NewsThe Black Rewards tweeted images of sensitive internal communication documents of Iran's Nuclear Power Production and Development Company and threatened to release the information unless the Islamic Republic released all detained protesters.
It also threatened to publish documents that would affect the "dirty nuclear project of the mullahs' regime," according to the statement issued by the group.
As protests continued in various Iranian cities, the National Council of Resistance of Iran announced that the protests in Iran had killed more than 400 people among the demonstrators.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed fear that Iranian activists arrested during the crackdown on protests sparked by Zhina Amini's death risk torture or even death behind bars.
Amini died at 22 in September, three days after Tehran's morality police arrested her for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code, which sparked protests that have been going on for more than a month.
Black Reward, sometimes called hacktivists, have been active in their protest against Iran and have used the means at their disposal to target state institutions. Several other cyber groups, including Anonymous, have launched cyberattacks on Iran's government since the unrest began, which is the longest-lasting protest to date.
The group emailed Iranian authorities through Iran’s Nuclear Power Production and Development Company email system that demanded the release of detainees and ended with the phrase “A Free Iran,” and closed with “Jin, Jiyan Azadi for Zhina Amini."
Copy of the email send to Iranian authorities
Tensions broke out between demonstrators and security forces in Sanaa, Saqiz, Bana, Bokan, Mahabad, Urmia, and several other cities.
Irani security forces have abducted six female children in Kermanshah’s Javanrud district, and two According to a statement issued by Hengaw Human Rights Organization, six boys and girls have been kidnapped in Jawanro city of Kermanshah province, two in Gilan and four in Ilam provinces, and their whereabouts are still unknown, according to Hengaw.
The Kurdish human rights watchdog also reported the disappearance of “two Kurdish students, brothers from Kurdistan’s Saqqez province.
A 30-year-old man was seriously injured and later gave in to his injuries in Sapelli Zahawi in Rojhelat.
According to International Amnesty, “over 82 Baluchi protesters and bystanders have beenkilled in Iran security forces crackdown,”
Thousands of people, including more than 320 children aged below 18, have been arrested during the 38 days of protests, a committee investigating the detainment of protesters said.
The Islamic Republic has been gripped by five weeks of unrest, strikes, and protests that erupted after the death in morality police custody of 22-year-old Zhina Amini last month.
The light infantry unit nicknamed "Screaming Eagles" was trained to be deployed on any battlefield in the world within hours and combat-ready.
"CBS News" joined the Deputy Commander of the Division, Brigadier General John Lubas, and Colonel Edwin Methides, Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, on board the Black Hawk helicopter, which flew to the outer border of NATO territory, just one mile from Romania's border with Ukraine.
Since the moment when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 24, the advance of the forces to the north of the Crimean Peninsula, a Ukrainian region controlled by Moscow in 2014, and for more than seven months, Russia has been trying to push along the Black Sea coast to the Kherson region to seize the main Ukrainian ports of Mykolaiv and Odesa.
And their goal is to cut off all the entrances of Ukrainians to the sea, leaving the country and the military forces without shores. Making Ukraine a landlocked country would undermine its resistance and Russia's further push into the country.
The threat is imminent to NATO in Romania, which explains the sending of one of the most potent American air attack forces with some heavy equipment.
Lobas told CBS News: "We are capable of defending the entire area of NATO territory, and with our unique capabilities, our air capabilities and assets, we are an infantry force, but once again we do not take our capabilities and assets into account."
Along the Black Sea coast in Romania, the landing of the Black Hawk aircraft during the front operations where the American and Romanian forces were shelling targets during a joint air and land attack maneuver. The purpose of the exercises was to recreate the battles that the Ukrainian forces were fighting all day against the Russian troops directly across the border, as the military maneuvers very close to those borders are a clear message to Russia and America's allies in NATO that the American army is here.
Romanian General Lulian Berdila told CBS News: "The real meaning for me, because of the American forces here, is as if you had allies in Normandy before there was any enemy there," referring to the historic World War II battle on the northern coast of France.
The American forces were stationed at the air base of the Romanian army. Deploying around 4,700 soldiers of the 101st Airborne Forces is to strengthen the eastern wing of the NATO alliance.
