Latest news with #Maarouf
Shafaq News
03-06-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
KRG's Amnesty Law draft held up by political deadlock
Shafaq News/ The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has finalized a draft of the General Amnesty Law, but its passage remains on hold until the new session of the Kurdistan Parliament convenes, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Kwestan Maarouf said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Maarouf explained that the previous KRG cabinet had prepared the bill and that ten members of the former Parliament had also submitted a related legislative proposal. However, political disagreements and the dissolution of the previous Parliament stalled the process. 'Despite holding an initial meeting with relevant government bodies, the Parliament failed to convene for a vote in its final year, and was later dissolved,' she said. Maarouf noted that the new Parliament can combine both the cabinet's draft and the MPs' proposal into a single, unified Amnesty Law. About the Law Kurdistan Region's Amnesty Law, enacted in December 2017 under Law No. 4, allowed for pardons for prisoners and detainees under specific conditions, including reconciliation between involved parties or partial sentence completion. The law excluded serious offenses such as terrorism-related crimes, threats to regional security, corruption, premeditated murder, incest, sexual assault, human trafficking, antiquities smuggling, currency counterfeiting, and kidnapping resulting in death, permanent disability, or disappearance.
Shafaq News
16-04-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Salary breakthrough: Baghdad, Erbil find common ground
Shafaq News/ Baghdad and Erbil have made significant progress in resolving long-standing issues related to public sector salaries in the Kurdistan Region, lawmakers and officials said on Wednesday. Nermine Maarouf, a member of the Iraqi Parliament's Finance Committee, stated that most of the challenges surrounding salary payments in the Kurdistan Region have been addressed. 'The salary issue is no longer political. Technical aspects are being jointly handled by both governments,' Maarouf explained, adding that salary lists for February and March submitted to Baghdad will serve as the basis for future disbursements for the remainder of the year. She stressed that there is a 'clear understanding between both sides' to resolve the remaining procedural hurdles and reaffirmed that Iraq's overall financial situation remains stable despite declining global oil prices. 'There is no immediate threat to salary payments,' she said. Maarouf also pointed to the Federal Supreme Court's decision mandating equal treatment of Kurdistan Region and federal employees, including salary transfers and banking procedures, calling for full implementation of the ruling to ensure 'functional justice' across Iraq. Separately, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani announced that April's salary lists will be sent to Baghdad next week. 'The KRG has fulfilled all its obligations in this matter, and salaries for April will be distributed on schedule.' Hawramani also addressed delays in the resumption of Kurdish oil exports, saying that while KRG has met its commitments under previous agreements, implementation on the federal side has been slow. He urged Baghdad to expedite practical steps toward restoring oil exports in a way that ensures 'financial equity and protects citizens' rights.'
Saba Yemen
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Figures, statistics on women's tragedies in Gaza
Gaza - Saba: Head of the Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip, Salama Maarouf, stressed in a statement issued on the occasion of International Women's Day, the great suffering faced by women in the Gaza Strip as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip. Maarouf said in the statement today, Saturday: "We remind the international community celebrating women's rights today of the massacres committed by the Zionist occupation against women during the war of extermination in Gaza." He added: "12,316 martyrs were killed by the occupation in cold blood, 13,901 women were widowed and lost their husbands and breadwinners, 17,000 mothers were bereaved by the loss of their children, and 50,000 pregnant women gave birth to their children in inhumane conditions." He pointed out that "162,000 women were infected with infectious diseases, and 2,000 women and girls will be left with disabilities as a result of amputation of their limbs." Whatsapp Telegram Email
Roya News
08-03-2025
- Health
- Roya News
"Israel's" aggression on Gaza: unprecedented toll on Palestinian women
"Israel's" genocidal war on Gaza has left more than 2,000 Palestinian women and girls permanently disabled, the Gaza government's media office reported on International Women's Day. In a statement, Salama Maarouf, head of the media office, highlighted the severe and lasting impact of the "Israeli" assault. 'The "Israeli" aggression in Gaza has caused irreversible damage to the lives of countless Palestinian women and girls, particularly in the wake of "Israel's" ongoing genocidal campaign,' he stated. Maarouf detailed that 2,000 women and girls have suffered permanent disabilities, including amputations. Additionally, 162 women have contracted contagious diseases, and many others have been subjected to torture in "Israeli" detention centers. Beyond physical injuries, the aggression has devastated the lives of Palestinian women in profound ways. According to Maarouf, 13,901 women have been widowed and forced to become the sole providers for their families, while 17,000 mothers have lost their children. The dire humanitarian conditions have also led to tragic pregnancy outcomes, with 50,000 pregnant women losing their babies due to starvation, dehydration, and lack of medical care. He stressed that the ongoing "Israeli" siege and the obstruction of humanitarian aid have worsened living conditions for women, who now suffer from severe hunger and dehydration. 'The occupation forces have cold-bloodedly killed 12,316 Palestinian women since the beginning of the assault,' Maarouf added. Human Rights Watch noted that the casualty figures reported by Gaza's health authorities do not include those who perished due to disease or remained trapped under rubble. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights verified that 70 percent of the total fatalities—approximately 8,200—were women and children. International human rights organizations have further documented the widespread outbreak of infectious diseases and severe injuries, which have contributed to the rising death toll in Gaza. As of Jan. 18, 2025, the Gaza Health Ministry recorded 110,725 injuries, with women and children comprising 69 percent of those wounded. Additionally, 70 percent of the 14,222 missing persons in Gaza are women and children. A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement took effect on Jan. 19, halting "Israel's" brutal war, which has claimed over 48,400 Palestinian lives, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins. Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Meanwhile, "Israel" faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its military campaign. Palestinian women under attack: Journalists, detainees "Israeli" forces have also systematically targeted Palestinian female journalists during the aggression. According to Gaza government officials, 24 female journalists were killed while reporting on the ground. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club reported that "Israel" continues to detain 21 Palestinian women, including a 12-year-old girl, under harsh conditions and systematic abuses. In a statement marking International Women's Day on March 8, the organization emphasized that "the Israeli Occupation has long used the detention of Palestinian women as a systematic policy, targeting even minors." According to the club, female prisoners in "Israeli" custody endure severe mistreatment, including torture, medical neglect, and psychological abuse. These practices have escalated since the onset of the "Israeli" assault on Gaza. As the international community marks International Women's Day, Palestinian women remain at the forefront of suffering, enduring violence, displacement, and systematic oppression under Israeli occupation.
Saba Yemen
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Maarouf: "Aid that entered Gaza not exceed 30% of what was agreed upon"
Gaza - Saba : The head of the government media office in Gaza, Salama Maarouf, confirmed on Monday that the humanitarian aid that entered Gaza Strip during the past two days did not exceed 30 percent of what was agreed upon. In a statement to Arab TV, Maarouf said that there is a big gap between what the mediators say and what the Zionist enemy is doing regarding the benefits of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. He pointed out that 70 percent of Gaza Strip does not have access to water suitable for consumption, noting that water treatment plants in Gaza Strip do not work due to the lack of electricity and fuel. In an earlier statement, Maarouf said that the mediators pledged that the Zionist enemy would abide by the terms of the agreement, especially in its humanitarian aspect, and would enter all the supplies included in the protocol with the specified items, quantities and timelines. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
