The Martyrs of the Kurdish Struggle for Freedom!Murdered by the Turkish State

Submitted by Tsiatsan on Sunday, September 27 2009

Hevallo- In this extraordinary image, thousands of people who gathered in Amed,(Diyarbakir) yesterday, hold up pictures of their loved ones. Killed by the Turkish racist state for nothing other than being Kurdish.I hope that there are other pictures somewhere of this demonstration because it deserves much more coverage than it has received. For here before us is the pain and loss of the Kurdish people.
Look at it for a moment. For as far as the eye can see all you can see are people holding up pictures of their sons and daughters, nephews and nieces, husbands and wives, grandfathers and granddaughters, grandsons and granddaughters, brothers in laws, sister in laws and everyone killed by the racist Turkish state.

Sometimes by torture, sometimes by extra judicial killing, sometimes by burning them alive or mutilating them. Sometimes simply by bombing them with chemical weapons or strafing the ground with powerful high tech weaponry. Sometimes with bombs, sometimes with fire. Sometimes with rape and sometimes with dogs. And many other means of killing that defies human understanding.

Every possible method has been used by the racist Turkish state to annihilate the Kurds with violent barbaric means. And in this picture we witness the human suffering. For every death brings profound suffering and pain.

The tens of thousands of Kurdish villages that were burnt to the ground. The tens of thousands of Kurdish prisoners still incarcerated in Turkish prisons. The thousands of Kurdish children still being jailed for throwing stones at armoured cars and the children beaten and tortured openly on the streets on demonstrations. The Kurdish politicians hauled off to prison and still our brave Kurdish guerilla are being bombed with chemical weapons.

Source: www.kurdish-info.eu

Sibel Edmonds and Turkey's Dirty Politics in the USA.

Sibel Edmonds has a story to tell. She went to work as a Turkish and Farsi translator for the FBI five days after 9/11. Part of her job was to translate and transcribe recordings of conversations between suspected Turkish intelligence agents and their American contacts. She was fired from the FBI in April 2002 after she raised concerns that one of the translators in her section was a member of a Turkish organization that was under investigation for bribing senior government officials and members of Congress, drug trafficking, illegal weapons sales, money laundering, and nuclear proliferation. She appealed her termination, but was more alarmed that no effort was being made to address the corruption that she had been monitoring. Read the whole interview here.

According to Basbug the guerrillas, sho are on ceasefire are responsible

Submitted by Tsiatsan on Saturday, September 26 2009

Kurdish Info 25.09.2009-Baþbuð responded to the ceasefire of the guerrillas. He renewed his intent on war. The Chief of General Staff Ilker Baþbuð visited the Sýnýrtepe gendarme headquarters in the Nisebin province of Mardin and commented on recent events. Baþbuð blamed the last 30 years of war on the PKK without questioning any of the reasons for it. He assessed the inactivity of the HPG as being a threat. And then he went on to threaten those supporting this position by saying, ‘How can these actions be supported.’
He continued by revealing that there were 683 gendarme stations in the area and more were being built. Baþbuð also admitted that 5,699 civilians had died, but didn’t miss the opportunity to blame it on the PKK.

Later Baþbuð commented that the only power that could legitimately use arms was the state. There was no gain in using arms and bloodshed, so therefore the only thing the PKK could do was to leave their weapons and surrender.

Returning from his visit of border gendarme stations Ilker Baþbuð spoke with journalists.

Baþbuð gave notice that operations into Southern Kurdistan would continue. ‘If the PKK’s existence there is not destroyed it won’t do,’ he said. ‘You must profit from every chance’ he continued.

Next Baþbuð said things that could damage the democratic expansion, ‘Our position in tackling terrorism is clear, we support the democratic expansion on these grounds’ he said.

Baþbuð also stated that not everything could be dealt with under the pretext of democracy, as this could damage the general balance of things.

Source: www.kurdish-info.eu

KCK: The military bill is a proclamation of war against the people of Kurdistan

Submitted by Tsiatsan on Saturday, September 26 2009

Kurdish Info 25.09.2009- In its latest statement the KCK Executive Council Leadership has announced that the Turkish General Staff’s request for a military bill is a declaration of war against the people of Kurdistan. The KCK Executive Council Leadership also commented that the Turkish state and AKP government weren’t looking for a solution to the Kurdish problem. The statement noted that the aim of recent developments was to weaken, isolate and eliminate the Kurdistan Freedom Movement.
The road map written by the Kurdish people’s national leader Abdullah Öcalan hadn’t yet been released to the public, the continuing political and military operations, and the agreements made with the central Iraq government were all proof of this, said the statement.

