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Shafaq News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Deal reached for twice-monthly return of Iraqi families from al-Hol camp
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Damascus Iraq and the Kurdish-run autonomous administration in northeast Syria have agreed to resume the return for Iraqis at al-Hol camp, scheduling two voluntary trips each month, a source familiar with the process informed Shafaq News on Sunday. The agreement forms part of a coordinated effort to accelerate the evacuation of Iraqi nationals from al-Hol camp, located in Syria's al-Hasakah province, and to streamline their transfer based on organized schedules and official name lists, the source explained, adding that the camp's authorities finalized the list for an upcoming trip earlier this month, and are currently awaiting confirmation from the Iraqi side regarding the departure date. The timing and frequency of the return journeys hinge largely on Iraq's logistical readiness at Jadaa camp in Nineveh province, the designated reception and reintegration site for returnees, the source explained. While some trips have recently faced delays due to mounting pressure on Jadaa's capacity, the source indicated that a new convoy is expected to head toward Iraq later this week. On June 22, the largest single group of Iraqi returnees to date—935 individuals from 236 families—departed al-Hol for Iraq. This movement followed a series of earlier returns over the past year, including 223 families (832 people) last year and 241 families (865 people) in mid-April 2024. Earlier, Ali Abbas, spokesperson for Iraq's Ministry of Migration and Displacement, confirmed that approximately 16,000 Iraqi citizens have been repatriated from al-Hol since the process began, distributed across 28 organized convoys. He added that about 15,000 Iraqis remain in the camp, with additional groups expected to return in the coming days. Revealing an agreement between the Iraqi government and the United Nations to complete the repatriation of all Iraqi families from al-Hol by the end of 2027, Abbas ensured that no Iraqis would remain in the camp beyond that deadline.
Rudaw Net
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Makhmour camp residents warn of ‘humanitarian catastrophe' amid blockade
Also in Iraq Iraq appoints new chief justice following judicial turmoil Sudani orders monitoring of water flow from Turkey Austrian ambassador praises President Barzani's role in Iraq Iraq reports 34 percent revenue decrease in four months A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Residents of the Makhmour refugee camp on Thursday continued to report severe restrictions on their movement and access to essential goods, despite denials from Iraqi and Kurdish authorities. 'We can't even take ill people to get treatment outside of the camp because of the blockade,' a resident told Rudaw, adding that medicine and other medical supplies are running low. Camp officials say basic necessities like school supplies, construction materials, and household goods are barred from entering the camp. A supervisor from the camp, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they have been under a blockade imposed by the Kurdistan Region since 2019, which was compounded by Iraqi restrictions added three months ago. 'If it continues, a humanitarian catastrophe will occur,' the official warned. Residents have staged protests in recent months demanding an end to the restrictions, which they say amount to a collective punishment unrelated to current security developments. The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement disputes the claims. 'They are officially registered with the Iraqi state and have no problems and are free to move to all provinces,' ministry spokesperson Ali Abbas told Rudaw on Thursday. Abbas added that residents are fearful following the arrest of five camp representatives in Baghdad. The individuals were detained after traveling to the capital in May to protest what they described as a government-imposed blockade. According to information obtained by Rudaw, the group was released after spending over a month in detention. Makhmour camp, located southwest of Erbil and administratively part of Nineveh province, was established in 1998 and is home to around 10,000 Kurdish refugees from southeast Turkey, most of whom were displaced during Turkey's conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) when their villages were depopulated. Camp authorities say residents are currently barred from working, accessing hospitals, or enrolling in universities, while many have been unable to renew expired refugee documents, preventing them from passing through checkpoints. The camp has long been caught in regional tensions. Turkey views it as a PKK stronghold, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2021 labeling it an 'incubation center for terrorism.' Turkish airstrikes and drone attacks have previously targeted alleged PKK positions in and around the camp. The PKK, which has fought Turkey for decades for greater Kurdish rights, deployed fighters to protect the camp from Islamic State (ISIS) attacks in 2014 but said it withdrew its forces in October 2023. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and was officially banned by Iraq last year under Turkish pressure. On May 12, the PKK announced its decision to dissolve, and a group of its fighters is expected to disarm in a ceremony in Sulaimani province next week, according to sources familiar with the process. As regional actors navigate a fragile peace process, Iraq is now reportedly seeking to return Makhmour camp residents to Turkey. 'Especially now that there is rapprochement between the PKK and Turkey and the issue of laying down arms is near, the Iraqi government wants to directly send them back to their homeland alongside managing the peace process,' Rashad Galali, deputy head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) office in Makhmour, told Rudaw. Soran Hussein contributed to this report.
