Category Archives: Interviews

‘Syria Won’t Return to Dictatorship Post War’ – Salih Muslim

Mr Salih Muslim is co-president of the Democratic Union Party or PYD. The PYD is one of the most dominant players in Syria; currently this is mostly because of its control over that most effective and formidable Kurdish militia YPG/YPJ, significant popular support, and its effective organization. In an exclusive interview with Manish Rai, Editor,…

Education in Kurdistan: A Lost Cause?

Intervew with Dr. Mohammed Shareef by Aras Ahmed Mhamad: This interview first published by Fair Observer From child education all the way to university level, the curriculum in Iraqi Kurdistan is outdated. A modern education system facilitates development, prosperity and peace. A good education raises awareness, increases tolerance and helps to create broadminded, creative and productive individuals….

A Kurdistani from Halabja

By Paul Iddon – Digital Journalist This article first appeared on the Digital Journal The present ongoing crisis in Iraq has seen to the Iraqi Kurds assert their dominance in their region and even presented them with a chance for independence. But how much do we in fact know about the Kurds and their dreams…

‘The United States, Iraq and the Kurds: Shock, Awe and Aftermath’ – interview with the author

Interview by Aras Ahmed Mhamad: Dr Mohammed Shareef is a lecturer in International Relations and author of the forthcoming book ‘The United States, Iraq and the Kurds: Shock, Awe and Aftermath’. The book is on US foreign policy towards Arab Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan as components of a larger US Iraq policy. The book will…

‘Israel definitely backs the Kurds’: Jacques Neriah

Interviewed by Mohammed Hussein*: Dr. Jacques Neriah, a special analyst for the Middle East at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, was formerly Foreign Policy Advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence. He has written some articles about the Kurdish issue, and his recent one was…

‘Translation is Science and Art combined’

Interview with Muhammad Fatih Ghareeb: Interviewed by Aras Ahmed Mhamad  AAM: How would you define translation? What’s the importance of translation in this commercial and technological world? MF: There are various definitions. Most of them are known to students of translation and translators. Here, I would like to define it from a day-to-day life of…

On the Kurdish Question

Interview with Muhammad Waladbagi, PhD Candidate: Interviewed by Aras Ahmed Mhamad AAM: How do you look at the Kurdish Question both historically and politically? What do you think is the roadmap to independence? MW: Well, this is a broad topic to cover in a single question. It is not easy to cover Kurdish history, politics…

The Clash of Generations

An interview with Dr. Kamal Mirawdeli: Interviewed by Aras Ahmed Mhamad  AA: What role do the youth of today have, in this technological age, compared to the youth of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s? KM: They have the entire world on their laptop or iPhone, in which they have lost the whole world, their world….

On Education

Interview with Sara K. Othman, PhD: Interviewed By Aras Ahmed Mhamad AA: What are the most important things that you first teach your students? How do you prepare them for the year psychologically? SO: This is a very good question ‘What to teach first?’ Before teaching any item, students should be prepared psychologically that the…

On Poetry: Sherko Bekas

Interview and translation by Aras Ahmed Mhamad: Sherko Bekas, the acclaimed modern Kurdish poet, died yesterday  (4 August) of cancer. Son of the poet Fayak Bekas, Sherko was born in Sulaymani in 1940. He joined the liberation movement in 1965, working for the Voice of Kurdistan radio station until he was forced into exile in…

On Translation: Interview with Azad Berzinji

Interview by Aras Ahmed: Azad Berzinji writes and translates in English, Farsi, Arabic and Kurdish. To date he has translated more than 35 books. AA: How would you define translation? What’s the importance of translation in this commercial and technological world? AB: Translation in its general meaning is the process of changing a text from…

‘It’s time to come back and contribute to the health service here’: Professor Anwar Sheikha

Exclusive Interview (part 1) by Harem Karem: The renowned Professor Anwar Sheikha has done more than anyone to improve the quality of cancer care in the Kurdistan Region. HK: Could you give us a brief account about your professional background as a haematologist and oncologist? AS: Let me start by thanking the Kurdistan Tribune for arranging this…

John Major, Lord Archer and the real story of how British people backed the Kurds in 1991

Lorraine's book

KT Exclusive Interview with Lorraine Holloway-White: Lorraine Holloway-White is the author of  Jeffrey Archer: The Kurds, ‘The Simple Truth’, telling the story of her role in setting up British Aid For The Kurds (BAFK) which raised millions in support of Kurd refugees at the end of the First Gulf War in 1991. Her book also…

‘Sometimes things are demanded of the Kurdish National Council that only a government could accomplish’

Kurdistan flag

KurdWatch interview with Faisal Yusuf, Chairman of the Kurdish National Council: Faisal Yusuf (b. 1954 in al‑Qamishli) has been chairman of the Kurdish National Council since 14 August 2012. In the early 1970s, he became a member of the Kurdish Democratic Advancement Party in Syria, later he was in the party’s politburo. In February 2010,…

‘The Kurdish leaders are drunk with power and wealth’: Ayoub Barzani

The Kurdish independent newspaper Hawlati  interviewed the Kurdish historian Mr. Ayoub Barzani about the political challenges facing Kurdistan. This is a KT translated summary. During the interview, Mr. Barzani ruled out the possibility of uniting the regional armed and security forces. He suggested that concerns over security and survival determine the priorities of the PUK and…