UN: We believe in Iraq's return to its positive role
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) announced on Wednesday that it believes in Iraq's return to its positive role, stressing that legislative compliance is the primary guarantee for the sustainability of the digital transformation.
In his speech at the second conference on combating money laundering and terrorist financing, attended by an Iraqi News Agency (INA) correspondent, the UN Secretary-General's Representative in Iraq, Mohammed Al-Hassan, said, "This conference represents an important milestone in Iraq's journey towards transitioning to a state of law and institutions and engaging positively with efforts to combat money laundering and dry up the sources of terrorist financing." He praised the choice of the title of this session, "Challenges of Arab Banks in Compliance with International Laws and Legislation and Ways to Meet the Requirements of Correspondent Banks," which reflects a growing awareness among financial and banking institutions that restoring confidence and the efforts of international companies require adherence to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
He added, "The United Nations believes in Iraq and its return, and believes that good governance, transparency, and international transition are not just slogans, but rather pillars of a transparent economy that interacts with the region and the world." He commended the efforts of the Central Bank of Iraq and the Iraqi Private Banks Association for "leading this positive movement."
Al-Hassan called for "strengthening partnerships with international and regional financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Financial Action Task Force, the Economic Commission for Western Asia, and others, to build national capacities that facilitate raising standards to meet global requirements and requirements." He noted that "such partnerships are accompanied by benefiting from the successful experiences of a number of Arab and non-Arab countries that have been able to gain the trust of international institutions and people by adopting profound reforms capable of integrating Iraq into the global banking system, serving its national interests toward sustainable development."
He explained that "today's conference serves as a platform for exchanging expertise and reviewing the applications of technology and artificial intelligence as practical tools to strengthen completion organizations." He noted that "in light of the accelerating digital transformation, technology is no longer an option, but an urgent necessity. If properly utilized, it can uncover suspicious patterns, enhance the accuracy of regulatory procedures, and accelerate financial risks."
He emphasized the need for "such technological development to be coupled with a transparent legislative and legal system. While digitization offers unprecedented possibilities, legislative compliance remains the primary guarantee for the sustainability of today's transformation."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Bedouin fighters surround Suwayda as clashes with Druze escalate
Hundreds of armed Bedouin fighters from Arab tribes have reached the outskirts of Suwayda city in southern Syria, after seizing control of more than ten villages in the surrounding countryside, eyewitnesses told Shafaq News on Friday. The mobilization followed a call for 'general alert' issued by Arab tribes on Thursday. In a statement received by Shafaq News, the tribes accused Druze factions in Suwayda of launching 'killings and displacement' campaigns targeting Bedouin residents, particularly after the recent withdrawal of Syrian Ministry of Defense forces from the province. That withdrawal, they claimed, came under pressure from both Israel and the United States. Wissam al-Ahmad, speaking from Suwayda, told our agency that tribal gunmen had advanced to within less than four kilometers northwest of the city. He confirmed that while local Druze factions still control Suwayda and the nearby village of al-Walgha, the area is now surrounded by armed tribesmen, including fighters reportedly linked to the Syrian Defense Ministry. Al-Ahmad accused the Syrian government of supporting tribal militias 'logistically and in the media,' and of supplying them with weapons to retaliate against the people of Suwayda, who have publicly condemned abuses carried out by government-aligned units and military groups. Dozens of video clips shared by activists and obtained by Shafaq News show convoys of fighters arriving from Aleppo, Hama, and Deir ez-Zor, traveling in trucks and buses toward Suwayda to join the offensive. The Bedouin tribal statement warned that any attempt by the Syrian government to block their movement would be viewed as siding with 'criminal perpetrators,' adding that the tribes stand firmly behind their fighters and would respond decisively to any threat. 'These fighters are exercising their legitimate right to defend the oppressed and protect women, children, and elders,' the statement read. 'Any action against them makes its perpetrators morally and historically responsible for the continuation of bloodshed.' The tribal assault began on Thursday evening, targeting multiple towns and villages in the Suwayda countryside. The town of al-Mazraa was among the first to fall under tribal control. Fighters have since approached Suwayda city from the north and west, including via the Damascus-Suwayda highway. According to Shafaq News' correspondent, Suwayda city remains under the full control of local Druze militias. However, the besieged status of the city has raised fears of further escalation, particularly in light of deepening divisions within the Druze community itself. Some Druze factions have aligned with a recent political-security agreement proposed by the Syrian presidency. Others, led by prominent spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, have rejected the deal, arguing that it fails to provide real guarantees for the safety of Suwayda's residents. Responding to reports of government action in the area, Interior Ministry spokesperson Nourdine al-Baba said on Friday that there was no movement or deployment of security forces inside Suwayda, and that ministry units remain on standard alert. He described circulating news about internal security forces entering the city as 'inaccurate,' and blamed the media for spreading unreliable reports. Despite these denials, Druze sources have accused army-affiliated groups of involvement in acts of humiliation against community members—including attacks on religious figures and desecration of traditional attire—allegations the Syrian army has categorically denied. