Millions of Shiite pilgrims flock to Iraq's Karbala
The event, organised under strict security, brought together some 22 million pilgrims this year, according to official figures.
The pilgrimage reached its climax on Wednesday, but the faithful had already been converging for several days on Karbala.
He also hailed the volunteers from across Iraq's provinces who preserve the tradition of setting up and financing "mawakeb", stands that serve free drinks and food along the pilgrim routes.
AFP
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A cabinet meeting of the KRG concluded with a detailed statement on the current issues between Erbil and Baghdad. Here are the key points:
- The KRG states that although it is accountable for salaries, pensions, and other public payments in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), delays in salary payments have occurred due to Baghdad's failure to send the region’s financial entitlements.
- The KRG maintains that it has met all its obligations to the federal government in accordance with the budget law and the constitution.
- According to Iraq's 2023 budget plan, the KRG says it is entitled to 16.498 trillion dinars for the fiscal year, which translates to 1.375 trillion dinars per month.
- Baghdad's loan of 500 billion dinars per month is allocated to cover the months of September, October, and November.
- No funds were released for the budget allocation for the months of July and August, beginning from the end of June.
- The cabinet proposes a meeting among the political parties in the KRI to share its financial calculations. It also urges KRI political parties to stand united in defending the region's rights, powers, and constitutional entitlements.
- The Council of Ministers appeals to the international community to support the Kurdistan Region in securing its constitutional rights and financial entitlements, and to prevent any unjust violation of the rights of the Kurdish people.
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Major Iranian Kurdish opposition parties call for general strike on anniversary of Jina Amini's death
Six Kurdish Iranian opposition parties, including the PKDI, Komala, and PAK, are calling for a general strike throughout the Kurdish-populated part of Iran on the anniversary of the death of Jina [Mahsa] Amini on September 16.
The 22-year-old Jina Amini from Saqqez has become the symbol of a widespread anti-government movement that led to months of demonstrations and strikes throughout Iran.
Here is an excerpt from the statement by the Kurdish parties:
We have agreed on the following:
- Supporting civil society activists and independent organizations in their demands for active participation and respect during the anniversary of the "Women, Life, and Freedom" revolution.
- Declaring September 16 as a day of general strike across Iranian Kurdistan. All shops, markets, work centers, and administrative offices will be closed on this day. On the morning of September 16, the Kurdish people will visit the graves of the late Jina and all the martyrs of the "Women, Life, Freedom" revolution in cities and villages across Kurdistan.
- We invite all freedom-loving individuals in Iran, including women, youth, workers, teachers, pensioners, environmentalists, and oppressed communities, to support the Kurdish people's strike, signaling the ongoing nature of the revolution.
- We appeal to all struggling activists, progressive forces, and parties abroad to support the general strike scheduled for September 16 in all possible ways. We encourage mass demonstrations and marches on that day to attract international attention in support of the Zhina Revolution.
- Each of the Kurdistan political parties attending this meeting declares their support for and participation in both the September 16 strike and the memorial ceremonies at the graves of martyrs.
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PUK's Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG) announces a joint operation leading to the arrest of terror suspect in Kirkuk
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State Department says it is 'closely monitoring' Kirkuk situation
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Major Kurdish leaders have chosen silence in response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks describing Kirkuk as the "homeland of Turkmens," an ethnic Turkic community, and "a place where different cultures peacefully coexisted for centuries."
Erdogan added, "We will not allow acts that will harm the peace and integrity of this region."
Meanwhile, Shia militia leader Qais Al-Khazali criticized Erdogan, stating that Kirkuk is Iraqi and "Turkmens are Iraqis and no one has the right to interfere in our internal affairs."
Khazali, the leader of the Iran-backed militia group Asaib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous), has been blamed by some for the recent tensions in Kirkuk.
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With Kurdistan public sector employees still awaiting July salaries as we approach the second week of September, here's what's happened since Tuesday:
- The Iraqi Ministry of Finance announced that Rafidain and Rasheed Banks will sign a loan agreement with the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Finance to cover civil servant salaries. The ministry cited Resolution No. 23500 from a Council of Ministers' session held on Sunday.
- The KRG stated that Baghdad has agreed to send 500 billion dinars per month for September, October and November as both sides work toward a long-term budget solution.
- The US Consulate in Erbil urged both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region to reach a mutual budget agreement to facilitate monthly salary distribution.
