Roj Bash !

Once more, Turkish army was prepared a vast offensive in the aim to eliminate definitely the PKK in mountains; the same offensive that is launched since 20 years, just before the winter rest time for both parties. Even the threatening to cross the “iraqi” border is not new : it happened many times between 1996 and 1999, with the same few success.

The only difference is that, this time, Southern Kurds have no intention to welcome Turks, as KDP did when the PKK was a PUK ally. Kurdish governement warned Ankara that any incursion could provoke “heavy loss” among Turkish ranks. It is a kind of paradox that this constant temptation to interven in Southern Kurdistan is currently strenghened by the death of 15 Turkish soldiers in Sirnak, while Turkey, as we said, was prepared a series of attacks against the PKK within its own borders. Unfortunately, when you start war, you should be ready to face human losses.

Facing many pressures, from army, public opinion, excited media, could Recep Tayip Erdogan avoid this minor invasion of Kurdish Region ? The final decision will be taken by the Parliament

Moreover, the portraits of killed soldiers could be seen everywhere in Turkish media, with flags, moarning mothers, national music and slogans : much pathos and calling to revenge, but, as did state logically the government of Erbil, if Turkish soldiers cross the border and try to attack Qandil mountains, Turkish newspapers have to reserve many pages to publish the portraits of their future “Sehit”.

Jewish Subjects and Their Tribal Chieftains in Kurdistan: A Study in Survival (Jewish Identities in a Changing World) by Mordechai Zaken.

A interesting and an essentiel work about relations and common history between Jews in Southern Kurdistan and Kurdish aghas and sheikhs, from the origin until 1950…

# Hardcover: 326 pages
# Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (August 2007)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 9004161902
# ISBN-13: 978-9004161900

The text of this agreement has been translated and published by PUK Media :

Agreement BetweenThe Republic of Iraq And The Republic of Turkey On Combating Terrorism

The Republic of Iraq and the Republic of Turkey, hereinafter called “the Parties”; Reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to regional and international peace and security and that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, left, shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Besir Atalay after they signed a counter-terrorism pact in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 AP
Stressing their determination to combat all forms of terrorism.Reaffirming, the existence of the belief and determination of the Parties for deepening and reinforcing the cooperation between the two countries, developing the existing good neighborly relations and strengthening the friendly ties in order to establish the security of the common borders binding the two neighboring countries and to prevent the infiltration of the terrorist elements through the borders aiming at destruction of the security and stability of the two countries.

Deeply concerned by the increasing number of victims, including civilians, children, police and military personnel, as well as by the destruction and damage caused by acts of terrorism committed in particular by the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL and all entities affiliated with it and the terrorist organizations Ansar ul Sunna, Ansar ul Islam and Al Qaeda along with other terrorist groups affiliated with them, which constitute a threat to their security, stability and an impediment to the enhancement of bilateral relations.

Recognizing that, the Ankara agreement signed by the two parties on 5 June 1926, Friendship and neighborly Relations Agreement between Turkey and Iraq, signed on 29 March 1946 and the Agreement Between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Iraq on Legal and Judicial Matters signed on 19 September 1989 and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Iraq on 7 August 2007 are in force between the two States.

Confirming once again that the right of the peoples of both countries to a more secure and stable life is a fundamental right as underlined in the meetings of the Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs of the neighboring States of Iraq. Emphasizing their obligation to implement in full UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 (2001), 1546 and 1566 (2004) and 1624 (2005), as well as their common desire to cooperate effectively in combating the terrorist activities perpetrated by the terrorist groups.
Herewith agree:

ARTICLE I

The Parties shall take effective measures to prevent the preparation and commission of terrorist acts aimed at the security, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders and safety of citizens of the other party.

ARTICLE II

To this end the Parties shall take, inter alia, the following measures;
a) to put an end to prevent terrorist groups from using their respective territories as bases for presence, recruitment, training, planning, inciting or launching of terrorist acts against the other party.
b) To put an end and to outlaw all kind of financing activities, of the terrorist groups and logistical support given to these groups directly or indirectly.
c) Not to allow any mass media activities of the terrorist organizations including their radio and TV broadcasting, as well as their propaganda activities inciting terrorist acts.
d) To prevent the members of the terrorist organizations from affiliating with any political institutions and/or activity in their respective countries and from joining any state organization or official institution.

ARTICLE III

Each of the Parties are responsible for denying safe haven and bringing to justice, on the basis of the principle of “extradite or prosecute”, any person who supports, facilitates, participates, or attempts to participate in financing, planning, preparation or commission of acts of a terrorist organizations.

