Michael Wahid Hanna watches as Arabs and Kurds crowd out Iraq's minorities.
The contentious political manoeuvring over the disputed oil-rich city of Kirkuk reached a flashpoint this summer when a coalition of Arab legislators rammed through, via secret ballot, a provincial elections law that included a fixed power-sharing formula for the province. While the law was later vetoed by the presidency council led by President Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, and replaced by a compromise that temporarily delayed elections in Kirkuk, the lingering conflicts over the upcoming provincial elections and the larger battle over disputed territories continue. In fact, these tensions have been further exacerbated by Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's efforts to portray himself as an Iraqi nationalist, often using opposition to Kurdish aspirations as a wedge issue to increase his political support ahead of the upcoming January provincial elections. The growing Arab-Kurdish divide is increasingly becoming an organising principle of Iraqi politics.
US and Iraqi observers hailed the passage of the provincial elections law in late September as a major step forward, but Iraq's beleaguered minority communities - groups that fall outside the main Arab and Kurdish blocs - were stunned by the late-hour deletion of provisions guaranteeing minority representation. Previous drafts of the law included an article that reserved 13 provincial council seats for Christians and two seats for Yazidis and Shabaks in the six provinces where their population is concentrated. The parliament, following an international outcry, later approved supplementary legislation that included a diluted version of the original provisions: inclusion of Christians, Yazidis, Shabak and Sabean-Mandeans, with one reserved provincial council seat in Nineveh, Baghdad and Basra for Christians and one seat for other groups in those provinces where such minorities are represented in significant numbers.
The situation of Iraq's minorities is a small but indicative component of a larger political battle now being waged over the shape of the Iraqi state. It also lays bare many of the defects of the Iraqi political order and the zero-sum mentality that has driven the country's politics. The controversy over minority representation offers important clues to the ongoing struggles among Iraq's ethnic and sectarian groups over disputed territories in the country's north, with all signs pointing to the intense political jockeying for control over Nineveh province, an ethnically mixed region with significant minority populations, which includes areas that the Kurdistan Regional Government believes should be incorporated into Kurdistan.
The end goals of Kurds and Arabs are diametrically opposed, and both factions viewed the minority representation issue through the prism of their own political and territorial agendas. Kurds objected to the guarantees largely out of concern that, if groups they considered ethnic Kurds became classified as minorities, it would weaken Kurdish claims upon those territories. Meanwhile, many Arab parliamentarians were concerned that setting aside seats for minorities would enhance Kurdish power, since they expect that these groups are more likely to vote with the Kurds.
Parliamentary leaders cited a lack of accurate census data to justify the unexpected reversal, but the suspicions of the minority communities focused quickly on the motivations of the major political parties. This legislative reversal coincided with rising violence directed at Christians in the northern city of Mosul, highlighting the vulnerability of such groups and raising further suspicions that the two events were not unconnected.
None of the major political parties was willing to shoulder responsibility for the removal of the minority quota. Indeed, following the vote, there was near-universal public solidarity with the minority communities. Maliki said that "we are committed to guarantee a fair representation of all Iraqi components and defend their rights." Talabani and representatives from the major Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political parties also expressed their support for accommodating the concerns of minorities and crafting a legal mechanism to insure minority representation.
Some observers close to the negotiations have noted that hard-line religious leaders within the major Shiite and Sunni political parties resisted granting legal protections for minority rights and hence supported the removal of these provisions. But while this was surely a contributing factor, the reversal was driven mainly by political calculations by the major political parties to assert strength in disputed territories.
These include portions of the provinces of Nineveh, Salah al Din, Diyala and Waset, along with the entire province of Kirkuk. These areas suffered under Saddam Hussein's "Arabisation" campaigns, during which substantial numbers of Kurds and other non-Arab groups were systematically harassed or expelled. There is a multiplicity of views among the Shabak and Yazidi communities as to their ethnicity, and a significant number of Yazidis do consider themselves to be ethnic Kurds. But the pressure placed on all Yazidis and Shabak to identify themselves as Kurds has uncomfortable echoes of the Baathist "nationality correction" policies that formed a core of the "Arabisation" campaigns.