Full Statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Finance:
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Listen in closely to hear the sounds of goal posts being moved
Iraq's oil exports to Turkey are not expected to restart before October, amid ongoing legal and energy talks between the two countries. Turkey halted the flow of Iraqi oil on March 25 following a $1.5 billion arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in favor of Iraq for unauthorized exports by the KRG via Turkey from 2014 to 2018.
The delay in resuming oil flows is partly due to Iraq's petition in a US federal court to enforce the ICC award. A senior Turkish official cited the unresolved litigation as a reason for the postponement of President Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Baghdad, initially scheduled for August. Erdogan still intends to visit and is keen on signing an agreement, but 'concrete steps' from Iraq 'have yet to be taken', according to the official.
An Iraqi foreign ministry official stated they have not received a definitive timeline for Erdogan's visit, adding it could occur later this month or more likely in October. The delay is attributed to complex discussions on energy issues.
Turkey is also seeking a reduction in the ICC-ordered damages and has expressed interest in having Iraq drop a second arbitration case concerning exports from 2018 onwards. The KRG has reportedly lost about $4 billion since the halt of oil flows to Turkey’s Ceyhan Port.
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Iraqi, Kuwaiti foreign ministers discuss bilateral relations following annulment of maritime agreement
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein spoke with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Salim Abdullah Al-Sabah, about bilateral ties in the wake of an Iraqi federal court decision nullifying the parliament's approval of a maritime navigational agreement between the two countries.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Al-Sahhaf said Hussein and al-Sabah focused on bilateral relations and regional developments during their conversation. The discussion aimed to further mutual interests and covered a variety of issues relevant to both countries.
On Monday, the federal court declared that the parliament's ratification of the maritime agreement between Iraq and Kuwait was unconstitutional. The agreement governs navigation in the disputed Khor Abdullah waterway, which lies between the two nations.
The court's decision is based on a violation of Article 61, Section Four of the Iraqi Constitution, which stipulates that the "process of ratifying international treaties and agreements shall be regulated by a law enacted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the House of Representatives."
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Just in: Iraqi and Iranian FMs share phone call
With a Sept. 18 deadline approaching for Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region to disarm and relocate to designated camps, the foreign ministers of Iraq and Iran are discussing the implementation of a security agreement between the two countries.
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The Kurdish Service of Voice of America reports that it has obtained a list of Iranian Kurdish opposition leaders who are most wanted by Tehran. According to the report, this list comprises leaders and senior officials from major opposition groups. Tehran allegedly seeks their handover as a condition for a security agreement between Iraq and Iran.
Here's the breakdown:- Mustafa Hijri, Muhammed Sahibi, Muhammed Nazif Qaderi from the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI)
- Reza Kaabi, Omer Ilkhanizade, Nawid Mihrawar, Amjad Hossein Panahi, Abdulla Azarbar from Komala
- Mustafa Mawludi from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (HDK)
- Hussein Yazdan Pana from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK)
- Kako Aliyar, a former member of the committee that oversaw the failed merger of two Komala factions
Nawid Mihrawar informed the website that although he is aware he's wanted, he has not been officially notified. Muhammed Nazif Qaderi told VOA that the list may have been released as part of psychological warfare by Tehran. He added that no official entity, whether local or international, has informed them about this list.
The future of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups operating in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is increasingly uncertain, facing challenges from multiple fronts. On one side, these groups are under increasing pressure from Iran to disarm. Iran has given the KRG and Iraq given a six-month ultimatum to disarm these groups, while Iran continues to militarily target them. The deadline is in less than two weeks: Sept. 18.
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More PUK cake-eatism
The PUK media outlets continue their critical coverage of the KRG while the PUK Deputy PM Qubad Talabani and his party's team in cabinet is in the meeting, governing the Region.
The KDP complaint that the PUK is a key coalition partner that runs half of the Kurdistan Region but acts like an opposition party rings true here.
Here is how the Esta News website is reporting on the cabinet meeting today:
Boycotting public offices, schools, and departments looms as economic uncertainty and public frustration grow due to the government’s failure to distribute the salaries of civil servants on time.
According to estimates, as many as one million people in the Region are named as civil servants, which heavily rely on their monthly incomes for their living costs, leaving direct impacts on the economy.
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The Kurdistan Regional Government says two people from the region who were detained in Saudi Arabia have been released.
In a statement, the KRG's foreign office said the two Iraqis had traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend a soccer match and were detained Sept. 5 for 'being unclear about the country's laws and regulations.'
The statement said Sabah Mussa and Salar Kareem, both from Erbil, had not committed any crimes.
The pair was arrested in Taif. The statement did not specify the reason for their detention.
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Afternoon briefing
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