ARTICLE IV

The Parties shall undertake, as soon as possible, to finalize the necessary arrangements and measures regarding combating terrorism, border cooperation and security.(See Annex)

ARTICLE V

Within a period of one (1) month after the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties,
a) Shall exchange information on the terrorist organizations operating in their countries and the individuals involved in terrorist acts.
b) Shall exchange the international arrest warrants relating to terrorists sought with Interpol Red Notices or by Diffusion.
c) Shall appoint to their respective diplomatic missions a liaison contact point and provide the exchange of information for the implementation of the provision of this agreement.

ARTICLE VI

The Parties shall set up a Coordination Committee, responsible for the implementation of this Agreement which shall be chaired by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Iraq and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey of with participation of experts of other ministries or governmental institutions. The Coordination Committee shall regularly meet every six months alternately in Turkey and Iraq.
In case of an urgent need, the Committee shall meet upon the request of one of the parties.

ARTICLE VII

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the receipt of the notification by which the Parties notify the completion of their respective internal legal procedures for notification.
The parties commit themselves to complete their ratification process in a period of three (3) months at the latest starting from the date of its signature. This agreement shall remain in force unless one of the Parties denounce it through diplomatic channels. The Agreement’s validity will end after six (6) months following the receipt by the other Party of the notification of denunciation.

ARTICLE VIII

This Agreement is done in duplicate in Ankara on 28 September 2007, in the Arabic, Turkish, and English languages. All texts are equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation the English text shall prevail.

For the Government of The Republic of Iraq, Jawad al-Bolani, Minister of Interior
For the Government of The Republic of Turkey, Besir Atalay, Minister of Interior

PUKmedia com

“Antoin Sevruguin (late 1830s-1933) was a celebrated photographer of late-nineteenth-century Iran. Sevruguin had two lifelong obsessions. The first was a cherished desire to record Iran in all its facets on glass plates; the second was to capture light in his photographs the way he so admired in Rembrandt’s paintings.”–BOOK JACKET. “In addition to his numerous pictures of urban life and portraits made in his famous studio in Tehran, Sevruguin made a photographic inventory of the landscape, archaeological sites, and people of Azarbaijan and continued the project in Kurdistan and Luristan (in southwestern Iran).”–BOOK JACKET. “In this generously illustrated book, the first ever devoted to Sevruguin and his singular work, six distinguished authors explore the photographer’s life and career.”

An exhibition of his works are in the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, Netherlands, and the website iranian.com published on line these wonderful pictures. Some of his portraits have an incredible humanity, tenderness and quite admiration toxard the models, far from the “colonialist” look on Eastern portraits.

Beggars and Dervishes have the same noble allure than in 17th century Spanish paintings.

And there is the same realism but with a sort of compassion in Sevruguin’s beggars than, for example Ribera’s dwarf :

And if Sevrugin admired Rembrandt, I think there are something common with the San Francis in ecstasy by Zurbaran in these Sufi faces…

Some of them are Kurdish figures, like these anonymous portraits of Kurdish girls :

Kurdish leaders, including Mohammad Khan Ardalan (third from right)

Hewlêr. Mosque in the Citadel.

According official statistics, among the 3.686 mosques of Kurdistan Region, most of them call – what a horrible surprise ! – with ARAB names, the ministry of Islamic Affairs decided to change them with the names of Kurdish religious figures… According the the ministry’s media director Meriwan al-Naqshabandi, they wish to give a “national identity” to religious institutions. Of course the decision dos not make only happy people in islamic circles.

Because they have suffered of an Arabization policy under Iraqi rule, and then face pro-Saudi or Al Qaeda attacks, we could understand that some Kurds want to oppose to these extremists a local islam, a Kurdish islam, inspired and supported by sufism and praising Kurdish sheikhs who took an important part in Kurdish struggle…

But at the end, it will be so difficult to eradicate entirely the Arab roots of islam, than for a Antisemit christian to aryanize Jesus. Or perhaps some nationalists will discover that a certain qoyrayshi clan, living in Mecca around 7th century B.C had, in fact, Kurdish blood… After all, “Pêxemberê Memo” sounds not bad…

(sources Kurdnet).

A post card about a Band of Boy-Scouts in Silêmanî (Suleymaniah) in 1927. These cute guys were among the first Baden Powell’s scouts in Middle-East.

In 1927, Iraq was a young monarchy, decided and instaured by Great-Britain. It was not independant but ruled under a British Mandate. Independance will came in 1932.

At this time, Southern Kurdistan, which was called Mosul Vilayet, after many debates and investigation of the League of Nations, had been integrated to the young Iraq, against Kurds’ will and Turks’ will. Kurds, led by Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji, wanted to be independant, under a British Mandate, like Iraq. Turks claimed that Mosul Vilayet belonged to the new republic of Turkey, for it was a part of former Ottoman Empire.

