Al-Sura English is tweeting about a violent confrontation between protesters and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Rania. Protesters were fired on by security forces and it stands at 16 killed and 90 wounded as of now.
https://twitter.com/AlSuraEnglish/status/943132655092142080
This tweet is said to contain footage from the ground.
https://twitter.com/AlSuraEnglish/status/943151219262087168
The group seems to be opposing both the KDP, the dominant faction, and the PUK which is the other major faction. The KDP is led by the Barzanis and Massoud Barzani has been the de facto dictator for over a decade. He was the one who instigated the nearly universally condemned and failed declaration of independence last month which prompted a military response from the Iraqi Federal Government. He was supposed to step down and pass on leadership to either his son or nephew, but it came to light last week that he had not. The Kurdish Parliament has been suspended for years along with elections.
The word on social media is that it is a relatively new party called New Generation protesting. The leader of both this new party and Nalia Media Corperation, Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir, has reportedly been arrested. He has been encouraging his followers to protest. Nalia Radio and Television had previously been the only major news corporation in Kurdistan without a political affiliation.
I stepped away and here are some updates coming back.
https://twitter.com/FazelHawramy/status/943173361529774080
https://twitter.com/AlSuraEnglish/status/943132655092142080
#BREAKING - 6 killed & over 80 injured in historic city of Rania. Protesters call for the #Kurdistan Regional Government to step down but have been met with gun fire. Rania is a historic #Kurdish town which ignited the #Iraqi uprising against Saddam Hussein in 1991
This tweet is said to contain footage from the ground.
https://twitter.com/AlSuraEnglish/status/943151219262087168
The group seems to be opposing both the KDP, the dominant faction, and the PUK which is the other major faction. The KDP is led by the Barzanis and Massoud Barzani has been the de facto dictator for over a decade. He was the one who instigated the nearly universally condemned and failed declaration of independence last month which prompted a military response from the Iraqi Federal Government. He was supposed to step down and pass on leadership to either his son or nephew, but it came to light last week that he had not. The Kurdish Parliament has been suspended for years along with elections.
The word on social media is that it is a relatively new party called New Generation protesting. The leader of both this new party and Nalia Media Corperation, Shaswar Abdulwahid Qadir, has reportedly been arrested. He has been encouraging his followers to protest. Nalia Radio and Television had previously been the only major news corporation in Kurdistan without a political affiliation.
I stepped away and here are some updates coming back.
https://twitter.com/FazelHawramy/status/943173361529774080
Protestors have now stormed and set the building on fire. Video included.Journalist from Rania town: the town is under the control of protesters after six protesters killed in clashes today. Actvisit in Halabja says security forces are arresting the organizers of the protests #Kurdistan #Iraq
I'll answer questions about the region and politics as best I can as I am no expert. This has the potential to spiral out of control. During the last Kurdish Civil War, the KDP allied with Saddam and the PUK was backed by Iran. The story I have heard from Iraqis is that this what actually caused Saddam to gas the PUK controlled town of Halajaba. There is racial, religious, and political strife everywhere. The KDP blame the PUK for the failure of the bid for independence and vis versa. The region is incredibly corrupt and relationships are complicated. What seems to be a new group against both the PUK and KDP are the ones protesting.