The KCK called into question the AKP government’s contradictory stance and reminded the public of Erdoðan’s insistence on the national unity project, whilst also saying that the military bill would be put before parliament. This would not mean a solution to the Kurdish problem but a declaration of war against the people of Kurdistan, said the KCK. The fact that 25 cross-border operations had been carried out before was also called to attention and it was noted that this bill would not be any different. The bill would mean that the war would escalate, the politics of denial and elimination would be continued and Southern Kurdistan would be put under threat.

WE WILL ANNOUNCE OUR DECISION TO THE PUBLIC
Attention has turned in the past few days to the Kurdish side regarding the ceasefire position they had taken since 13th April.

The KCK also made a statement regarding this issue. The statement noted that recent developments had proved that the Turkish state didn’t have a serious and consistent approach to the problem. ‘Despite everything, we are insistent and determined on a democratic solution’ said the KCK, and announced that they would decide their position according to the developments over the next few weeks. It was also added that the Kurdish issue had been discussed in detail by all parties in Turkey and Turkish politics for the first time.

However, ‘The unilateral ceasefire of the Kurdish resistance has meant that our people and movement have paid dearly.’ It was reminded that during this period, the military operations of the Turkish Army had cost the lives of 63 guerrillas and hundreds of Kurdish politicians; children and members of the public had been arrested. Furthermore the conditions of their leader had not been improved at all and his road map had not been released for public opinion said the KCK.

The KCK went on to say, ‘Despite all this, our movement, leader and people are insisting and sincere for a peaceful solution to this problem.’

The statement also emphasised that a solution could not be reached with the efforts of only one side. ‘No deceptions, use of force or special war manoeuvres will be able to defeat our Freedom Movement,’ said the KCK, appealing to the Turkish state.

The statement called for the AKP and all the forces operating within the state to ‘abandon the politics of annihilation, and approach the problem in a realistic way to achieve an honourable peace and democratic solution.’
The KCK also pointed out that all over the world these types of problems were solved through negotiation. And called on the EU and the USA to be aware of the demagogues and support a democratic solution rather than terror and massacre.

Source: www.kurdish-info.eu

Prosecutor Ignores Official Report and Closes Child's Torture Case

Submitted by Tsiatsan on Friday, September 25 2009

Tolga KORKUT- Lawyer Timur objected the attorney general's decision of another nolle prosequi after a report from TİHV had not been taken into consideration. The report proved that C.E. had been tortured by the police and in prison. The family awaits the case to be discussed before the ECHR.
The attorney general of Hakkari (southeast of Turkey) once more ruled for nolle prosequi regarding charges of torturing 16-year-old C.E. by the police and in prison. The teenager's lawyer Fahri Timur informed bianet that he objected the decision and now expects the decision of the the Van High Criminal Court.

Cameras recorded evidence of the police twisting C.E.'s arm when they arrested him after last year's Newroz demonstrations. Later on, the adolescent said that he had been tortured in the Hakkari Police Station and in the Hakkari Closed Prison, which has been shut down in the meantime.
"Prosecutor does not consider written proof of torture"

According to information from Timur, the prosecutor's office did not consider the report prepared by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) which proves C.E.'s torture allegations. The report was prepared in line with international standards and in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol. Timur summarizes the situation as follows:

"The report documents injuries on C.E.'s arm and other parts of his body. These findings matchC.E.'s descriptions. Most importantly, the report documents the traumatic stress disorder C.E. experienced later on because of the torture".

"The prosecutor's office has to consider all pros and cons of the collected evidence, also the documents that show the unjust treatment of the victim. The prosecutor's office only considers the state hospital's report stating "no assault" and the referring report from the Forensic Medicine Branch Office. However, the report from TİHV shows that in the other reports suitable methods which could have determined that torture did not happen were not applied.
File at ECHR

The familiy of teenager C.E. applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last year. Timur declared that they are waiting for the file to be discussed. The file is not only concerned with torture, but furthermore it includes the lack of investigation on the torture's effects".
No trial for the police or prison officials

According to Timur, the prosecutor's office ruled for a nolle prosequi for the police in March 2008. The Van High Criminal Court rejected objections. After this, a criminal complaint was filed against officials, staff and doctors of the Hakkari Prison. Again, the court entered an order of a nolle prosequi.

