Friday, November 24, 2006
Kurdish Islamism on the rise in Kurdistan
Kurdistan
These days one of the issues that policy makers in Washington and European capitals have been concerned about is rising Kurdish Islamism in northern Iraq. In the context of the U.S. policy makers' search for an effective exit strategy from Iraq, the Kurdish region of northern Iraq has come to the forefront as one of the options where the United States might consider redeploying troops. Unlike the situation prior to the initiation of the war on Iraq, however, the U.S. policy makers seem to have concerns about Kurdish Islamists gaining ground in this region. They are trying to weigh the power of Barzani and Talabani vis-a-vis the Islamist Kurds.
According to The New Anatolian, reliable sources have said that Islamism in northern Iraq, just like among the Turkish Kurds, is on the rise. There are three important reasons for the rise of Islam among the Kurds. The first concerns corruption in the region. Several observers told us that many of the Kurds who are not content with Barzani and Talabani's ways of administering the region are in search of alternative political parties. At this stage, because there is no alternative secular political party, if the corruption continues unabated, which is very likely, the Kurdish Islamists will emerge as the most powerful alternative to Barzani and Talabani.
The second reason is not specific to the Kurdish region in Iraq, but is also common to all Middle Eastern societies. Despite the fact the globalization process is intensely influencing the people in the region, the state structures in this region still act like the state structures of the early 20th century, which, in turn, creates a gap, filled only by the Islamists. In northern Iraq, because the state structure is newly being formed and it is formed based on a nationalist ideology, which is the ideology of the modern age, the state structure of the Kurdish region is not able to function to meet the needs of the populations that are, at least, aware of the developments in postmodern societies. The third reason concerns the troubled issue of identity. Along with other Islamists, the Kurdish Islamists, too, have been experiencing the bitterness of a "wounded identity."
The second reason is not specific to the Kurdish region in Iraq, but is also common to all Middle Eastern societies. Despite the fact the globalization process is intensely influencing the people in the region, the state structures in this region still act like the state structures of the early 20th century, which, in turn, creates a gap, filled only by the Islamists. In northern Iraq, because the state structure is newly being formed and it is formed based on a nationalist ideology, which is the ideology of the modern age, the state structure of the Kurdish region is not able to function to meet the needs of the populations that are, at least, aware of the developments in postmodern societies. The third reason concerns the troubled issue of identity. Along with other Islamists, the Kurdish Islamists, too, have been experiencing the bitterness of a "wounded identity."
COMMENT: There are two main Islamic parties in Kurdistan, the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Islamic Union. Last year the KIU were allegedly attacked by the PUK and KDP. Their following has increased because people feel KDP and PUK are not doing enough, not fulfilling promises and are corrupt.
Islamic Movement of Kurdistan - established by Ali Bapir in May 2001. Bapir is a former member of the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan. The group reportedly receives funding from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. It has been linked to the terrorist group Ansar Al-Islam, but released a statement on 11 October 2004 in "Komal" denying that any such links existed. Bapir was interviewed in "Komal" in January 2003. He said: " Our policy is that we enter into fraternity and cooperation with all Islamic groups. We seek such fraternal relations with Islamic parties and organizations, Islamist figures, and groups that follow a Salafi tradition or a Sufi or a scientific tradition. In the Islamic Group, we believe that the group must be open-minded and seek fraternity with all those who call or act for Islam. If we see a mistake, we will try to correct it through dialogue and by creating a fraternal atmosphere."
Kurdistan Islamic Union - describes itself as "an Islamic reformative political party that strives to solve all political, social, economic and cultural matters of the people in Kurdistan from an Islamic perspective which can achieve the rights, general freedom, and social justice. The party secretary is Salah al-Din Baha al-Din, who also held a seat on the Iraqi Governing Council. The group draws a strong base of support from the student population and is reportedly on good terms with Kurdistan Democratic Party head Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan chief Talabani. However, Baha al-Din told "Hawlati" in May 2004 that he doesn't believe the KDP and PUK are serious about unifying their administrations in northern Iraq. The group is closely tied to the Muslim Brotherhood. COMMENT ENDS.
