Latest news with #Iraq-US
Rudaw Net
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq ‘temporarily' bans work entry for Syrians, four South Asian nationalities
Also in Iraq Iraqi President ratifies law elevating Halabja to provincial status People from all faiths pay respect to late Pope Francis in north Iraq Iraq-US relations 'fundamental pillar' for stability, development: FM Mosul fire brought under control: Lawmaker A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq on Tuesday announced a temporary ban on foreign workers from four south Asian countries, as well as Syria, as part of its efforts to boost employment opportunities for local workers. Speaking to Rudaw, the spokesperson for the Iraqi labor ministry Hassan Khawan stated that 'the decision has been made by the interior ministry.' He confirmed that the nationalities affected by the ban include 'Syrian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indonesian, and Filipino workers, who will not be permitted to enter Iraq for work purposes.' Khawam emphasized that the labor ministry will be responsible for implementing the decision and will liaise with the interior ministry to enable the latter to take legal action against violators. The labor ministry spokesperson further explained that the exact duration of the ban remains unclear, but that 'it falls under the government's broader effort to create [job] opportunities for domestic workers.' The decision comes as Iraq has in recent months ramped up efforts to combat illegal residency. In late March, Iraq's interior ministry announced the arrest of some 738 foreign workers in Baghdad for violating residency procedures and conditions. The ministry's spokesperson Miqdad Miri then told Rudaw that the arrests 'were part of a large-scale operation to look into [the cases of] Arab and foreign workers' who 'had violated residency procedures or entered Iraqi territory without visas and official procedures.' Such operations are conducted regularly, Miri added, with violators typically deported. In March 2024, the Iraqi authorities launched a major campaign against individuals allegedly breaching residency requirements. Many Syrians were detained and deported after raids on homes and workplaces. The Iraqi government has faced criticism from human rights organizations over its handling of deportations. According to the United Nation Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 'Iraq hosts over 300,000 refugees and asylum-seekers as of the end of 2023 - more than 90 percent of whom are Syrians (some 270,000).' Human Rights Watch (HRW) in June reported that between April 19 to 26, it 'spoke with seven Syrians, by phone and in person, in Erbil and Baghdad. Four of them were awaiting deportation' despite holding 'valid Iraqi residence permits,' while three others were registered refugees with the UNHCR, said HRW.
Rudaw Net
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
People from all faiths pay respect to late Pope Francis in north Iraq
Also in Iraq Iraq-US relations 'fundamental pillar' for stability, development: FM Mosul fire brought under control: Lawmaker Middle school student tragically killed in tribal revenge attack in southern Iraq Iraqi electoral body says 70 parties seek to run in federal elections A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - People from all walks of life gathered in the district of Hamdaniya in Iraq's northern Nineveh province to honor the memory of the late Pope Francis. 'We as Kurds have visited the Metropolitan of Qaraqosh in Hamdaniya, to offer our condolences for the loss of Pope Francis and to mourn with our Christian brothers,' Akram Mustafa, a Kurdish resident of Hamdaniya told Rudaw. Pope Francis passed away from a stroke at his residence on Easter Monday, April 21, after weeks of illness. The 88-year-old had recently been discharged from the hospital, where he was receiving treatment for pneumonia. His last public appearance was on Easter Sunday, just a day before his passing, when he greeted thousands of worshippers in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. A symbolic funeral ceremony in Hamdaniya was organized by the Mosul Archdiocese in the town of Qaraqosh. The event drew participation from diverse communities. A Christian resident of Hamdaniya told Rudaw, 'We stand together as we mourn the passing of Pope Francis who stood as an emblem of peace, unity and brotherhood throughout the world. This is the least we can do.' Christians, Muslims, Kakai, Yazidi and members of other religious and ethnic groups all took part in organizing the ceremony to honor the Pope's legacy. 'Traditionally, funerals are not held for Christian religious figures because we believe in resurrection, but we wanted to hold this ceremony in Hamdaniya following the request of our Muslim, Yazidi, and Kakai brothers, who asked us to,' Rony Salem, Deputy of the Mosul Syriac Catholic Archdiocese said. Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil told Rudaw on Sunday, that 'a nine-day mourning period' is underway to mark the pontiff's passing. During this time, the College of Cardinals is expected to convene regularly to deliberate on the Church's current status and its future direction. Commenting on the upcoming papal election, Archbishop Warda noted, 'Historically, the elected pope is rarely among the widely expected names.' He anticipated that a new pontiff will be chosen within two weeks.