Timur applied to the Ministries of Justice and Health respectively. Upon the request of the Ministry another investigation was launched and resulted in the latest entry of a nolle prosequi in August.
C.E. on trial

During the whole process nor any officials from the police neither from the prison appeared before the court. Yet, according to Timur, 3 cases have been filed against adolescent C.E. demanding prison sentences of up to a total of 30 years. In one of these cases tried in Van the 16-year-old is accused of "spreading propaganda of a terror organization".
"He wants to become a lawyer"

C.E.'s father H.E. spoke on Peace Day on 1 September in an event organized by the Justice for Children Group. This is what he said:

"My son faces 20 years imprisonment. He asked me 'Dad, I am young, will they effect that penalty on me?' I told him 'My son, they punish children younger than you. They will also punish you. There is no justice'".

H.E. added that his son was in psychiatric treatment after the torture and that he has to take medication. He said: "He entered second year in high school. He wants to become a lawyer. I also want him to become a lawyer or a doctor". (TK/VK)

Source: www.kurdish-info.eu

Avşar's Interview Word by Word - Sue Us If You Want To

Submitted by Tsiatsan on Thursday, September 24 2009

Emine ÖZCAN-Bakırköy Public Prosecutor Ali Çakır's investigation against Hülya Avşar and Devrim Sevimay has nothing to do with "justice". This abuse of public power under the pretense of the "Kurdish Initiative" is nothing else but mobbing against the two women. We are protesting.
Bakırköy Public Prosecutor Ali Çakır called famous actress and singer Hülya Avşar and journalist Devrim Sevimay to take their statements. Both women are suspected of violating article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) punishing "inciting hatred and hostility in the public and humiliation of the public". Avşar reflected her views on the government's "Kurdish Initiative" in an interview made by Sevimay. Journalist Sevimay had conversations within this context with dozens of people, including me. Those conversations were published in Milliyet newspaper [one of Turkey's biggest nationwide daily papers].The Turkish media, political parties and people with their own opinion discuss this topic day by day via the entire written and visual media channels. It cannot be explained with justice and equity that among all those people Ali Çakır chose especially Hülya Avşar and Devrim Sevimay and tried to trial them as "suspects".

What does it have to do with justice to make a newspaper conversation the subject of a crime, which cannot be evaluated at all under TCK article 216 which is clearly stated by law to be valid in case of an "emergence of an open and immediate threat to the public order". Ali Çakır is only mobbing these women by abusing his public power, this is harassment. Let us remember that Çakır also brought Bülent Ersoy to court because of his statements regarding the "Kurdish Initiative" and he lost that case. Let us remember that Çakır brought dozens of journalists and writers before the court when he was Press Prosecutor of Bağcılar and lost almost all of these cases. Despite all this he is still holding his position and puts his signature under a new judicial scandal every day.

I am asking the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors to present a process similar in speed and power as the one when the Şemdinli Porsecutor was taken off duty. The council should take Ali Çakır off duty, who is darkening the environment of democratic discussion in Turkey by abusing the power given to him by his position; who is taking people to court who are not doing anything else but expressing their thoughts and who publicly threatens them to be punished; and who is trying to turn the courts into institutions where people are deterred from expressing their thoughts and criticism although they should be the institutions to protect thoughts and freedom of expression. The investigation about Avşar and Sevimay should be stopped.

We are protesting this investigation. If this conversation is a crime, we are "guilty" of the same crime and by publishing the interview of the Milliyet Newspaper's website we surrender to Ali Çakır for our "crime".(EK/VK)

Bianet asked a number of Turkish artists for their opinion about the investigation. Actress Jülide Kural, poet Küçük Iskender, assistant Barbaros Şansal, director Ümit Ünal and actors Derya Alabora and Nedim Saban all agreed that the investigation violates the freedom of expression. They support Hülya Avşar and emphasized not to keep quiet.

