Latest news with #Kurdish-language
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Man claims detention at Iraqi checkpoint for possessing Kurdish books
Also in Kurdistan Erbil, Baghdad know who is behind drone attacks on Kurdistan Region: Interior minister Kurdish leaders commemorate Yazidi genocide on 11th anniversary Iraqi committee visits Kurdistan Region to probe drone attacks Diverse Kurdish voices centre stage at Erbil citadel concert A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A man from the Kurdistan Region's eastern Sulaimani province claims he was detained for several hours by Iraqi security forces at a checkpoint in Kirkuk after they discovered Kurdish-language books in his car. Rebin, an online book reseller, told Rudaw on Sunday that he had purchased four to five cartons of books from a local bazaar in Sulaimani and was traveling to Erbil via Kirkuk on Saturday afternoon. Near Kirkuk, he was stopped by Iraqi forces for what initially appeared to be a routine inspection. 'One of the officers asked what the books were about,' Rebin said. 'I told him they're Kurdish: Piramerd's poetry collection, his proverbs, The Story of Sinuhe, A Thousand and One Nights, and children's books.' Another officer nearby allegedly remarked, 'If the books are in Arabic, let him pass; if they are Kurdish, then they're banned.' Rebin said he was then directed to another inspection area, where officers began photographing the books. Among them was a collection of letters exchanged between prominent Kurdish political leaders - Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani, late Iraqi president and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani, and the late Change Movement (Gorran) leader Nawshirwan Mustafa. 'They repeatedly placed that book next to the others as they took photos, as if to highlight it,' Rebin recalled. While the officers initially told him there was no problem, their stance later changed, Rebin claimed, adding that after several hours of waiting, they informed him that the books were banned and must be returned to Sulaimani. He agreed, asked for his identification documents, and prepared to leave. 'It wasn't until after 11:20 p.m. that I finally got my ID back,' he said, claiming one officer told him to leave in a disrespectful manner. During the rule of toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein Kurdish publications were heavily censored. While there was no explicit law banning Kurdish-language books, authorities used articles from the 1969 Iraqi Penal Code - often under vague justifications such as 'insulting the Arab community' or threatening national security - to suppress Kurdish literature. In the post-2003 era, the situation shifted. The 2005 Iraqi Constitution guarantees "freedom of expression by all means," including "freedom of the press, printing, advertising, media, and publication.' However, the application of these rights remains inconsistent and frequently contested.
Rudaw Net
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
From refugee to educator: A Kurd's mission to empower children in Germany
Also in World Author uses literature to document Kurdish tragedies US reiterates support for SDF integration Ukraine: Three years of Devastating war Berlin's international broadcaster to launch Kurdish-language programming: German politician A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Driven by his own learning difficulties as a migrant child in Germany, Orhan Yildirim established tutoring centers to help other children thrive. Yildirim moved to Germany from southeast Turkey at the age of four. 'When I arrived in Germany with my family, I realized how much our people suffer here initially due to not knowing the language and lack of knowledge. Therefore, I decided to do something that would be a service to them and reduce that burden on them,' Yildirim told Rudaw's Diaspora program that aired on Friday. He had the idea while he was studying for his Bachelor degree in sales engineering and product management. He drafted a business plan and received a small loan from a bank. He opened his first Kluge Wahl (Smart Choice) tutoring center in 2015. 'My dream was to establish an exemplary school so I could help people. When I shared my idea with close friends and colleagues, they laughed at it and said, 'what are you talking about? This is extremely difficult work.' But I had a goal and didn't give up. To cover the expenses, I applied for a loan from a bank, but the bank gave me a small amount. With that money, we started our work and established our school,' he said. At first, he only had five students. Most of the students in the early days were refugees who did not speak German, something he said he was comfortable teaching. Now the center teaches children in six different western German locations - three in Bochum and one each in Duisburg, Essen and Dusseldorf. Yildirim continues to develop the centers with new programs. Their latest initiative called Klug-Wahl Digital (Smart Choice Digital), aims to offer a digital version of their original program, enabling anyone, anywhere in the world, to join classes online. "Our teachers are highly skilled and academic. Before they start working, they must bring a clean background certificate from the police to ensure we know about their past. We also investigate their certificates and educational background and make sure they have expertise in teaching methods, along with several other criteria and conditions,' he said. Initial courses at the center are free, allowing students to explore subjects that interest them. If they wish to continue afterward, they pay a fee. The centers offer courses in German, English, French, Spanish, Latin, mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Rudaw Net
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Ukraine: Three years of Devastating war
Also in World Author uses literature to document Kurdish tragedies US reiterates support for SDF integration Berlin's international broadcaster to launch Kurdish-language programming: German politician US delists Syria's HTS as 'terrorist' group, maintains Nusra Front alias label Three years of war in Ukraine has devastated the infrastructure of the country and crashed the hopes of millions. Rudaw has been covering the developments on the ground throughout the conflict. Hope for an end to the war is the wish and desire of most Ukrainians. A war they never wanted to start, but now they want it to end, with all their strength, however it may be. With broken hearts, Nela and Sergiy walked through the rubble of their destroyed house. For 30 years, they haven't let go of each other's hands for anything; thirty years of love and companionship. Now, living every day in the shadow of death and returning from death, they are unwilling to leave each other in any way. Before the war, their goal was to live in comfort and peace, but the merciless war and shelling turned the sweet hopes and dreams of their youth into a bitter and distant dream. They were spending a normal night, but suddenly the peace of their home was shattered. At this age, they were left without a home, possessions, or shelter. They have no children and have to stay at their friends' houses until their house gets repaired. Despite ongoing efforts to bring an end to the war, both warring sides have refused to make compromises.