Shafaq News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's game changer: Football pitches become political arenas
Shafaq News - Baghdad When the sun sets over Baghdad's al-Zaafaraniyah district, floodlights flicker on above a small football pitch. Around the iron fence, dozens of young men gather to watch the game unfold. Inside, players in matching kits weave past defenders in a fast-paced match — but tonight, the field is lined with more than just goalposts. Banners of smiling political candidates, each paired with printed campaign promises, decorate the sidelines. In one corner, a middle-aged man distributes bottled water and jerseys to the participating teams. There are no cameras, no loudspeakers — just a football game quietly transformed into a site of political outreach. In recent years, Baghdad's five-a-side pitches — long considered safe havens for working-class youth — have drawn growing attention from politicians intent on securing support from the ground up. With no clear oversight, these modest venues have evolved into informal platforms for electoral influence, banking on Iraqis' deep love for football ahead of election cycles. Interviews conducted with field contractors, players, and local observers reveal a trend that has taken shape well before ballots are cast. Politicians are embedding themselves deep in the social lives of youth, a tactic that reflects the increasingly porous boundary between sport and political messaging in post-2003 Iraq. In this climate, even the artificial turf on the outskirts of Baghdad has become part of a much larger campaign map. From al-Amil to Sadr City, similar patterns emerge: candidates renting pitches, rebranding venues with campaign slogans, local teams seeking sponsorships in exchange for kits and balls, and players finding themselves caught between the joy of sport and the pull of low-intensity campaigning. Scoring Votes on the Cheap Political campaigns across Iraq are increasingly relying on unconventional methods to attract youth voters, many of whom remain disillusioned with the formal political process. Candidates frequently fund small-scale neighborhood events, sponsor community tournaments, and use popular gathering places like coffee shops and football pitches to build visibility. In addition to sports sponsorship, other common outreach efforts include installing free Wi-Fi routers, hosting job training sessions, or collaborating with social media influencers to circulate campaign messages. 'Championships like these cost little but earn trust,' explained Ali Abbas, a political consultant involved in past parliamentary campaigns. 'Compared to a media campaign, it's cheaper and feels more personal.' According to Iraq's latest census, nearly 60% of the country's population is 15-64 years old. In Baghdad alone, youth between the ages of 15 and 29 make up over 30% of the city's total population — a figure that climbs in low-income districts like al-Zaafaraniyah and Sadr City, making them particularly attractive ground for outreach. Yet in the 2021 parliamentary election, fewer than 20% of eligible voters under 30 turned out to vote. A 2023 poll conducted by the Al-Bayan Center found that 62% of young Iraqis had no confidence in political parties, and 54% believed their vote would have no impact on the direction of the country. Against this backdrop, politicians are turning to community-centered strategies. While a standard advertising campaign on national television can cost upwards of 100 million dinars ($75,000), candidates can sponsor dozens of neighborhood tournaments for under 10 million dinars total — reaching large, local audiences at a fraction of the price. The politicization of sport in Iraq is not new. Under Saddam Hussein, sports institutions — including the National Olympic Committee — were overseen by Uday Hussein, who used them to exert control and build prestige. But the contemporary shift is more decentralized, rooted in neighborhood-level visibility and informal engagement rather than top-down coercion. In the post-Saddam 2021 elections, for example, one parliamentary candidate reportedly sponsored a two-week tournament featuring 16 teams, each wearing jerseys branded with his campaign number. No speeches were made, but flyers and photographs were widely circulated on social media. Everyone's Game In the absence of modern sporting infrastructure, Iraq's five-a-side pitches have become essential outlets for thousands of young players. 'These pitches offer a safer, more organized environment away from dirt lots and random play,' explained Jaafar al-Sheikh, head of Iraq's Mini-Football (Socca) Federation. He acknowledged that their rapid growth — especially in working-class neighborhoods — has made them appealing spaces for various political actors. Pitches vary in format — five, six, seven or even eight-a-side — but the five-a-side fields are the most common. Renting one costs between 20,000 and 50,000 Iraqi dinars ($15–$38) per hour, al-Sheikh noted, making them accessible for amateur teams and ideal for candidates seeking efficient ways to connect with wide audiences. Football's popularity is no coincidence. According to a 2024 report by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, more than three million Iraqis regularly participate in informal or amateur football leagues, the vast majority of them under the age of 30. The game's widespread reach makes it a potent and low-cost platform for influence. Fields across Baghdad are in near-constant use. 'Matches start around 5:00 p.m. and continue past midnight,' explained Abdulwahid Ali, who manages a pitch in al-Salihiya. 'We host more than seven teams each night.' During election season, that dynamic often shifts. 'Candidates approach us to sponsor tournaments or organize symbolic cups. We don't object — there are no restrictions from the federation, and we rent the pitch based on agreements.' Abd Ali Mouhan, a contractor managing a pitch in Fourth al-Shurta, confirmed that no formal restrictions exist. 