Avşar commented that she is true to her words of the interview, adding: "I think this is the greatest insult I have ever experienced in my whole life. This is not an opening initiative, this is a closure." (EZÖ/BÇ/VK)

Source: www.kurdish-info.eu

"Democratic Initiative" Newspaper Banned after Less than 1 Month

Submitted by Tsiatsan on Thursday, September 24 2009

Erol ÖNDEROĞLU- Less than 1 month after the ban of Günlük newspaper the court also banned the "Democratic Initiative" newspaper on the grounds of an alleged praise of PKK member Aliye Timur in a news article about his funeral.
The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court banned the "Democratic Initiative" newspaper. The court claimed that the newspaper "lauded the PKK organization" in a news article about the funeral of Aliye Timur, member of the militant Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), entitled "Buried on Bayram". ('Bayram' is the religious holiday at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.)

The court stopped the publishing of the newspaper for a period of 1 month on 22 September 2009 in accordance with the Anti-Terror Law (TMY) article 6/last paragraph, claiming criminal content of news in the 29th issue.
After Günlük also "Democratic Initiative" banned

President judge Yakup Hakan Günay said that an investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office has been initiated about the newspaper's owner and responsible editor in charge Ziya Çiçekçi. Applying Press Law article 25/2 he decided to confiscate the newspaper's issues.

It is claimed in the decision that propaganda for the PKK was made by including the praise of a PKK member and of the organization in a news article.

Also Günlük newspaper was banned for 1 month because of articles and news in the issue dated 26 August 2009. The Günlük newspaper staff continued publishing when they founded the "Democratic Initiative" newspaper the very next day. The name of the newspaper was chosen in style of the government's "democratic initiative" process which is discussed widely and highly controversially in the current Turkish media agenda.

The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court banned Günlük newspaper for 1 month because of alleged "PKK proganda" in some news and articles written by Prof. Dr. Amir Hassanpour from the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations Department of Toronto University.

After less than a month the newspaper, now with Eren Keskin as the general publication director, has encountered the same situation.

The start of the newspaper was launched on 26 August. After continuous censorship during the last three years this was the 31st newspaper emerging out of the latest publication ban. (EÖ/VK)

Source: www.kurdish-info.eu

The First New York Kurdish Film Festival: A cinema across borders

October 21-25

Line-Up Includes the US Premiere of Kazim Öz’s Newest Film “The Storm”

New York, NY— THE FIRST NEW YORK KURDISH FILM FESTIVAL: A CINEMA ACROSS BORDERS is the first-ever film festival of Kurdish cinema in the United States. Bringing together an exciting range of films and documentaries from across the Kurdish region and the Kurdish diaspora, the festival will feature ten short films, a documentary and eight feature films, including the US premiere of The Storm by Kaz’m Öz (Ax, Fotograf). In addition, the festival will include a Filmmakers’ Panel with six prominent Kurdish filmmakers from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and the diaspora to connect directly with New York audiences, and post-film Q&As with the filmmakers, providing potential new routes for understanding and dialogue. Situated in the heart of the Middle East, Kurdish cinema intersects with many of the great political conflicts of our age. These diverse films provide powerful and unexpected insights into our common world through stunning cinematography, rich narratives, and deeply humane storytelling.

All screenings will take place at the NYU Cantor Film Center (36 East 8th Street, NY, NY) and the NYU Hagop Kevorkian Center (50 Washington Square South at 255 Sullivan Street, NY, NY). Tickets can be purchased for $10 general admission through SmartTix on www.smarttix.com or 212-868-4444. Tickets for the Filmmakers’ Panel, Cinema Shorts, Yol, and Close Up Kurdistan are free, but reservations through www.smarttix.com are strongly advised. For more information, please visit www.nykff.com.

THE FIRST NEW YORK KURDISH FILM FESTIVAL: A CINEMA ACROSS BORDERS is directed by an independent organizing committee, presented by the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at NYU, ArteEast and The London Kurdish Film Festival and supported, in part, by the Center for Religion and Media at NYU, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, the French-American Cultural Exchange, the Norwegian Film Institute and by public funds from New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

To arrange pre-festival phone interviews with film directors or in-person interviews between Oct 21-25, or to obtain screeners, please contact Rosey Strub on 718.857.0013 or rosey.strub@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21

7:00PM HALF MOON

Bahman Ghobadi (East & South Kurdistan (Iran, Iraq), Austria, France, 2006, 107 min)

