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Iraqi Kurdistan experiencing rising tide
of political Islam
16.12.2011
Matt Frazer, Press TV, - Erbil |
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Video: Press TV
December 16, 2011
ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq',
— Religious leaders in the Kurdistan region have
long complained of the ruling secular coalition
government constraining their influence.
Historically, the Iraqi Kurdish leaders against
influence from Baghdad in the south, have been
secular nationalists.
However in recent years, the Islamic political
parties, in particular the Kurdistan Islamic Union,
have been slowly but steadily increasing their share
of the vote. Both the Islamic opposition, and the
secular opposition, have been keen to draw the
February to March anti-government protests in
Kurdistan into the broader environment of Middle
Eastern revolution.
The opposition parties reject this narrative. They
regard the two-party ruling coalition who dominate
every aspect of political rule, as being analogous
to the dictatorial regimes in the Middle East.
There are those in opposition alleging a kind of
conspiracy led by regional President Massoud
Barzani's KDP. They allege that the KDP fears the
rising popularity of Islamic parties in the Middle
East, and are consequently looking for any excuse to
crack down on the Kurdish Islamic parties
domestically.
However, the KDP has characterized the recent event
as a simple local issue that got out of hand.
Historically, religious and secular groups have had
an inconsistent and complicated relationship in
Kurdistan. In the 1970s, the Kurdish socialists and
Islamic groups fought together against Arab rule
from Baghdad. And in opposition to the ruling
centrist coalition And in opposition to the ruling
centrist coalition here in Erbil,www.ekurd.net
they find
themselves making common cause again.
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