The participants discussed the importance of women's role at the PUK leadership and decision-making levels and working further to improve women's roles in all spheres of life.

The meetings focused on the following issues. 

Some necessary procedures were adopted to realize them. • The retreat of women in the political sphere in the Kurdistan region. 
• Working to implement the 25 per cent quota for women enshrined in the rules of the PUK bylaw.
• Improving the role of PUK women in protecting the environment. 
• Creating a schedule to visit relatives of the martyrs. Also, caring more for orphans and the elderly.  
• Training women members of the PUK to supervise the organs of the PUK through political awareness programs.

 • The women of the PUK leadership announced their  concern with women's rights in any geography worldwide.

Sulaimani's Western Security Directorate or Asaysh said in a statement that, "based on the prior intelligence, and after receiving the approval of the judge of the investigation court, our forces conducted an operation to arrest the terrorist (H, J, M) who is the father of the terrorist (A, H, J). Even though, Asaysh only disclosed terrorists' initials.  

The terrorist was seen with the most wanted terrorist Mullah Shuan and sent a vehicle laden with explosives to explode the positions of the Peshmerga forces during the war against ISIS. The terrorist appears in a social media video with one of the most popular and wanted ISIS terrorist operatives, telling their audience that "God willing," they would kill the Peshmergas.

Sulaimani Security forces arrested the terrorist in a special operation in the town of Gopala in Sulaimani on September 14, 2022. 

According to the statement, the terrorist (H, J, M) is originally from the province of Salah al-Din's Shargata district. In 2005 he joined al-Qaeda terrorist group and worked to hide and prepare ammunition to blow up coalition forces.

In 2014, ISIS occupied the Shargat district, he and his three sons, named only by their initials (1-A.H, 2-B. H 3-M.H), joined ISIS and became ISIS fighters. When ISIS was eliminated in Salah al-Din, they moved to Mosul, ISIS provincial capital in Iraq.

Sulaimani's Western Security Directorate published a detailed biography of the terrorist. After the fall of ISIS in Mosul, he moved to Syria and settled in Dir al-Zour, another ISIS stronghold which until now ISIS maintained a significant presence in the city. He then went to Turkey and returned to Iraq in 2020. Finally, he moved to the Kurdistan Region and hid in Sulaimani province until his arrest, according to Sulaimani's Asaysh.

The Western Sulaimani Security Directorate also revealed the fate of the three sons of the captured terrorist H. J. M.

His first son, terrorist A. H, also known as (Abood) blew himself up in a terrorist act. Terrorist B. H, was killed in Mosul. One of his sons still lives in Turkey, Asaysh said in the statement.

The investigation court of Sulaimani has detained him according to article 2 of the Terrorism Act, the investigation continues.

The security forces have arrested several ISIS terrorists in Sulaimani and Halabja governorates and have foiled a few terrorist acts in the Kurdistan region. 

In a message directed to the Union and seen by KurdSat English, Talabani states, we appreciate the service Kurdistan's religious scholars have offered our nation, who have always placed importance on a culture of tolerance, coexistence, social reconciliation and rejection of extremism and violence against women in particular and human beings in general.

"I congratulate you and all Kurdistan religious scholars and Mullas on the 52nd anniversary of the founding of the Kurdistan Islamic Religious Scholars Union, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region said.

The Union of Islamic Religious Scholars of Kurdistan, as a religious, national, and professional organization, has played a leading role in defending the public's interests and has been an umbrella gathering religious scholars and teachers, the DPM added. 

Our ancestors believed that turquoise stones were broken off from the sky voluntarily, and God sent them to earth for blessings. Turquoise stones are still used by Kurdish nomads to ward off evil spirits. Yarsanis extensively use turquoise in their art and clothing whereas among the Yezidi Kurds wearing it is forbidden since they see it as the color of their first archangel Tawusi Melek.

The turquoise stones, coins and corals are regularly found on Kurdish necklaces, especially richly decorated necklaces known as “Gardana.” It was believed that turquoise adds magical significance to the decoration. Women often wore small, gold earrings or nose rings decorated with turquoise stones called " khazem" or " lutawana."

Images:

1- A Kurdish necklace, from rural areas of northern Kurdistan, the coins are dated 1875 CE. (Source: Nada, on Ethnic Jewels).

2- Kurdish amulet necklace, based on the coin and the jewelry style it could be dated to the 19th century.

3- Yarsani painting.

4 – Mekhek or Mêxek in Kurdish that translates into (cloves) necklace.

Kurdsat English reporter in Zakho said that "the map of Greater Kurdistan, which was hanged at the gate of the Faculty Humanities of Zakho University, has been removed after less than a month, and replaced by a small map of the Kurdistan Region."

He said university employees and students say the map was removed due to Turkish concerns, KurdSat English reporter added. 

The removed map was a map of Greater Kurdistan and illustrated all the important Kurdish cities and regions in Turkey, Iran, Iran and Syria. 

Many people expressed their concern with the removal of the map and called it a violation of Kurdistan's freedom.

Turkey doesn't recognize the constitutional polity of the Kurdistan region that is enshrined in the 2005 Iraqi constitution and uses the term "Northern Iraq" to refer to the Kurdistan region, despite a significant trade volume between Turkey and the Kurdistan region. 

Ankara maintains over a hundred military outposts and bases, most located in the Duhok Governorate, home to the Zakho district.

In a statement released today, Tuesday, the KWU said, "This is the first time that a senior government official has taken such a historic and bold step to support women's issues and reduce violence and openly say that if I am alone, I will follow these events and not allow them to be forgotten."

On his Facebook page, Kurdistan region deputy prime minister Qubad Talabani wrote an opinion titled "Snakes and Ladders " and said he would keep talking to all relevant authorities and persons concerned with femicide, but still obstacles remain. 