NYU Cantor Film Center

A haunting film about the clash between human resolve and political reality, Half Moon, directed by internationally renowned Kurdish auteur Bahman Ghobadi (A Time for Drunken Horses, Turtles Can Fly), provides a sophisticated vision of the new realities of the Kurdistan region after the US invasion of Iraq. Mamo, an iconic Kurdish musician in the twilight of his life and in failing health, must lead a dozen of his sons to Iraq for a concert to celebrate the fall of Saddam Hussein and the end of his repression of Kurdish music. Their increasingly tortuous journey across a maze of borders proves by turn dangerous and surreal, paralleling the predicament of Kurdish identity in a hostile political world. This outstanding new film from won the top prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival together with awards for writing and photography.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22

12:30PM LUNCHEON SEMINAR SERIES

NYU Kevorkian Center—FREE

NYU-AFFILIATED EVENT: Transnational Developments Affecting Peace and Conflict in Kurdistan: Recent Events in Historical Perspective with Janet Klein, Assistant Professor of History, University of Akron.

6:30PM CINEMA SHORTS: WOMEN IN KURDISH CINEMA

NYU Cantor Film Center—FREE

This program includes short films made by and about women, created by filmmakers from the Kurdish regions and the Kurdish diaspora: TOTICO by Khadija C. Baker (Canada, 2007, 2 min); DENGBEJ WOMEN by Women’s Collective of Atölyemor/Filmmor Women’s Cooperative (North Kurdistan (Turkey), 2006, 22 min); THE SEED by Müjde Arslan (North Kurdistan (Turkey), 2009,13 min); OVEN by Ashkan Ahmadi (East Kurdistan (Iran),14 min) and BORDER by Sattar Chamani Gol (East Kurdistan (Iran), 2008,10 min). Müjde Arslan, director of THE SEED, will lead a post-film discussion.

8:30PM CROSSING THE DUST

Shawkat Amin Korki (South Kurdistan (Iraq)-France, 2006, 73 min)

NYU Cantor Film Center

In this striking post-9/11 road movie set in Iraq during the 2003 American invasion, two Kurdish peshmerga (resistance fighters) find a lost five-year-old Arab boy, named Saddam. Amidst the chaos of the war raging around them, they attempt to find a safe haven for the boy with villagers, mullahs and Americans, Simultaneously, the boy’s parents search frantically, anxious because the boy’s name is now taboo.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

12:00PM KURDISH VISUAL MEDIA (Book Signing & Reception)

NYU Kevorkian Center Library—FREE

Three groundbreaking books on Kurdish experience and the visual arts: Director Müjde Arslan introduces her new book Kurdish Cinema (Agora Bookhouse, 2009), the first book ever on Kurdish film; Photographer Susan Meiselas discusses her seminal book Kurdistan: In the Shadow of History (2nd ed, Univ. of Chicago, 2008), which traces Kurdish history through photographs and accounts by colonial administrators, missionaries, journalists, and other travelers to Kurdistan over the last century; and human rights campaigner Kerim Yildiz presents Kurds: Through the Photographer’s Lens (Trolley Ltd., 2008), a unique book of photographs, poetry and writing published to mark the Kurdish Human Rights Project’s 15th anniversary.

6:30PM CINEMA SHORTS: IDENTITY, LOSS & WAR

NYU Cantor Film Center—FREE

Combining abstract and realistic narrative styles, these short films address the destruction and desolation wrought by war: CHEEESE…HOPE DIES LAST by Hüseyin Tabak (Austria/Germany, 2008, 12 min); SHADOW AND WIND by Arin Inan Arslan (North Kurdistan (Turkey), 2006, 15 min); THE BORDER by Zahavi Sanjavi (South Kurdistan (Iraq), 2005, 27 min); MY BEAUTIFUL SON WILL BE THE KING by Salem Salavati (East Kurdistan (Iran), 2008, 9 min).

