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AUTHORITIES IN IRAQ'S KURDISTAN REGION INTERROGATES PREACHERS
Al-Mada, Iraq
Sept 8 2013
Ministry of Endowment Interrogates Preachers Who Promoted Particular
Political Sides and Bans Live Coverage of Friday Sermons Without
Permission
by Umar Mahmud Abdallah
The Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs in the Kurdistan
Region Government started on Wednesday 4 September 2013 to interrogate
a number of mosque imams and preachers for indirectly promoting
particular political sides. The ministry also banned live coverage
of Friday prayers without official permission. Meanwhile, a number
of civil organizations announced the formation of a joint alliance to
monitor the parliamentary elections that will be held in the Kurdistan
Region on 21 September 2013.
Mariwan al-Naqshabandi, director of the Media Office in the Ministry of
Endowment and Religious Affairs, said that the ministry has previously
issued strict instructions to the preachers, clerics, and political
entities to refrain from using mosques or religious platforms for
election propaganda. He also noted that the ministry warned that
it would take legal and administrative measures against any of the
ministry's personnel, including imams and preachers, if they do not
abide by those instructions during the election period.
Al-Naqshabandi added that a number of Friday preachers violated the
instructions; therefore, the ministry is currently interrogating
the violators.
He noted that five Friday preachers violated the ministry's
instructions and indirectly promoted a particular political side.
Al-Naqshabandi said that the sermons are documented on videotape and
the Endowment Directorate in the Arbil Governorate will interrogate
the preachers and will submit a report to the minister of endowment,
who will decide on the punishment that the violators should get before
Friday 13 September 2013.
With regard to carrying live coverage of Friday prayers, the director
of the media office said that the ministry issued strict instructions
to the local television and satellite channels to refrain from covering
the Friday prayers without obtaining permission from the ministry. He
also warned that the ministry will bring to account all those who do
not abide by these instructions.
On a related development in the elections, a grouping made up of 56
non-governmental civil organizations announced the formation of an
alliance that aims to monitor the next parliamentary elections. This
came after a meeting held by these organizations upon a request from
the civil developments organizations, Spart for Media Development
[as received], and the Ahfad al-Salam [Grandsons of Peace] Network.
The supervisors of the alliance said that 500 observers have been
appointed so far and they will be distributed across the election
centres to monitor the parliamentary elections. The supervisors added
that roaming groups will also be sent to the election centres across
Kurdistan, noting that the alliance works on a voluntary basis and
aims to maintain honest and transparent elections. They noted that
they will provide media reports on the election day.
Thirty-one political entities are running for the Kurdistan
parliamentary elections slated to be held on 21 September, competing
for 111 seats. Nineteen entities will compete to win the general seats,
which consist of 100 seats, while five entities representing the
Turkoman component will compete for a five-seat quota. In addition,
a five-seat quota is allocated to the Christian component and one
seat to the Armenian component, which has four candidates.
[Translated from Arabic]
Al-Mada, Iraq
Sept 8 2013
Ministry of Endowment Interrogates Preachers Who Promoted Particular
Political Sides and Bans Live Coverage of Friday Sermons Without
Permission
by Umar Mahmud Abdallah
The Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs in the Kurdistan
Region Government started on Wednesday 4 September 2013 to interrogate
a number of mosque imams and preachers for indirectly promoting
particular political sides. The ministry also banned live coverage
of Friday prayers without official permission. Meanwhile, a number
of civil organizations announced the formation of a joint alliance to
monitor the parliamentary elections that will be held in the Kurdistan
Region on 21 September 2013.
Mariwan al-Naqshabandi, director of the Media Office in the Ministry of
Endowment and Religious Affairs, said that the ministry has previously
issued strict instructions to the preachers, clerics, and political
entities to refrain from using mosques or religious platforms for
election propaganda. He also noted that the ministry warned that
it would take legal and administrative measures against any of the
ministry's personnel, including imams and preachers, if they do not
abide by those instructions during the election period.
Al-Naqshabandi added that a number of Friday preachers violated the
instructions; therefore, the ministry is currently interrogating
the violators.
He noted that five Friday preachers violated the ministry's
instructions and indirectly promoted a particular political side.
Al-Naqshabandi said that the sermons are documented on videotape and
the Endowment Directorate in the Arbil Governorate will interrogate
the preachers and will submit a report to the minister of endowment,
who will decide on the punishment that the violators should get before
Friday 13 September 2013.
With regard to carrying live coverage of Friday prayers, the director
of the media office said that the ministry issued strict instructions
to the local television and satellite channels to refrain from covering
the Friday prayers without obtaining permission from the ministry. He
also warned that the ministry will bring to account all those who do
not abide by these instructions.
On a related development in the elections, a grouping made up of 56
non-governmental civil organizations announced the formation of an
alliance that aims to monitor the next parliamentary elections. This
came after a meeting held by these organizations upon a request from
the civil developments organizations, Spart for Media Development
[as received], and the Ahfad al-Salam [Grandsons of Peace] Network.
The supervisors of the alliance said that 500 observers have been
appointed so far and they will be distributed across the election
centres to monitor the parliamentary elections. The supervisors added
that roaming groups will also be sent to the election centres across
Kurdistan, noting that the alliance works on a voluntary basis and
aims to maintain honest and transparent elections. They noted that
they will provide media reports on the election day.
Thirty-one political entities are running for the Kurdistan
parliamentary elections slated to be held on 21 September, competing
for 111 seats. Nineteen entities will compete to win the general seats,
which consist of 100 seats, while five entities representing the
Turkoman component will compete for a five-seat quota. In addition,
a five-seat quota is allocated to the Christian component and one
seat to the Armenian component, which has four candidates.
[Translated from Arabic]