Mattis told the "CBS News" network that he was the closest American force to the fight in Ukraine. And from my point of view, they are "close combat" with the Russian troops and set targets for training them. And the subject of this situation is "We stay on our toes." We conduct exercises simulating precisely what we are doing in the war.
"They are always ready to fight tonight," said the Screaming Eagles leader. While they are there to defend NATO territories, if the fighting escalates or there is any attack on NATO, they are fully ready to cross the border to Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has experienced frequent escalations following Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions and its threat to "use all means necessary" to defend Russian territory, which now also includes areas that Ukraine is fighting to control.
Today, Thursday, in a press conference Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria handed over 40 children of ISIS families of Russian nationality to the Russian President’s Commission for Child Rights.
Rojava gas handed over many ISIS-affiliated family members to their respective countries, until now the Rojava authorities have expatriated around 300 ISIS families of Russian nationals back to Russia, KurdSat’s Dara Berekat in Rojava reported.
On October 17, the French government took home 40 children and 15 ISIS family members. The majority of these ISIS affiliates come from Al-Hawl Camp that is described as a potential ISIS resurgence spot. In its latest operation Rojava security forces arrested tens of ISIS members and leaders.
Rojava authorities identify the ISIS-affiliates and contact their country to prepare for repatriation, Berakat said.
When Was It Used? Ukraine has reported weeks ago that Russia launched attacks with Iranian Shahed-136 drones, drones whose warheads explode in suicide landings. Images of suspected Iranian drones were very similar to the drones used in Iran’s September 28 bombing of the Kurdistan region that involved missiles and kamikaze drones, displacing hundreds and killing 20 people. The attack was unprecedent in scale and probably served as a dry run for its use in Ukraine by Russia. The attacks success did draw customers to Iran’s growing drone market.
The World Takes it Seriously: Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tweeted yesterday, that the parties who used to say that pictures of advanced missile equipment and Iranian drones were fabricated are now warning of their danger, and ask Iran who does its sell to. The supreme leader’s message was also published in Spanish, with the supreme leader talking about the issues subtitled in Spanish.
Kamikaze Drone: The Iran-made Shahed-136 Kamikaze drone was the same used in the Kurdistan region and Ukrainian President Zelensky said today, October 20, that his army has shot down 233 Iran-made Shahed-136 drones.
(Left) Iranian Kamikaze drone heading for target in Zir Gwezala, Sulaimani, Kurdistan region, sept, 28, 2022. (KurdSat).
(Right) An Iranian-made drone flies over Kyiv, Ukraine on Oct. 17 seconds before firing on buildings. (NIKKEI ASIA).
They Are Similar: Fighters of Kurdish Iranian opposition groups recorded a Kamikaze drone pouring down their base in Sulaimani’s Zir Gwezala region. The drones struck multiple areas of the Kurdistan region with remarkable precision. Though, the attack on the Kurdistan region did not draw much international attention and is largely ignored.
Ukraine Is Concerned: In a letter to the UN Security Council, the representative of Ukraine said, that his country's assessments indicate that Tehran plans to export hundreds of drones to Russia, adding that this is a violation of the Council Resolution 2231 of the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the West.
Drone-linked Sanctions: The European Union has threatened Iran with sanctions in response to its sale to Russia of drones used in the bombing of Ukraine, saying that it has sufficient evidence to impose sanctions on Tehran for providing Russia with the drones it uses in the war on Ukraine.
Iran Sends Its Drones Abroad: Iran has sent trainers to occupied Ukraine to help Russians overcome problems with the fleet of drones that they purchased from Tehran, according to current and former U.S. officials briefed on the classified intelligence, a further signal of the growing closeness between Iran and Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, per the New York Times.
It Is A Violation Of Iran Deal: A diplomatic source with the UN Security Council said on Wednesday that the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo confirmed, that any transfer of drones from Iran without the council's prior approval would constitute a violation of Resolution No. 2231 of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. Reuters reported that Iran has promised to provide Russia with surface-to-surface missiles and more drones.
Used In Ukraine: The UN Security Council met, on Wednesday evening, in a closed session to discuss the Iranian drones, which the Ukrainians and their Western allies assert that Russia uses to launch attacks in Ukraine.
A spokesman for the US mission to the United Nations said that there is evidence that Russia used Iranian drones in its war on Ukraine.