8:00PM MY MARLON AND BRANDO

Hüseyin Karabey (North Kurdistan (Turkey), 2008, 93 min)

NYU Cantor Film Center

Based on the true story of the post-invasion cross-border romance between renowned Iraqi Kurdish actor Hama Ali and his Turkish actress girlfriend Ayca Damgaci, My Marlon and Brando stars the two real-life lovers in documentarian Hüseyin Karabey’s fiction-feature debut. A moving statement on war and the confining artificiality of borders, My Marlon and Brando also reveals the eye-opening journey Damgaci takes as a Turk attempting to be with her Kurdish lover, learning firsthand the grim racism and repression faced by Kurds in her own country and across the borders of Iraq and Iran.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

10AM-1PM SATURDAY SEMINAR FOR TEACHERS: THE KURDS: CULTURE, POLITICS AND HISTORY ACROSS BORDERS

NYU Kevorkian Center Library—FREE

NYU-AFFILIATED EVENT: This workshop is free and registration is open to K-16 educators. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Please contact kevorkian.center@nyu.edu for details.

1:00PM YOL

Yılmaz Güney/ Şerif Gören (North Kurdistan (Turkey)-Switzerland, 1982, 114 min)

NYU Kevorkian Center Screening Room—FREE

Winner of the Palme D’Or at Cannes in 1982, Yol remains a masterpiece of Kurdish – and world – cinema. Written and directed by virtuoso filmmaker Yilmaz Güney from behind prison walls (through laborious directorial notes sent to his assistant Şerif Gören who did the actual shooting of the film), Yol paints a stark portrait of Turkey in the aftermath of the 1980 Turkish coup d’état the stories of five prisoners who are given a week’s home leave.

Post-film discussion with Sibel Erol, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, New York University.

4:00PM DIALOGUE ACROSS BORDERS: KURDISH DIRECTORS IN CONVERSATION

FILMMAKERS’ PANEL

NYU Cantor Film Center—FREE

Six major figures in Kurdish Cinema from Iran, Iraq, Turkey and the diaspora will discuss their work and the current state of Kurdish film and Kurdistan. Filmmakers are Müjde Arslan, Bahman Ghobadi, Kazım Öz, Jano Rosebiani, Hiner Saleem, and Hisham Zaman.

7:00PM THE STORM US PREMIERE!

Kazım Öz (North Kurdistan (Turkey), 2008, 165 min)

NYU Cantor Film Center

Set amidst the political upheaval on Turkish college campuses in the early 1990s, The Storm follows Cemal, a bright young Economics major from a village in southern Turkey, on a journey to political commitment. After befriending a group of revolutionary Kurdish students, Cemal’s eyes are gradually opened to Turkish state repression as he witnesses police violence, arrest and torture firsthand. Post-film Q&A with director Kazım Öz.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

1:00PM CLOSE UP KURDISTAN

Yüksel Yavuz (Germany, 2007, 104 min)

NYU Kevorkian Center Screening Room—FREE

Reversing the route of refugees fleeing conflict and insecurity in Kurdistan, Yüksel Yavuz documents his journey from the safety of Europe back though Turkey to a refugee camp in Iraqi Kurdistan. Through the often harrowing stories of those he meets along the way – including Nobel Peace Prize nominee Ismail Besikci, imprisoned for 17 years as a dissident intellectual – Yavuz’s film provides an intimate glimpse into the daily realities of a people often forgotten in American discussions of the Middle East. Groundbreaking in its reinvention of the documentary form, Close Up Kurdistan gives Western audiences an invaluable perspective on some of the most pressing political issues facing the Kurds. Post-film discussion with Kemal Suleymani, Kurdish Historian, Columbia University.

3:30PM JIYAN

Jano Rosebiani (South Kurdistan (Iraq), 2002, 94 min)

NYU Cantor Film Center

Five years after the 1988 gas attack on the Iraqi Kurdish town of Halabja, which killed 5,000 Kurds and maimed thousands more, Diyari – an Iraqi Kurd who now lives in America – returns to his homeland to build an orphanage. He befriends Jiyan, a shy ten-year old orphan and a survivor of the chemical attack. Loosely based on testimonial accounts, Jiyan includes a number of survivors as cast members in the film. Post-film Q&A with director Jano Rosebiani.

5:30PM BAWKE & WINTERLAND

Hisham Zaman (Norway, 2005, 15 min; Norway, 2007, 52 min)

NYU Cantor Film Center

Crafted with deft handheld camerawork, Bawke captures the tension and desperation of an Iraqi Kurdish father and his young son as they make a life-threatening attempt to cross Europe and find a safe haven. In just 15 minutes, director Hisham Zaman creates a visceral sense of impending disaster and the hopelessness faced by the two isolated refugees.

