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Kurdish journalists launch media campaign to release Said Akram
Said Akram
A group of human rights activists and journalists called the February 17 group are urging Kurdish communities in Europe to support a media campaign in protest at the Duhok Court’s decision in unjustly detain Said Akram for more than three years. Said Akram, a former commander of the security forces at the Ibrahim Khlalil Port of Entry in Kurdistan, was jailed for criticizing corruption and lack of transparency surrounding the port of entry’s revenue. After resigned from his position Mr. Akram said that the port’s revenue was controlled by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) rather than by the Ministry of Finance. He was then arrested and charged by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) which claimed that Mr. Akram’s allegations had ‘endangered National Security’. In an attempt to put international pressure on the KRG, the February 17 Group will launch a European media campaign in Brussels on 11th March, 2014. (KT)
Baghdad:‘KRG’s annual ports income is $6 Billion’
Amin Hadi, an Iraqi MP on the committee of finance, has announced that the Kurdistan Region’s annual income from ports of entries is close to $6 billion, and that these funds have not been added to Iraq’s annual income, nor to the KRG’s. The MP said the finance committee has done its investigations and concluded that the KRG is hiding the annual income it gets from ports. The MP said that, while it is so far unclear who controls the revenue, it is clear that the money has not been used to serve the people of the Kurdistan Region. According to the Iraqi Constitution, all regions and provinces should submit their annual incomes to the federal budget. (KT)
Erbil Governor ‘starts early campaign’
A source from the Erbil Governorate has stated that the Erbil Governor, Nawzad Hadi, who is a KDP candidate for the upcoming Kurdistan Provincial Election, is abusing his position by starting an early election campaign within working hours. The source said that the Governor meets with government employees and communities during working hours inside the government building to ask them to vote for him and to promise to provide them more services, even though – according to Iraq’s Independent Election High Commission regulations – the election campaign should start In April and the use of government buildings is a violation of election law. (Lvinpress)
Iran: security forces kill three Kurdish civilians
Iranian security forces have shot dead three Kurdish civilians who were travelling in a car in downtown Sanandaj (Sina), in the Kurdish Region of Iran. Witnesses stated that security forces opened fire on the car, without giving prior notice for it to stop. The security forces haven’t allowed any investigation and have kept the three bodies, as well as detaining the driver, who was injured. Witnesses said no clarification has been released by the security forces so far and no family members have been allowed to inquire about the bodies. (Awene News)
A mayor arrested for corruption in Erbil
Abdulwahid Gwani, Mayor of Choman District, North West of Erbil, has been arrested by police due to alleged corruption in his dealings with private companies. A police official in Choman said that the Choman Attorney General had requested the court to arrest the mayor over a bid that he had signed to illegally sell public properties in an auction. After a primary investigation, the mayor has been released on bail. (Xendan News)