The US State Department also said that it has ample evidence of the use of Iranian marches to strike civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine, stressing that it will not hesitate to use sanctions and all appropriate mechanisms against those involved in transferring these drones to Russia.
Sanctions: The Wall Street Journal had quoted diplomats as saying that the European Union had agreed to impose sanctions on 3 senior Iranian military commanders and a drone manufacturer, to be approved this morning, Thursday, in response to Iran’s supply of drones to Russia.
The assets of the Iranian Chief of General Staff Mohammad Bagheri will be frozen and he will be banned from travel.
Iran Denies Drone Export: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian called on Ukraine to submit its documents regarding the use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war.
Abdullahian said, in a telephone conversation with his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić-Radman, that Iran strongly opposes the war and arming one of its sides, adding that Tehran has had defense cooperation with Russia for years, but it did not support it in the war on Ukraine. Abdullahian also denied that his country had provided Moscow with any kind of weapons.
New Security Challenge: Iranian drones are now widely used across the Middle East. Iran backed groups have used them against their adversaries in Iraq, Kurdistan region, Lebanon and Palestine and Israel. In a region where terrorist groups dot its map, proliferation of drone and its technology would pose another threat to the region’s fragile security.
Iran-Made Shahed-136 Drone inside An Apparent Bunker
Shaheed-136: The Shahed-136 is a long-range suicide drone for hitting immovable targets. It was developed by stated-linked Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) and entered into service in 2021. The drone gained fame following its deployment in the Kurdistan region’s September 28 attack and the Ukraine War. It is 3.5 meters long, and 2.5 meters wide with a warhead capable of carrying up to 36 kilograms of explosives, and can fly at a maximum speed of 185km/h.
cep Tayyip Erdogan, on his election as President of the Republic.
Turkish President Erdogan said, "On my behalf and behalf of my people, I extend my warmest congratulations to you on your election as President of the Republic of Iraq, wishing you success in your new position."
"I am confident you will contribute to strengthening unity and synergy in Iraq at this critical stage we are going through," Turkey's President wished.
Mentioning the long history between the neighboring countries, President Erdogan said, "We wish to strengthen cooperation between us in the coming period with Iraq, with which we have deep historical bonds and friendly neighborly relations, based on mutual respect in sensitive issues and the common interests of our two peoples.
Based on this concept, I am ready to work with you through close cooperation and coordination."
"I take this opportunity to express my sincere wishes for the health and happiness of your honorable person and the safety and prosperity of the friendly and brotherly Iraqi people," Erdogan wished for the Iraqi President.
President Rashid was inaugurated on October 17. He immediately designated Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as prime minister in charge of forming a government, breaking a year-long political impasse. On October 13, President Latif Rashid defeated incumbent Barham Salih by securing 162 votes out of 261 casts.
Iraqi Joint Operations Command spokesman, Lieutenant Tahsin Khafaji, said, “the Joint Operations Command is working with all security forces to eliminate ISIS remnants through an extensive air campaign.”
“The group has lost the ability to lead and conquer areas with most of its prominent leaders eliminated, and since the beginning of this year, 150 leaders of the group have been killed,” Khafaji said.
Lieutenant Tahsin Khafaji added that careful planning from the defense minister, coordination with border guards and the Iraqi army, and coordination with the Peshmerga forces have helped prevent terrorists from infiltrating the Syrian Iraqi border.
The commander explained that the Iraqi army has also mounted cameras on the borders between Syria and Iraq to monitor terrorist activities.
Since the territorial and military defeat of ISIS in late 2017 and early 2018, ISIS remnants have begun spreading in middle and eastern Iraq. Coordinated efforts between the Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces have helped track down the terrorists.
What Happened? The Kurdistan Commando Forces said, “the Kurdistan Commando Forces (KCF) Commander Akam Omar was seriously injured, and Lieutenant Zuher Mohammed was martyred and 7 other Peshmergas of the Kurdistan Commando Forces were wounded in a bomb blast in southern Kurdistan region.”
How Did It Happen? The KCF were on official duty to maintain peace and security and supervise an operation in the Palkana and Zeina area of the Garmian Administration in Sulaimani to fight terrorism and ISIS remnants, per the KCF statement.
