a campaign driven by both ethnic and sectarian motives. Despite decades having passed since the fall of the regime, the scars remain. Thousands of Feylis are still missing, and large numbers continue to live in displacement, especially in Iran. While several court decisions have acknowledged the atrocities committed against the community, Feyli leaders stress that the practical implementation of these rulings remains elusive.