Qubad Talabani is now heading a movement to raise awareness about the dangers of femicide and bring to justice criminals convicted of femicide but still at large. The DPM has begun a wide-ranging initiative that tries to get the government, local authorities and civil society organizations closer together to fight and eradicate femicide in the Kurdistan region. 

Talabani began his Facebook post by narrating a femicide case. After months of endeavors by the security forces to bring to justice a murdered woman, the court brought everything back to square one when it acquitted the criminal.

He concludes, "this war is like a game of snakes and lizards. A snake will bring you down when you think you have taken a few steps with a lizard. We will not let the killers be at large, and we will keep reminding people how disgraced they are. Let God bear my witness; Even if I am alone, I will keep following you. Referring to femicide criminals. 

Qubad Talabani told Leaf and the delegation accompanying her that the KRG has no problem over who sells [KRG’s] oil, and that they are concerned about Baghdad guaranteeing KRG’s share of the budget, financial entitlements and constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region, and he called on the United States to assist in the constitutional resolution of the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.

Since early 2022, Baghdad has called KRG’s handling of its oil sector unconstitutional, and asks energy firms operating in the region to leave or face legal action.

The two sides also discussed the political situation in Iraq, and the latest political developments in Baghdad. Both sides agreed that the political parties should resolve their issues through national dialogue.

In another part of the meeting, the reform process of the Kurdistan Regional Government was discussed, and Talabani stressed that the Kurdistan Regional Government insists on implementing the reform process in all sectors step by step and called for continued US assistance to the region.

Shalaw Kosrat Rasul, and Saadi Ahmad Pira, accompanied president Bafel in the meeting. The guest delegation congratulated Bafel Jalal Talabani on his election as the president of the PUK, and wished him success in this historic task.

The meeting discussed the political situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. President Bafel pointed out the latest political developments and said that the unity and common vision of the Kurdish forces in Baghdad is an important need of the time that guarantee the protection of legal and constitutional rights of the Kurdish people.

The Kurds can play a stronger role in Baghdad and we as the Kurdistan National Union (KNU) continue our efforts for this lofty goal, President Bafel Jalal Talabani added.

The meeting also emphasized the improving ties between the two countries, especially in terms of trade, and President Bafel said that we encourage German investors to come to Kurdistan and invest their capital.

Foreign investors poruing their capital into the region would strengthen the economic infrastructure and President Bafel Jalal Talabani promised his support for such efforts.

A 25-year-old shepherd was kidnapped by ISIS terrorists in the village of Naren in the district of Qaratapa, a security source told Kurdsat News.

Three years ago, two other shepherds were kidnapped by ISIS in the same area, one of whom was released and the other was martyred.

A significant territory in middle of Iraq has seen increased ISIS activity. ISIS terrorists kidnap civilians in exchange for ransom. Since the territorial defeat of the terrorist organization in 2018 and 2019, the organization has resorted to guerrilla tactics to continue its operations.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime minister Qubad Talabani, said on his Facebook page that in the KRG Council of Ministers he met with the relevant ministries regarding construction of Sulaimani’s 100-meter ring road officially named Baban Street.

He added that early next week will hold a meeting with the municipal council and all relevant parties in Sulaimani, we have appropriate solutions to finish the strategic project, and the construction of the ring road must be done as soon as possible.

The 100-meter ring road has employed thousands of people and helps to reduce traffic congestion in the city by a significant margin.

The ISIS militants were arrested in a 10-day operation, during which five trenches have also been discovered and 16 mobile phones have been seized.

As part of the operation, 50 percent of the camp was searched and 121 suspects, including 15 women, were arrested, 14 of whom are ISIS militants.

More than 65,000 families of ISIS militants, 94 percent of whom are women and children, live in al-Hol camp, and more than 100 people have been killed since the beginning of last year, according to UN figures.

Security experts warn of the rise of another generation of ISIS from Camp Hall.

In a meeting with directorates of Sulaimani province on Sunday, the Deputy PM expressed his concerns that many investors are in recession due to recklessness of Sulaimani’s related directorates and offices. He said “it is unacceptable to increase the burden on citizens and investors… the manager who neglects his work should go home.”

The meeting, came after Qubad Talabani met with investors in Sulaimani on June 26, in which investors had criticism and complaints about the behavior and treatment of the directorates of Sulaimani.

Qubad Talabani said that trade movement in Sulaimani will not be allowed to be weakened further and investors will not be forced to invest abroad, because this has caused great damage to Sulaimani and the residents of the city have lost thousands of jobs.

“When an investor's project comes to you, you see it as a simple piece of paper, but the lives of hundreds of people are linked to that simple piece of paper and hundreds of jobs may be lost just because of the negligence of a manager.”

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister warned the directorates of Sulaimani that he will no longer accept this situation and openly said that he will not accept any negligence from any director and official.

Qubad Talabani decided to form a monitoring team and he will supervise the team.

He asked them to work as a team to create full coordination among themselves to start all projects in less than a month. He stressed that he will be directly aware of the projects and will not accept bribes from anyone.

In another part of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his support for the departments to use all their powers according to the law to facilitate and handle the affairs of investors and citizens to put pressure on the departments for illegal activities and interfere in their work.

He said that if a director or employee cannot faithfully carry out the work of citizens and adhere to his working hours, let him resign, because there are other loyal people to serve the citizens in their place.

The suspect was killed during a clash and nine security forces were wounded.

There is one citizen among the wounded who was transferred to Shar Hospital in Sulaimani.  None of the wounded are seriously injured, according to sources who spoke to Kurdsat News.

Riding a motorcycle, the gunman initially passed through a checkpoint in Qaradagh refusing to show his ID to the police. He later escaped and used a house as shelter in Qaradagh where he confronted the police and security forces.