'I've rented the field to politicians during election periods. We only provide the venue. What happens inside is their business.' Local observers point to this absence of regulation as a major reason these fields have become a fertile ground for political activity. There are no clear standards on what content can be displayed or what kind of messaging is permitted during such events. While civil society groups have called for legislation to prevent the politicization of public spaces, a 2023 draft bill aimed at regulating informal campaigning has stalled in parliament. Young and Vulnerable With limited job prospects and few avenues for professional development, many young Iraqis are especially responsive to community-level gestures — even if they originate from political motives. 'A small local tournament may cost only around 1.5 million dinars ($1,150),' explained grassroots player Hassan Mustafa from al-Zaafaraniyah. 'Compared to hotel-based rallies, this is far more effective in reaching young voters.' Mustafa reflected on the real financial pressures facing players. 'We fund everything ourselves. So when a candidate gives us jerseys or backs a tournament, it's hard not to appreciate it. That's what makes youth such a direct and easy target on these fields.' For 22-year-old goalkeeper Omar Khalil, who plays on a dirt pitch in New Baghdad, the offers were tempting but short-lived. 'They gave us everything for the tournament — balls, water, even transport,' he recalled. 'But once it was over, no one came back. We never saw the candidate again.' These types of engagements become more frequent as elections approach. In areas like al-Amil, al-Jihad, and Fifth al-Shurta, eyewitnesses have reported that candidates openly attach their names to pitches they rent and organize informal gatherings that function as off-record rallies — often drawing large numbers of young spectators and players. With no legal barrier separating sports from politics, these small urban pitches remain attractive arenas for low-cost campaigning. At the same time, young players face a dilemma: maintain a distance from politics or accept assistance in the absence of any institutional alternatives. Still, many insist on preserving the spirit of the game. 'We want to keep politics away from our fields,' said Hassan Mustafa. 'We play to relax, not to become tools in someone's campaign.'
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie groom mocked over his extravagant wedding day celebrations... as rumours swirl that the couple have ALREADY split just hours after tying the knot
An Australian groom has been mercilessly mocked on social media over his very extravagant wedding day celebrations. Ali Abbas tied the knot with influencer Jasmin Mitwali in a stunning wedding in Sydney on Saturday. After a video was shared of Ali arriving to his big day on horseback, social media users wasted no time in mocking the Sydney groom. The clip, posted by Spinning Booth, showed the happy groom celebrating on the back of a white horse as it slowly made its way down a suburban street. The street was lined with revellers as Ali pumped his palm triumphantly in the air while celebratory music played in the background. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The video then panned to show Jasmin dancing euphorically on a balcony, flanked by well-wishers. However, commenters were quick to rain on Ali's parade, with some comparing him to convicted criminal and former Auburn City Council Deputy Mayor Salim Mehajer. 'Bruv get off that poor horse, take your Salim Mehajer attempt. Back to Greenacre n stop embarrassing yourself,' one person commented. Another chimed in with a similar: 'Temu Salim Mehajer,' a sentiment echoed throughout the comments section. Salim made headlines back in 2015 when he tied the knot with his now ex-wife Aysha. A street procession, similar to the one featuring Ali, featured four helicopters, a squadron of luxury cars, a battalion of drummers, a red carpet and a cake nearly taller than the bride. Others were quick to defend the extravagant display with one person telling people to 'leave the couple alone'. 'People acting like it's the first time they see a horse at a Leb wedding... nothing new leave the couple alone,' they wrote. 'Congratulations to you both wishing you both a life time of happiness.' Another offered: 'Good on you mate thinking different then all the other weddings, good job.' Jasmin, who boasts 580,000 followers on TikTok, posted several videos to social media showcasing her big day which featured lavish floral decorations, Lebanese drummers and a towering wedding cake. However, Jasmin has since deleted all her wedding posts, leaving no trace of the special nuptials other than event companies posting to showcase their work from the day. Many fans flocked to social media to question whether the pair had split, less than two days after getting married. 'Did Jasmin get divorced???' one person asked. 'I don't get why no one is saying the truth. Is it full show or did they actually get divorced?' another asked. 'Jazzy is back on the market,' another claimed while one asked: 'What happened?' However, some fans defended the couple and insisted they were in fact still together but had removed their wedding photos due to harsh comments. 'She deleted everything because of all the keyboard warriors. Leave her alone you only get married once and y'all can't let a girl just live,' someone commented. 'These comments make social media not worth sharing your life,' another said. 'It's just rumours no way it's true,' one person insisted.
Shafaq News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kirkuk's ballot grows: Nine groups enter Iraq's 2025 race
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Kirkuk has registered nine political entities to compete in the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced Wednesday. IHEC's media officer, Ali Abbas, told Shafaq News that five political parties and four independent candidates have completed the registration process so far, noting that the number of eligible voters in Kirkuk stands at approximately 1.2 million, with this figure likely to increase as the registration and verification processes continue. Nearly 29 million Iraqis are eligible to vote in the November 11 elections, with about 66 political parties registered to date, based on IHEC data. Registration remains open until May 14.