Sheikh Mahmud led many revolts, especially in 1923 and 1927, the year where the picture was taken. He tried to gain the support of Turkey against England and Iraq. Turks of course agreed to mine British influence in Kurdistan, but did not really wish a free Kurdistan. So after 1930, Sheikh Mahmud was exiled in Southern Iraq and stopped any political activities. Since 1926, Souther Kurdistan was integrated officially in the new Iraqi kingdom.

This picture is the reflect of a complex situation : These boys from Sulaymanieh have joined a youth organization founded 20 years ago by Baden Powell, an English Officer. They have formed a Western band which probably played western or modern Arab music. Above them, we can see the new Iraqi flag and the flag of Iraqi scouts. Who were the boys ? Were they notables’s sons, belonged to families allied to British ? Or pupils in foreign schools, some private institutions for rich students ? Or at the contrary, orphans or pupils in schools for poor families?

We know nothing about these kids, just that they were probably Kurds, and joined an English organization at a time where the destiny of Kurdistan was torn between Iraq and Turkey, under the selfish rule of Great Britain. In a certain fact, these young Kurds are like costumed page boys in a historical play where British, Arab, Turkish plays were the main actors in Kurdistan.

“Book Description
Acclaimed by Kurdish Academics, the Wallenberg, Kurdish English – English Kurdish Sorani dictionary has led the way in bilingual lexicography. The first ever Kurdish dictionary to be entirely compiled based on the statistical evidence of real language; both written and spoken it is a reliable dictionary for both English and Kurdish speakers. The compiler Michael Goddard has given the definitions of words in the Arabic script and also for those who cannot read this script in Romanized English. Language is now studied in the context of its culture, so there is a brand-new introduction giving lively and useful information on life in the Kurdish-speaking world – Sections discuss Kurdish, History Art and Culture, and the Kurdish struggle for nationhood. Portable, compact, and yet affordable for a dictionary in its Class, the Wallenberg Kurdish Dictionary is ideal for school, the office, and lower university level. Authoritative and up to date and now in its second edition, the dictionary covers the language as never before. Words are tools for life and the Wallenberg dictionaries make them work for you.”

# Paperback: 324 pages
# Publisher: Simon Wallenburg Press (April 15, 2007)
# Language: English
# ISBN-10: 1843560097
# ISBN-13: 978-1843560098
# Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches

To find and order the Book.

A British documentary has been recognised with an Emmy award in New York for its “outstanding investigation” into the disappearance of 8,000 Barzani Kurds, one of the major atrocities committed by Saddam’s regime.

Produced by RW Films and screened in North America on the PBS series Frontline World, Saddam’s Road to Hell was also shown by Channel 4 in the UK.

The film discovers what happened to 8,000 Barzani Kurds who were abducted by Iraqi Government troops in 1983.Watched by Saddam Hussein at his trial in Baghdad before his execution earlier this year, it directly implicates him in their murder.

The award was made for “Outstanding Investigative Journalism in a News Magazine.”

“We’re delighted,” said executive producer Sadie Wykeham. “The competition was really tough, and for a small production company like ours to take on and beat huge commercial broadcasters like CBS “60 Minutes” and ABC 20/20 is a real achievement.”

Director Gwynne Roberts said: “But beyond that, we’ve also managed to bring home to an international audience the horrors visited on the Kurds under Saddam.”

Directors Gwynne Roberts and John Williams followed a team of Kurdish investigators led by Dr Mohammed Ihsan through Iraq collecting documents, testimony, video and forensic evidence. Passing through Baghdad and the “triangle of death,” the investigators braved roadside bombs and Al Qaeda terrorists.

Their successful search for the remains of the abducted Kurds ended up in the remote deserts of southern Iraq near the Kuwaiti and Saudi borders.

Director John Williams died of a heart attack in northern Iraq during the making of the film.
(source KRG)

Today, at the Théâtre de la Ville of Paris, Shahram Nazeri gives a concert with Daryush Talai. At this occasion he wil receive in public the prestigious French decoration of Légion d’honneur, awarded as an eminent international personnality.

=>

Listen to him

Borned in 1956 in Agrî, he has to move in his youth, with his family, to Ankara for their poor economical situation. In 1976 he worked for TRT Radio and registered 3 disks : Bêrivan, Dîlan and Diyarbekir. In 1979 he is fired from the radio after having participated to a Kurdish concert in Agrî. The Coup of September 12th 1980 obliged him to leave the country to Syria and then Germany, where he pursues a career of singer, composer and cineast. His movie A Song for Beko, in 1991, in Kurdish, had an international success.

He will sing in Paris on Saturday 6th Octber with the Kurdish singer Rojîn.