For the Kurds, who consider areas with majority Kurdish populations to be Kurdish land, the designation of Yazidis and Shabak as "Yazidi Kurds" and "Shabak Kurds" brings a large swath of disputed territory closer to being incorporated into the boundaries of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The elimination of reserved minority council seats could also lead to the increased dependence of these communities on Kurdish patronage.
The Kurds have denied any involvement in orchestrating the removal of the quota provision. Qubad Talabani, the US Representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government, emphasised the public Kurdish support for a legislative resolution to the current impasse as evidence of their favourable approach to minority issues. But numerous officials with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq said that their efforts to reinstate some form of guaranteed minority representation hinged on the classification of the Shabak and the total number of reserved minority seats on the Nineveh provincial council. Hashim al Ta'ie, a Sunni Arab politician who heads the Iraqi parliament's provinces and regions committee, also said the supplementary legislation was held up in parliament at the last juncture as a result of disputes over the classification of Shabak, clearly indicating Kurdish reservations.
The Arab bloc, meanwhile, was concerned with dilution of their own electoral weight, worrying in particular that guaranteed minority positions could tilt the balance of the Nineveh provincial council in favour of the Kurds. The dispute has increased anxiety among Iraq's minorities, who have faced targeted violence by religious and political extremists and have been especially vulnerable to attack because they have not, until recently, organised sectarian militias to protect their neighbourhoods and villages. The minority communities represent a disproportionate share of the country's refugees, accounting for approximately 20 to 30 per cent of those Iraqis who have fled the country since March 2003.
In the future, these communities will be at a severe electoral disadvantage. The current electoral system clearly favours the large political parties, and the success of minority candidates and parties at the provincial level will still rest upon their ability to form broad political alliances or to join existing political lists. While this sort of political dealing should be encouraged, minority communities will increasingly find themselves caught between Arabs and Kurds.
Successful provincial elections would represent an important corrective to the flawed vote in 2005, which locked into place an unrepresentative political order as a result of the Sunni Arab electoral boycott. However, as the Byzantine machinations involving minority representation indicate, the upcoming provincial elections will likely sharpen conflicts and generate destabilising pressures. Matters are further complicated by Maliki's increased assertiveness in challenging his Kurdish coalition partners and the ever-present threat of a legislative veto wielded by the individual members of the presidency council, endowing the Kurds with temporary powers to formally block any and all legislative progress. For now there is no resolution in sight for the disputed territories, while Arab-Kurdish conflicts persist over federal hydrocarbons legislation, the extent of federalism and the powers of the central government.
The controversy also points to the broader struggle to construct an inclusive Iraqi identity from the wreckage of Baathist Iraq and the sectarian bloodletting of recent years. While Iraqi nationalist sentiment has begun to push cross-sectarian politics, the nature of these tactical alliances among Arab political parties has often relied almost exclusively on anti-Kurdish rhetoric and has yet to coalesce into sustainable political groupings that reach beyond this negative construction. At the same time, Arab opposition and hostility to Kurdish goals could further inflame separatist sentiment among the already alienated Kurdish public, limiting the possibility of peaceful compromise. With these essential questions of identity still unresolved, it is difficult to argue with the logic for guaranteed minority representation. But the very need for such guarantees is indicative of the fragility of the current political order and its inability to accommodate unhindered political participation absent the protection and support of organised armed forces and militias.
Michael Wahid Hanna is a programme officer at The Century Foundation.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Zayed%20Centre%20for%20Research
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
How Voiss turns words to speech
The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen
The screen reader sends the text to the speech synthesiser
This converts to audio whatever it receives from screen reader, so the person can hear what is happening on the screen
A VOISS computer costs between $200 and $250 depending on memory card capacity that ranges from 32GB to 128GB
The speech synthesisers VOISS develops are free
Subsequent computer versions will include improvements such as wireless keyboards
Arabic voice in affordable talking computer to be added next year to English, Portuguese, and Spanish synthesiser
Partnerships planned during Expo 2020 Dubai to add more languages
At least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment or blindness
More than 90 per cent live in developing countries
The Long-term aim of VOISS to reach the technology to people in poor countries with workshops that teach them to build their own device
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.