Who Was Killed? KCF top commander Akam Omar was transferred to Faruq Hospital in Sulaimani to treat his wounds, KurdSat reporter in Sulaimani said. Lieutenant Zuher Mohammed was injured and later gave in to his injuries in a hospital in Garmian Administration in Sulaimani. Zuher Mohammed, also known as Botan Garmiani, was a close aide and bodyguard to Akam Omar.
What Is KCF? The KCF is a counter-terrorism group within the framework of the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Peshmerga that has played a significant role in defeating and removing terrorism in the Kurdistan region, Iraq and the Middle East. The International Coalition Against ISIS backs the group and provides it with assistance and training.
Lieutenant Botan Garmiani killed in the attack
"The 17 guerrillas, of which five are females, were killed in Turkish attacks, the People's Defense Forces (YPG) said in a statement.
According to the statement, 14 of the guerrillas were killed in the Zab area, and the others were killed in the Avashin area of the Kurdistan region.
"The HPG also noted that the international community and human rights organization's silence has only led to Turkey's increased use of chemical weapons against PKK forces in the Kurdistan region."
Turkey's use of Chemical weapons against the PKK guerrillas in the Kurdistan region is not documented or covered. However, some incidents raise concerns about Ankara's use of WMD in the Kurdistan region. A Duhok family suffered from a strange disease after an attack near them which the family reported as having a quitter blast than other bombs and saw a cloud of smoke rushing towards him, and he knew it was a chemical bomb.
"People's uprising has made a historical union not only among Iranians inside the country, but also among Iranian diaspora, who despite all their linguistic, cultural and political differences, came together and gained an outstanding sympathy of people around the world," the Front Organization of Kurdish Iranian Opposition added.
The spokesperson for the 176 lost families of Ukrainian flight PS752, Hamed Esmaeilion has arranged a rally for freedom in Berlin to the fallen victims of the plane accident that was downed by an Iranian surface-to-air missile due to a malfunction, according to Iran state media. "We fully support his call, and we are asking for a high-level of participation in the event," the Front said.
Iran protests have entered their second month, with arrests and casualties increasing. Iran's interior minister said they have managed the protests and are under control.
The Islamic Republic of Iran accused Kurdish Iranian opposition groups of encouraging riots within Iran. It launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on them in the Kurdistan region on September 28, which displaced hundreds and killed almost 20 people.
The Russian President also indicated that he granted greater powers to the governors of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk regions to ensure security and help factories and institutions to support the military operation, announcing the establishment of regional defense headquarters in those joined regions.
Also, the Russian President directed his government to form a coordination council with the acceding regions headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The Kremlin leader also declared a state of high alert in the regions of the Central Federal District, which includes Moscow and the Southern Federal District. He called for strengthening the protection of public order, ensuring public safety, and protecting military, government and private facilities.
The Russian President accused the Kyiv regime of being behind the bombing of the Crimean Bridge, which took place on October 8. He also stressed that Ukraine rejects any offer to negotiate and continues to bomb civilians.
Since September 2022, the Ukrainian forces have launched a counter-attack, especially in the northeast and south of the country, to control towns that had been in the hands of the Russians for months, and had already achieved remarkable progress. Putin’s decision would grant its military more space to counter Ukraine’s operations.
The latest escalations in the Ukraine war have become more dangerous, with experts raising concerns over the use f WMD and nuclear weapons.
High-Level Meeting: Kurdistan region Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Begard Talabani and her ministry staff received the newly appointed Kingdom of Netherlands General Consul Jaco Beerends in Erbil.
What Was Discussed? Minister Talabani congratulated Beerends on his new mission and wished him success, and discussed in detail ways to develop agriculture in the Kurdistan region that corresponded to climate change in the framework of a joint advisory committee that transferred experience between the Dutch government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The Consulate General of the Netherlands in Erbil tweeted, “H.E. Minister [Begard Talabani] showed her interest in the private sector cooperation and the Agricultural methods that can cope with the current climate changes.”
KRG Needs Assistance: “We called on the Dutch government to assist in developing agricultural research facilities and guidance centers and opening branches of international scientific groups in the region to introduce [Kurdistan region] farmers and business owners to produce organic agriculture, and advanced irrigation systems,” Agriculture minister said.
Talabani added, “We also asked the Dutch Consul General to help train farmers and employees [of Kurdistan region] and help them study in fine Dutch universities to improve their skills.”
