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Kurds aiming for final agreement next week Ecevit says Turkey prepares its defenses Trouble brews between Kurds/Islamic rebels in Iraq KDP and PUK Set to Seal Agreement on Implementing Four-Year-Old Peace Deal Kurds tell of Iraqi war ignored by outside world Iraq's Kurds Fear Results of U.S. Attack on Saddam Former US diplomat visits Iraqi Kurdistan Turkey's Kurdish party sees no ban before polls Al-Qaeda Surrogate Islamic Group in Southern Kurdistan Destroys Sufi Shrines Two Kurdish guerrillas killed in Southern Kurdistan Police Smash Immigrant Smuggling Ring Washington will not lay the groundwork for a "provisional government" Iraqi Kurds Fear Islamic Militant Group Attack by Islamist Radicals in Kurdistan Brings Kurdish Factions Closer Sweden Arrests Kurd in Immigrant "Honor Killing" Turkey set for November polls, EU reforms in doubt
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Swedish parties welcome the new law of Kurdistan Parliament A joint press release from The Left Party, The Social Democrat Party and The Center Party Aug 16, 2002 A positive initiative that the previous mitigating circumstances have been eliminated from Iraqi Kurdistan! “Those who commit honour related crimes shall in the future be punished in the same way as others” is the content of the new law passed at the Iraqi Kurdistan’s National Assembly 13th August. The previous Iraqi law that legalised these crimes has now been abolished. In connection with this event, the above mentioned political parties, together with Kurdistans Women Association and The Kurdish Federation in Sweden, held a press conference at the parliament. The change of law is a good example for other countries to follow and is an important signal to the Swedish society that Iraqi Kurdistan is developing. It is very important that Kurds are the ones to who have taken the initiative to change these laws, thus signalling that one opposes violence and murder towards women, said Ulla Hoffmann (Left Party), initiator to the press conference. -After the honour killings of Fadime and Pela, many Kurds have felt that they are regarded as being potential murderers, especially by the Swedish media. -The issue is extremely charged and often difficult to discuss. It is important however that the Swedes understand that many Kurds fight for women’s rights and the diminishing of the patriarchal society on a daily basis, said Seyram Duran, Chairman of Kurdistan’s Women Association. -This negative phenomenon must be stopped and I believe that the school has an important part to play here by spreading the message to both parents and children. One has to find a balance between raising in the homes and education. -The children and their parents must understand the importance of integration and as Kurds make sure to lead the way for women rights, said Keya Izol, Chairman of the Kurdish Federation in Sweden. The religious leaders, the Mullahs in Iraqi Kurdistan, have been of great importance for the change of attitude concerning honour killings. They have pointed out that honour killings is not in compliance with Islam and that Muslim societies must be built on respect for women. Ulla Hoffmann invited the Mullahs in Sweden to do the same and take part in the public debate concerning honour killings. -In some countries, one has a completely different view and respect for religion. We must complement the Mullahs for their initiative to go first and condemn honour killings, said Marianne Andersson (The Center Party) who works for Kurdish human rights issues. The participants were very satisfied with the development and have agreed to write a letter together addressed to the Kurdistan Regional Parliament to show their support for their continued work.
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