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday urged Syrian authorities to investigate the violence urgently. He said that nearly 600 people—including Druze fighters and Syrian security forces—had been killed in and around Suwayda in recent confrontations. 'The bloodshed and violence must stop. All persons must be protected,' Turk stated, calling for independent, transparent investigations and accountability for those responsible. The province of Suwayda, known historically as Jabal al-Arab and part of the Hawran region, is home to around 500,000 people, mostly Druze, with smaller Christian and Sunni minorities. #Syria: Credible reports indicate widespread violations & abuses, including summary executions & arbitrary killings in Suweida. The interim authorities must ensure accountability & justice. Those responsible must be held to account. Revenge and vengeance are not the answer. — UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) July 18, 2025
Memri
5 hours ago
- Memri
Lebanese Politician Khalil Al-Toum on Hizbullah TV: We Will Not Give Up Our Resistance - We Invented the 'Exploding Bodies Theory,' Martyrdom-Seekers Are the Most Powerful Weapon; Let the Israelis Com
Lebanese politician Khalil Al-Toum, a member of the political bureau of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), said in a July 14, 2025 show on Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah-Lebanon) that the fight against Israel will continue and that the Lebanese resistance will not relinquish its weapons. He also said: 'We came up with the exploding bodies theory [...] Martyrdom-seekers are the most powerful and effective weapon.' He added: 'We are waiting for the Israelis. Let them come. They will see what the resistance in Lebanon does to them.'
Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
More than mustache: What Kakais and Druze won't shave off
Shafaq News Though separated by borders and ethnic backgrounds, Iraq's Kakai community and Syria's Druze minority mirror each other in remarkable ways — not just in their shared preference for secrecy and sacred traditions, but in how they embody cultural resilience through symbolic expression and ritual fidelity. From the unshaven mustache that conveys sacred vows, to the refusal to accept converts or publicize doctrine, both groups have developed spiritual systems designed to survive under suspicion, silence, and siege. Guarding Faith Through Silence For the Kakais — also known as Ahl-e Haqq or People of the Truth — secrecy is both a theological principle and a means of protection. As Kakai elder Ako Shaweis told the Kurdish Foundation of Paris, 'Our rituals have always been kept secret… These rituals are intended for God, not for humans.' For communities long subjected to marginalization, discretion is not about retreating from society but preserving the sanctity of belief. 'The more hidden and concealed the religious ceremonies are, the more acceptable they become,' he noted, emphasizing a spiritual tradition where privacy deepens one's connection to the divine. For the Druze, the practice is institutionalized. Only a select religious elite, the Uqqal (Knowers), are allowed to access the group's sacred texts (Al-Hikmah Al-sharifah) or participate in religious services. Conversion into or out of the faith is strictly prohibited. Like the Kakais, Druze communities preserve a tight boundary between insiders and outsiders. Both groups maintain reverence for sacred sites. Kakais in Iraq and Iran visit the shrine of Sultan Ishaq, while the Druze make pilgrimages to sites like the maqam of Prophet Habil near Damascus or Nabi Shuayb in Palestine. These visits are often deeply personal, but they also reflect collective ties to landscape and memory — further linking identity to sacred geography. Parallel Paths of Devotion Among the most visible expressions of faith for both groups is the mustache — not as fashion, but as a sacred symbol. In Kakai belief, it is a covenant. 'The thick, long mustache isn't just a social custom,' explains Kakai scholar Khurshid Al-Kakai to Shafaq News. 'It's part of the spiritual commitment and religious oath that ties the individual to his community and faith. This symbolic role finds a striking echo among Syria's Druze, where the mustache also historically signified discipline, wisdom, and spiritual maturity. Although less rigidly observed today, it remains a potent cultural marker — particularly for religious elders and community leaders. This shared symbolism was thrust into the spotlight during recent unrest in Suwayda, where reports emerged of Druze men being forcibly shaved under threat. Abbas Al-Kakai, a prominent figure in Iraq's Kakai community, condemned the incidents. 'To violate the mustache is to insult an entire identity,' he told Shafaq News. 'It symbolizes dignity, faith, and a sacred vow. These acts are unacceptable — they are not just violence, but symbolic erasure.' A Mutual Struggle for Recognition What makes the Kakai-Druze parallel compelling is not only their rituals or symbols but the logic beneath them: survival without assimilation. Whether in the Qalate hills of Halabja or the mountain shrines of Jabal Al-Druze, both groups navigate their identities through a careful balance of concealment and assertion. Neither community seeks to proselytize. Instead, they ask for space — for recognition of their traditions, and constitutional acknowledgment of their distinct identities. In a region plagued by fragmentation, the Kakais and Druze remind us of another path — one that guards the soul of a people not through force, but through fidelity. Their shared story is not only one of survival, but of quiet defiance in the face of being forgotten.