Minister of Agriculture Invites Dutch Investors: We invited Dutch business owners and investors to invest in the fertile soil and climate of the Kurdistan region, per Begard Talabani.
Why the Netherlands? The Netherlands and the Kurdistan region maintain close ties, particularly in the agricultural sectors, as the first leads the world in agricultural development and production.
Iraqis Don’t Need Visa for Iran: On its official account on Facebook, Iran’s representative office in Sulaimani wrote, “Dear citizens of Iraq, based on the agreement with the Iraqi authorities, the travel methods for Iraqi citizens holding ordinary passports going to the Islamic Republic of Iran will be as follows until further notice; Iraqi citizens do not need visas when entering Iranian territory by land, air, rail or sea. Border officers at border crossing points would record a traveler’s data upon arrival, and they are given a legal entry permit valid for 30 days.
Who Needs Visa? Iraqis entering Iran for education, work, investment, journalism, or apply for a family visa (Iranian spouse's family scheme) must obtain the necessary visas through the embassies and representative office of the Islamic Republic of Iran abroad, per the Iran GC announcement.
Where is Does the Decision Apply: Authorities at all points of entry to Iran would apply the new regulation, the GC said.
Health Measure is Still Needed: Compliance with health measures and regulations is necessary. A Covid19 vaccination card with at least two doses or a negative coronavirus test done prior to less than 72 hours must be presented to border officers on arrival, according to the statement.
Is It Reciprocal: Iran and Iraq share deep historical, linguistic and economic ties. Travel restricts between the two countries is very loose despite political relations, Iran’s decision to lift Visa on Iraq’s is not mirrored in Iraq, even though Iran has removed travel restriction in front of Iraqis on many occasions.
The League is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s chief propagator of a socially less restrictive but autocratic interpretation of the faith that demands absolute obedience to the ruler.
In a bold but risky strategy, Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim civil society movement with 90 million followers in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority-country and democracy, hopes that the alliance will undercut Saudi and League support for an Indonesian political party associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
Against all odds, Nahdlatul Ulama also envisions its Humanitarian Islam philosophy rubbing off on the League as a result of cooperation with the Indonesian group.
The philosophy embraces religious and political pluralism, unambiguously endorses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and advocates reform of what it terms “obsolete” elements of Islamic jurisprudence.
Persuading the League to endorse a genuinely moderate form of Islam would have enormous significance. It would lend the prestige of the Custodian of Islam's two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, to Nahdlatul Ulama's effort to reform Islam. That, however, is a long shot, if not pie in the sky.
More likely, the League sees reputational benefit in its association with Nahdlatul Ulama. The League also probably hopes to co-opt the Indonesian movement to prevent it from becoming a serious competitor for hearts and minds in the Muslim world.
Neither group may succeed in fulfilling its aspirations.
Nahdlatul Ulama has a century-long history of fiercely defending its independence and charting its moderation course.
At the same time, there is little reason to believe that the League can embrace anything but what Bin Salman authorizes.
If the last two months provide an indication, Bin Salman and his loyal lieutenant, League secretary general Mohammed al-Issa, can, at best, be expected to opportunistically pay lip service to Humanitarian Islam.
Moreover, the kingdom has long demonstrated its determination, often in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, to stymie endeavors for political change across the Middle East.
Most recently, Saudi Arabia sentenced two women to respectively 34 and 45 years in prison for tweets that allegedly “cause public unrest and destabilize civil and national security” and “tear (Saudi Arabia’) social fabric.”
Last week, a Saudi court committed to death row three members of the Howeitat tribe that was forcibly ejected to make way for Bin Salman’s US$500 billion science fiction Neom megacity on the Red Sea. The three men had resisted the ejection.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bin Salman reportedly appointed Awadh bin Ali bin Ayedh al-Mayshar al-Ahmari, a detective allegedly involved in the cover-up of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as president of the kingdom’s counter-terrorism court that handed down the recent harsh verdicts.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia has interpreted freedom of religion as inter-faith dialogue that does not stray beyond lofty statements and high-profile meetings and conferences rather than lifting a ban on non-Muslim houses of worship in the kingdom.
To be sure, Bin Salman has curbed the authority of the religious police, enhanced women’s rights and opportunities, and enabled Western-style entertainment, but that did not entail religious reform. Instead, it amounted to long overdue social change by decree.
