Badran Ahmed Habeeb, the Director General of
Kurdistan News Agency
December
16, 2011
ERBIL-Hewlêr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — The Kurdish opposition is
made of three parties, three factions. First there
is the left wing Gorran Movement which split from
the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Most of their
constituents and supporters are the poorest in
Kurdish society. These people are the base members
of past revolutions. It is not unusual to see this
class of people use violence whenever the
opportunity presents itself. Like what happened to
Kurdistan Democratic Party branch in Sulaimaniyah in
February this year.
Second, the Kurdistan Islamic Group that, like
Gorran, spread its branches in the working class and
poor in Kurdish society. Economically they have the
same constituents and supporters but what separates
them is religious ideology.
The third party is the Kurdistan Islamic Union is
different from other two. Their activities are more
civilized. They can count a small fraction of the
bourgeoisie who yearn for a comfortable life among
their supporters. What happened in Zakho and Duhok
was the first time KIU brought chaos to the Kurdish
political scene.
KIU is a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood which
emerged as one of the more moderate political
movements in the Arab world after the First World
War. KIU brought a new culture to the Kurdish
political game: they do not have weapons. A sensible
philosophy - it makes them acceptable for both
middle class supporters and the outside world. Until
recently they only demanded change - now their
actions are changing. They are becoming more
aggressive.
I believe the events of September 11, 2001, were the
source of change for the Muslim Brotherhood movement
in general and KIU in particular. After September 11
they became more militant and followed al-Qaeda's
suit. After 2003 we saw Iraq become a battle ground
for them to do some of the most outrageous things in
the history of mankind. They turned the country into
a land of fear and terror.
KIU lost its accountability toward the middle class.
But it also became a party using mosques to spread
the word, trying to get their message to people and
attract new supporters. They ignored the urban
population,www.ekurd.net
the skilled and intellectuals. We can see where we
are and what happened in Badenan (Duhok – Zakho)
were examples. What we hear is that members of KIU
are not happy with their leadership and they want
them to be more aggressive. They do not want
negotiation. This is the result of a year's
preparation through sermons in mosques. KIU blamed a
member of KDP for the recent chaos in Badenan but
can any intelligent man believe such blame where KDP
is the dominant party there? Especially as the Arab
spring is everywhere. Perhaps we do not see or feel
such blame from the report issued by KRG parliament.
Parliament's report shows a picture of hell which if
this plan was successful we would have been in a
much worse situation. Optimistic people want
development, happiness and peace.
What happened in Zakho was burning, looting and
destruction which only a hopeless, brain washed
person could do. Someone waiting to die and
sacrificing himself to get to the next world. This
is what they call a modern Islamic party and this is
what they want to achieve.
Having a massage parlour is a medical necessity for
natural remedies recommended by doctors. It is a
humanitarian profession and it needs to be respected
like all other professions. What is this burning
image they want to give to our new country? Are
those who are do these things, or those behind the
scenes, really human beings? Or are they brainless,
emotionless instruments made for the destruction of
a new born country?
It seems this is another reason for KIU to lose its
reputation of moderate and democratic. It seems it
is a continuation of last spring’s events in
Sulaimaniyah. It looks like that KIU is following
Gorran and KIG. Co-existence and living in harmony
side by side removes all individual differences. The
base of KIU did not allow its leadership to sit down
with KDP at the negotiation table. They demanded a
kind of retaliation. Dooming us to repeat the old
horrible history, a pointless fight between
government and opposition which will delay the true
Kurdish movement.
Bedran A. Habeeb is the Director General of
Kurdistan News Agency.
Copyright, respective author or news agency,
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