Archive for
October 5th, 2005

   

Stories

Travels in the Kurdish Blogosphere

A small portrait of the translator Deborah Ann Dilley · 04:28 · Middle East & North Africa

Here is a quick update of the lastest in the Kurdish Blogosphere:

Cultural
As mentioned on a previous installment the death of Kurdish singer Merziye Feriqi has left the Kurdish community in mourning. Recently on the blog From Holland to Kurdistan an anonymous Kurd sent a heartfelt memorial article to be posted. Merziye was dedicated to the Kurdish people:

The amazing[thing] with Merza was her passionate love for Kurdistan. She was never far from her smile and she always supported organisations working for Kurdistan. She attended every demonstration, she attended all festivals and concerts asking for her performance and she was always giving 110% to the people.

A large memorial concert was held for her in Sweden where various other Kurdish artists such as Ciwan Haco and Nejmeddin Xolami performed songs in her honor. She will indeed be missed.

Political
On October 15th, the Iraqi Constitution referendum will take place. While the new Iraqi Constitution is quite clear on the extent of the federal government that will be created, there are still musings in the Kurdish community of a completely independent Kurdistan located in Northern Iraq. Emmunah from Pershmerga Women voices her opinion on not only the possiblity of a 3 state solution for Iraq, but also that logically an independent Kurdistan is the only morally correct outcome that can result. Other views such as John Derbyshire's article in the National Review indicate the impossibility of an independent Kurdistan in the scope of world politics.

In the United Kingdom, new deportation laws have brought the issue of deportation for that nation's Kurdish population to a head. Several protests have been held in areas like Yorkshire and Sheffield asserting that Iraq is not safe and that deportations should not take place. Hiwa from the blog Hiwa Hopes was present at one of the Yorkshire protests on this very issue. Oddly enough, another protest on the same day and at the same venue was planned for protesting the suicide bombings within Iraq. Both groups were not expecting the other and there was some disagreement as to if they should develop a single message and combine their forces. However there was no consensus noted a disillusioned Hiwa.

There are many voices that should be heard, but there is no assurance that they will support the same ideals.

1 comment  · read »

Iranian Bloggers and Nuclear Question: No More Crisis Please!

Farid Pouya · 04:26 · Middle East & North Africa

Iranian state wants, at any price, continues its nuclear program including uranium enrichment. This enrichment can help Iran to get a nuclear bomb in coming years. US and Europe want at any price persuade Iran to stop its enrichment program. Iran & Iranian can face sanctions and many Iranian fear a US-Iraq war. Several Iranian bloggers express their ideas about this hot issue.

In Webnevesht, former reformist vice president writes in his English blog that Mr.Ahmadinejad failed to convince other nations about Iranian nuclear program in his trip to UN . According to this reformist politician and blogger:

“It is possible not to enter the playfield of the diplomacy and the global relations or to set new rules to a new field and to play with only those present in that field but it is impossible to enter the global playfield and set new rules for it. He says The only successful and proud diplomacy, is the one to the benefit of the nation and not the boastful and proud words that could work against the nation and the country”.

Behnoud (link in Farsi), an Iranian journalist from London, writes in his Farsi blog for several years some Islamic leaders continued Iran-Iraq war in 1980’s by creating national or religious emotion among people. Same leaders are in power and want to use same methods to mobilize people for this nuclear crisis. He says now we live in a new different world and old methods don’t work.
Islamic Republic repeats that it continues its program in the name of nationalism and Iranian nation. Abdi (link in Farsi), reformist politician and former hostage taker in US embassy in 1979, says if it is a national question why no one has right to express his/her ideas except Iranian State.

Probably many say with Mr.Behi, who lived in country during Iran-Iraq war,

“I don’t want to see Iran under sanctions again. This government first cares about its ideology then its people…It is enough”

We can find bloggers such as hajhamid (link in Farsi), a pro Hezbollah blogger, who back Islamic Republic's policy about nuclear question in his Farsi blog. They repeat in their blogs official version of story.

1 comment  · read »
Page 1 of 7