Rudaw Net
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Middle school student tragically killed in tribal revenge attack in southern Iraq
Also in Iraq Iraqi electoral body says 70 parties seek to run in federal elections Mosul authorities launch campaign to poison stray dogs Hussein, Rubio discuss strengthening Iraq-US ties Child survives car crash that killed 3 family members A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A middle school student was shot dead in Iraq's southern province of Basra in a tragic case of tribal vengeance, a well-placed source told Rudaw on Monday. The child victim, identified by Rudaw by the initials M. Y. was a seventh grader at Abu Skheir Middle School for boys in the district of al-Haretha, northeast of Basra. The informed source told Rudaw that the child 'was gunned down by an assailant on a motorcycle while returning home from school,' attributing the tragic killing of the minor to tribal violence. The Basra Education Directorate issued a statement mourning the loss of the student, condemning the violence and expressing condolences to his family. This incident comes amid a rising tide of tribal violence in southern Iraq. In early April, a deadly tribal clash in Diwaniyah province left five people dead and one injured. The mayor of Diwaniyah district, Kadhim Abdullah al-Jubouri, then told Rudaw that 'a personal dispute had erupted between several relatives while they were at a guesthouse in the al-Hard region on the outskirts of al-Shinafiya [west of Diwaniyah].' The confrontation escalated into an armed altercation, resulting in multiple deaths. A similar tribal conflict took place in late March in Basra's al-Zubair district, where a clash between two families from the al-Bazzoun tribe left one person dead and eight injured, including a bystander. Tribal disputes remain a major security concern in Iraq's southern provinces. Armed clashes remain a frequent occurrence especially in Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan provinces, with some requiring intervention from the Iraqi military to contain them. These disputes typically involve the use of light and medium weapons, and in some cases, mortar shells. The violence is chiefly driven by control over agricultural land, water resources, and border crossings. These disputes are further compounded by the widespread availability of arms. Many tribes in the region possess large stockpiles of arms, often sourced from military caches left behind by the regime of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein or acquired through paramilitary groups. In recent years, the dynamics of tribal violence have grown more complex. Political parties are increasingly accused of protecting their allied tribes, which has further deepened the problem. This entanglement of tribal, political, and paramilitary interests has made it increasingly difficult for the Iraqi government to enforce the rule of law. Between 2019 and 2021, Basra alone recorded 280 armed tribal disputes, resulting in 35 deaths and 74 injuries.
Rudaw Net
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi electoral body says 70 parties seek to run in federal elections
Also in Iraq Mosul authorities launch campaign to poison stray dogs Hussein, Rubio discuss strengthening Iraq-US ties Child survives car crash that killed 3 family members Sudani, anti-ISIS coalition commander discuss transition to bilateral security ties A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's electoral commission on Monday said that 70 political parties have expressed interest in participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for November. Imad Jamil, head of media for Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), told Rudaw that of a total 314 registered parties, 70 have submitted their intention to participate in the elections, scheduled for November 11. The registration process began on April 15 and is set to run through May 23, according to IHEC. 'Those other parties that have not declared their intention to participate in the elections to the commission can confirm this intention when submitting their candidates, and can participate in the elections,' Jamil said. The vote will be held without any amendments to the Sainte-Lague election method, which is expected to disadvantage smaller parties and independents, instead favoring better-funded, more established parties. Hassan Hadi, a member of IHEC's media team, told Rudaw that the commission has invalidated more than one million voting cards. Approximately 29 million citizens in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region will have the right to vote by the end of the year, but only those with biometric voting cards will be able to cast a ballot.
Rudaw Net
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Mosul authorities launch campaign to poison stray dogs
Also in Iraq Hussein, Rubio discuss strengthening Iraq-US ties Child survives car crash that killed 3 family members Sudani, anti-ISIS coalition commander discuss transition to bilateral security ties Iraqi FM visits US as Baghdad eyes new security partnerships amid regional shifts A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Authorities in Iraq's northern city of Mosul launched a controversial campaign on Sunday to poison stray dogs in an effort to eliminate them. Rafaat Smo, assistant to Nineveh's governor, told Rudaw that a 'large-scale campaign' to eliminate stray dogs has been launched in Mosul. The authorities have resorted to poison instead of weapons to prevent the sound of gunfire, according to Smo. 'This time, the dogs will be poisoned.' The campaign will initially cover Mosul city center and will later be expanded to areas outside the city, with Smo saying it was launched after people complained that dogs have attacked or harassed them. Mosul has no dog shelter, and the assistant governor said establishing one is difficult due to time and funding constraints. Violence against stray dogs is rife in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, with the animals often considered a menace and a public health risk. They are commonly shooed away, hit with sticks, poisoned, and killed with cars and gunshots. Animal rights activists have vehemently condemned the practice, urging authorities to address the issue in line with animal rights standards, such as relocating stray dogs to shelters rather than killing them. In January, a large-scale campaign was launched to kill stray dogs in Kirkuk after four stray dogs killed a child. Last year, authorities in Iraq's southern Dhi Qar province killed at least 600 dogs with poison after 11 children were attacked by stray dogs.