Rudaw Net
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
US reiterates support for SDF integration
Also in World Author uses literature to document Kurdish tragedies Ukraine: Three years of Devastating war Berlin's international broadcaster to launch Kurdish-language programming: German politician US delists Syria's HTS as 'terrorist' group, maintains Nusra Front alias label A+ A- WASHINGTON DC - The United States on Thursday reiterated its support for the integration of the pro-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the interim government in Damascus, a State Department spokesperson told Rudaw. 'Discussions on the integration of the SDF into the Syrian government are ongoing and active. We support the continuation of these discussions as the best way to resolve any outstanding issues,' said the spokesperson in response to a question via email. 'We remain focused on implementing President Trump's vision for Syria and as Secretary Rubio said, "providing the Syrian government with the chance to promote peace and stability, both within Syria and in Syria's relations with its neighbors,' added the spokesperson. The statement comes a day after US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack told Rudaw that the SDF has been 'slow' in negotiating with the Syrian government, asserting that federalism in Syria 'doesn't work.' His remarks, which soon sparked outrage among Kurds on social media, came after meeting Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF chief Mazloum Abdi in Damascus to discuss the implementation of the March 10 agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria (Rojava). Abdi and Sharaa signed the landmark agreement to integrate the SDF into the Syrian state apparatus. The agreement recognizes the Kurds as an integral part of Syria, includes a countrywide ceasefire, and stipulates the return of displaced Syrians to their hometowns. 'Regarding Syria, Ambassador Barrack and this administration have been clear: the path forward for Syria lies in unity and through resolving long standing divides that have historically pulled the country apart,' asserted the State Department spokesperson.
Rudaw Net
10-07-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Rudaw launches major scholarship program in Erbil
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Rudaw Media Network on Thursday announced the Baldar Scholarship Program, a new initiative that will support 114 Kurdish students to pursue higher education abroad, funded by local philanthropists. 'Rudaw is proud to announce the Baldar Scholarship Program, which will award 114 Kurdish students the opportunity to pursue master's degrees abroad,' said Rudaw CEO Ako Mohammed during a ceremony held at the University of Kurdistan Hewler (UKH). The program is named in honor of Ibrahim Amin Baldar, a pioneering Kurdish educator who wrote the first official Kurdish-language textbook and 'helped the Kurds preserve their language in a region that had long suppressed their identity,' according to Mohammed. 'Starting next month, applications will open through a specific and merit-based selection process,' he added, expressing gratitude to UKH and Vision Education for their partnership in launching the initiative. The program is the outcome of Pashivi Rudaw, a special Ramadan series hosted by Rudaw's Bestoon Osman, aimed at raising scholarship funds from philanthropists and influential figures across Kurdistan. In addition to the Baldar scholarships, the program facilitated the distribution of other awards in March. Vision Education, a local education management group led by Idris Nechirvan Barzani, contributed 40 of the scholarships. Barzani is among 30 philanthropists and business leaders who helped fund the scholarship. Zana Ibrahim, interim president of UKH, described the Baldar Scholarship as a 'unique and nationalistic project,' and emphasized the potential of private sector support in advancing higher education. 'Supporting education does not necessarily have to be done by the public sector; providing education opportunities, in universities locally and abroad, can be a new initiative for the private sector,' he said. Sardar Bibani, head of Sardar Group and Toyota's representative in Iraq, also spoke at the ceremony. His company contributed ten scholarships. Calling the initiative 'a sacred task,' Bibani said, 'We see it as a duty to make it succeed and help [students] reach a place where they can serve after us.' Rudaw's Osman, speaking ahead of the ceremony, said the scholarships would be evenly split between male and female students, and 'efforts will also be made to give shares to Yazidi, Turkmen brothers and other components.' The application process is set to open in August. Photos by Bilind T. Abdullah/Rudaw