As a result, Nahdlatul Ulama stands a better chance in loosening the ties between the League and the PKS than persuading Bin Salman that in addition to social change, genuine religious reform and good governance should be the legs of his efforts to diversify the Saudi economy.
One litmus test of the League’s relationship with Nahdlatul Ulama will be whether Hidayat Nur Wahid, a PKS luminary, remains a member of the League’s Supreme Council.
Wahid accompanied Al-Issa in 2020 to the secretary general’s initial meeting with Nahdlatul Ulama, the first in the League’s 60-year history. Yet, he refused to join Al-Issa in 2020 on his historic visit at the head of a delegation of Muslim scholars to Auschwitz, the Nazi extermination camp in Poland.
To be fair, Nahdlatul Ulama, while virulently opposed to political Islam, has demonstrated its democratic credentials by confronting the PKS politically but not disputing its right to compete in free and fair elections or being politically active within the legal confines of Indonesian democracy.
Sacrificing the PKS is a small price for the League to pay for what Nahdlatul Ulama offers.
The association has already paid off with no public indication that the League has met any of Nahdlatul Ulama’s aspirations. Instead, the League has milked its partnership with Nahdlatul Ulama for what it is worth on social media.
As the convener of the Religion Forum 20, a newly created official Group of 20 engagement group, Nahdlatul Ulama has invited the League to co-host next month’s summit of religious leaders in Bali in advance of a meeting of leaders of the G20 that groups the world’s largest economies. Indonesia is this year’s chairman of the group.
The faith summit aims to “help ensure that religion in the 21st-century functions as a genuine and dynamic source of solutions, rather than problems.”
Add to that Nahdlatul Ulama’s recognition of the League as a non-governmental organization even though it is wholly government-controlled and primarily government funded.
The invitation was in recognition of the League’s break with its past as a major vehicle in the global spread of Saudi ultra-conservatism before the rise of Bin Salman in 2015. The invitation also followed an approach by the Saudi government to its Indonesian counterparts requesting that the League have a platform at the R20.
The approach “stroked with dynamics in the Indonesian government. There was a sort of feedback loop. In the end, Nahdlatul Ulama and the government reinforced each other,” said a well-placed source.
Nahdlatul Ulama’s National Awakening Party (PKB) has four ministers in Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s government, including Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the religious affairs minister, and a brother of the movement’s General Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf.
Widodo has embraced Nahdlatul Ulama's push for a genuinely moderate Islam but, at the same time, has been willing to legitimize Saudi and Emirati efforts aimed at ensuring that moderation does not entail political liberalization.
In contrast to Nahdlatul Ulama, the two Gulf states have steered clear of anchoring social change in jurisprudential reform of Islamic law.
The alliance with the League spotlights Nahdlatul Ulama's difficulty balancing its domestic objectives with its effort to position itself internationally as the voice of a genuinely socially and religiously pluralistic and tolerant Islam.
Partnering with the League in the hope it will pay more than a domestic political dividend entails reputational risk, with the kingdom's troubled human rights and freedom of religion track record potentially again moving center stage due to increasingly strained US-Saudi relations.
Nahdlatul Ulama deserves credit for what is a daring strategy. The question is whether the group could have secured the domestic dividend without legitimizing an autocrat's toolkit and whether the reputational risk will prove worthwhile.
Qaddo also said, “The House of Representatives will make the final vote on the compulsory military law.”
In May, Commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces spokesperson Lieutenant General Yahya Rassoul said that Iraq needed a compulsory martial law that was sidelined in 2003.
Iraq has a very young demography, with almost 60 percent of its population being under 25; a huge pool of reserves could strengthen the Iraqi army to confront its neighbors as its struggles to repel incursions into its territory.
During the meeting, President Bafel Jalal Talabani said that the election of Dr Latif Rashid as the fourth Kurdish republican President in Iraqi history is a great pride for the Kurdish people and the PUK. "We will continue our efforts with our friends in Baghdad to protect the Kurdish position and work to serve and build a brighter future for all Iraqi peoples," PUK President said.
Regarding the new Iraqi government, President Bafel said we have complete trust in the constitution and genuine partnership in governing the country. It is the duty of the new government to serve all individuals of the country without discrimination based on national principles and equality and to take major steps in fighting corruption.