With great humor and stunning cinematography, Winterland tells the story of Renas, a well-adjusted Kurdish refugee who lives in a godforsaken part of northern Norway. Renas has everything he wants, except a wife….but soon his special princess, Fermesk, will be joining him from Iraq. Though the couple has never met, they have already fallen in love from looking at each other’s photographs – though Fermesk is now a much bigger woman, and Renas isn’t quite the handsome young man of that photo taken years ago….. Post-film Q&A with director Hisham Zaman.

7:30PM VODKA LEMON

Hiner Saleem (Armenia-France-Italy-Switzerland, 2003, 90 min)

NYU Cantor Film Center

A sophisticated tour de force from acclaimed Kurdish director Hiner Saleem, Vodka Lemon combines a darkly comic vision with worldly pathos. Set in a remote Kurdish village in Armenia, the film tells the gentle love story of an ex-army officer and a vodka-lemon stand barmaid, who meet during their daily trips to visit their spouse’s graves. Saleem intercuts the love story with surrealistic vignettes and a biting humor to reveal a bittersweet portrait of people in precarious times.

Post-film Q&A with director Hiner Saleem.

1ST NEW YORK KURDISH FILM FESTIVAL

WWW.NYKFF.COM

TICKETS

SmartTix: www.smarttix.com or 212-868-4444

$10 general admission

FREE EVENTS

Filmmakers’ Panel, Cinema Shorts, Yol, Close Up Kurdistan & Book Release

Reservations required. Please reserve tickets through www.smarttix.com.

LUNCHEON SEMINAR SERIES & SATURDAY SEMINAR FOR TEACHERS

Free, but pre-registration is required. Contact kevorkian.center@nyu.edu for details.

SCREENING LOCATIONS

NYU Cantor Film Center

36 East 8th Street, NY, NY

NYU Hagop Kevorkian Center

50 Washington Square South (at 255 Sullivan Street), NY, NY

INFORMATION

To arrange pre-festival phone interviews with film directors or in-person interviews between Oct 21-25, or to obtain screeners, please contact Rosey Strub on 718.857.0013 or rosey.strub@gmail.com.

NYU Faculty, Staff & Students: Contact Greta Scharnweber on 212-998-8872 or greta.scharnweber@nyu.edu

All other inquiries, please call 646-375-5222, email nykff@gmail.com or visit www.nykff.com.

• Source: KurdishMedia.com

Ayoub Barzani to publish a new book

London (KurdishMedia.com) 22 September 2009: The Kurdish writer Ayoub Barzani has completed his third book about the Kurdish movement, which expectind to be published soon.

Ayoub Barzani is the son of Babo Barzani and the first-cousin of Massoud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan Region. He took refuge in Iran after the collapse of the Kurdish movement in 1975. While in Iran, he was arrested and intimidated by the Iranian secret service, the (SAVAK). He left Iran at the end of 1976 and sought asylum in the UK. Mr. Ayoub currently resides in Switzerland.

Mr. Ayoub has finalized his third book, and it’s on the verge of publishing. The book covers the period 1958-1975, which according to the author “contains countless and controversial information” about the Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani.

In an e-mail correspondence, the author said that the book is finalized, and it is currently being edited to improve its language.

The author said that the book contains useful information ascribing to the Kurdish movement led by Mustafa Barzani, which “were never disclosed by the Kurdish leadership; nor, obtained by foreign journalists.” He also said that he relies on foreign archives, which have never been used by Kurdish writers.

The book covers the Kurdish movement from 1957 to 1975, a period in which the Cold War between the West and East on was the on the top gear. Ayoub Barzani wrote to KurdishMedia.com that he analyzes “the Cold War competition and its influence on the Kurdish movement and Mulla Mustafa’s attitude toward the Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussein and vice-versa.”

In a response to a question regarding the Kurdish movement’s relations with regional states, Ayoub Barzani told KurdishMedia.com that he has written a chapter about “the way the Kurdish leadership established relations with foreign and regional powers, and its behaviour on the local level.”

According to the author, the Kurdish movement was not immune from downfalls. The author wrote that he discusses how “the Kurdish dynamism was aborted, the degradation of revolutionary ethics and national commitments, the division among the KDP leadership, the decline of KDP as a revolutionary party and its transformation to a tribal system.”

Ayoub Barzani says that “there are shocking details which remained hidden from the people of the Middle East and will be revealed. In fact, this is very small part of it, which comes to my mind.”

Ayoub has already authored two historical books: Barzan and the Awakening of the Kurdish National Movement 1828 – 1914 and The Kurdish Resistance to Occupation 1914 – 1958. The first book covers the development of the Naqshabandi Order in Barzan and the Kurdish resistance of the Ottoman Turks. The second book covers the development of the Kurdish national movement in Iraq. It contains numerous details about Barzani’s rule in the movement.

After publishing the second book, KDP forbid the author to visit Kurdistan and sent him verbal threats.

• KurdishMedia.com

Racially motivated attacks in the UK are higher than ever

 By Harem Karem

London (KurdishMedia.com) 22 September 2009: Ethnic minorities living in the United Kingdom are suffering from racism, from verbal abuse to stabbings, according to the statistics the number of racially motivated crimes in England and Wales more than doubled recently and have affected more than 6 per cent of the population.

On Saturday evening 19th of Sep around 21:30 on Salisbury Road, Hightown, Wrexham, Motasam Rahim and Rebaz Said have been attacked by a group of seven white men using baseball bats.

We were at our friend house that evening, on the way home we went into the co-operative store to buy a bottle of water and as we came out they attacked us, Rebaz said. The two Kurdish men were seriously injured, and been rushed to a nearby hospital. Motasam has been told that there is a possibility of losing his eyesight. I never wanted my children to see me in this condition especially on the first day of Eid, Motasam said. Wrexham Police appealed for anyone with information to ring 08456071001(Welsh), 08456071002(English) or crime stoppers on 0800555111.

However, there is growing concern that little is being done to address the causes of racism in the UK.

We have learned from the recent history that Fascism and Nazism have caused us two world wars and millions of death and yet there are still many racist people in the UK whom are not aware of their own history while their fathers and grandfathers were fighting Nazis, they are now active members of British National Party (BNP).

The BNP is message rather loud and clear; they would kick out all those people who were not born in Britain and those who are not white. While we all know that if none white people were ordered out of Britain then the NHS would collapse overnight. 16% of nurses are from minority ethnic communities, as are 40% of new dentists and 58% of new doctors.

• source: KurdishMedia.com 

Unrest rises as the sixth Iranian official is killed in Kurdistan

London (KurdishMedia.com) 22 September 2009: According to a number of independent reports, at least six Iranian officials have been seriously injured or killed by unknown assailants in the Kurdish capital of Sanandaj (Sine) in Kurdistan of Iran. The latest attack came against Sanandaj City Council member, Mehdi Tekhtfiroz, who was shot last weekend. At least five other officials have been targeted in the past couple of weeks.

Last week, a judge in Sanandaj was shot during a day of nationwide protests in Iran. On Quds day, an Iranian national day of solidarity with the Palestinian people, Iranians instead took to the streets to protest their own government. Just one day prior to Quds day and the shooting of the judge, a member of Iran’s Majles-e Khobregan or "Assembly of Experts", Mohammad Shekholeselam, was killed outside of his home in Sanandaj, making him the fourth official to be targeted.

Judge Hasan Davtalab was also targeted just one day earlier in the city of Sanandaj. The judge was struck in the neck according to state-run Iranian news networks. A Friday prayer leader that worked for the Islamic Republic, Mamousta Borhan Ali, was also killed by assailants. Another judge with obvious strong ties to the Islamic Republic was also targeted and was immediately taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The Islamic regime has blamed the attacks Israel, and in the past, blamed it on "hoodlums". However, analysts believed these attacks on officials are a new form of uprising in the Kurdistan region, which has been a consistent region of civil unrest for decades.

Beginning this week, Islamic regime has sent military and paramilitary units to patrol the city streets in Sanandaj in what many see as a crackdown. In recent weeks, the Islamic regime has already arrested a number of students and other citizens throughout the Kurdistan region of Iran including in cities such as Sardasht and Kermanshah. Extrajudicial killings have also been increasing along the border with Iraqi Kurdistan. Those killed include Amir Ghaderpour and Kaywan Hosseini. Many others have been targeted as well.

Executions, which are noted as having the highest percentages in Kurdistan, are also continuing. The latest execution was carried out against Said Amini in the city of Orumiyeh. Most executions are carried out after very short trials.

• KurdishMedia.com