Latest news with #IraqiKurds
The Sun
30-06-2025
- The Sun
France court jails migrant smugglers over 2022 Channel deaths
LILLE: A French court Monday sentenced seven Afghans and two Iraqi Kurds to seven to eight years in jail over the deadly capsizing of a boat carrying migrants from France to England in 2022. The small boat had departed France early on December 14, 2022, carrying people from Afghanistan, Albania, India and Senegal. Four people died and four went missing after the boat capsized a few kilometres from the English coast with only one of the bodies identified -- an Afghan man. Rescuers saved 39 people from the shipwreck. A court in the French city of Lille sentenced three men to eight years behind bars. They included an Afghan being tried in absentia and thought to be the mastermind of the smuggling operation. It handed the rest seven-year sentences over the disaster, including two Afghan brothers accused of financing the operation. A tenth man who is being held in Belgium is to be tried at a later date. A British court has already sentenced a Senegalese minor who drove the boat to nine years in jail, French prosecutors said. According to the investigation, several people heard a loud bang that sounded like the boat had been punctured before the departure. The smugglers told the passengers not to worry and that the boat was the only one available for the crossing. But the sea was rough and there were not enough life jackets for all the passengers -- those who died were not wearing any, according to the testimony of survivors. After one or two hours the boat filled with water and panicked passengers stood up to get the attention of another ship, but the hull of the capsizing boat burst under the weight of the water. All the passengers fell into the freezing sea. The 2022 accident was one of the deadliest in the Channel in recent years. In November 2021, another deadly incident killed 27 people off the French coast, in a case that has not yet gone to court. At least 17 people have died attempting the perilous Channel crossing from France to Britain this year, after a record 78 lost their lives last year.
Int'l Business Times
30-06-2025
- Int'l Business Times
France Court Jails Migrant Smugglers Over 2022 Channel Deaths
A French court on Monday sentenced seven Afghans and two Iraqi Kurds to seven to eight years in jail over the fatal capsizing of a boat carrying would-be asylum seekers from France to England in 2022. France and Britain have vowed to crack down on people smugglers who heap migrants on flimsy dinghies to make the dangerous Channel crossing in exchange for thousands of dollars. In the latest such case to go to court in France, a small boat departed France early on December 14, 2022, carrying people from Afghanistan, Albania, India and Senegal. Four people died and four went missing after the dinghy burst a few kilometres (miles) from the English coast. Only one of the bodies was identified -- that of an Afghan man. Rescuers saved 39 people from drowning. A court in the French city of Lille sentenced three men to eight years behind bars. They included an Afghan being tried in absentia and thought to be the mastermind of the smuggling operation. It handed the rest seven-year sentences over the disaster. They included two Afghan brothers accused of financing the operation and another Afghan who admitted to summoning passengers for the crossing, although he claimed he did it after being threatened. The court ordered all to pay 50,000 to 100,000 euros ($58,000 to 117,000) in fines, and to leave French territory at the end of their sentences. A tenth man, who is being held in Belgium, is to be tried at a later date. A British court has already sentenced a Senegalese minor who steered the boat to nine years in jail, French prosecutors said. During the trial earlier this month, the prosecutor said the dinghy involved in the accident had been "completely unsuitable for navigation on high seas". She said the defendants had been benefitting from a "highly lucrative" illegal trade, with migrants paying on average 3,500 euros ($4,000) for the crossing. According to the investigation, several people heard a loud bang that sounded like the dinghy had been punctured before the departure. The smugglers told the passengers not to worry and that the boat was the only one available for the crossing. But the sea was rough and there were not enough life jackets for all the passengers. Those who died were not wearing any, according to the testimony of survivors. After one or two hours, the boat filled with water and panicked passengers stood up to get the attention of another ship. But the hull of the capsizing boat burst under the weight of the water. All the passengers fell into the freezing sea. The 2022 accident was one of the deadliest in the Channel in recent years. In November 2021, another deadly incident killed 27 people off the French coast, in a case that has not yet gone to court. At least 17 people have died attempting the Channel crossing this year, after a record 78 lost their lives last year. As part of efforts to stem migrant crossings, French authorities intervene on land to try to prevent boats leaving. They also intervene at sea but only to rescue passengers if a boat asks for help. Paris says it is now considering also stopping migrant boats in its shallow coastal waters, though the move raises both safety and legal issues. Migrants pay smugglers thousands of dollars to make the dangerous Channel crossing on flimsy dinghies AFP
LeMonde
30-06-2025
- LeMonde
French court jails migrant smugglers over 2022 Channel deaths
A French court on Monday, June 30 sentenced seven Afghans and two Iraqi Kurds to seven to eight years in jail over the deadly capsizing of a boat carrying migrants from France to England in 2022. The small boat had departed France early on December 14, 2022, carrying people from Afghanistan, Albania, India and Senegal. Four people died and four went missing after the boat capsized a few kilometres from the English coast with only one of the bodies identified – an Afghan man. Rescuers saved 39 people from the shipwreck. A court in the French city of Lille sentenced three men to eight years behind bars. They included an Afghan being tried in absentia and thought to be the mastermind of the smuggling operation. It handed the rest seven-year sentences over the disaster, including two Afghan brothers accused of financing the operation. A 10 th man who is being held in Belgium is to be tried at a later date. A British court has already sentenced a Senegalese minor who drove the boat to nine years in jail, French prosecutors said. According to the investigation, several people heard a loud bang that sounded like the boat had been punctured before the departure. The smugglers told the passengers not to worry and that the boat was the only one available for the crossing. But the sea was rough and there were not enough life jackets for all the passengers – those who died were not wearing any, according to the testimony of survivors. After one or two hours, the boat filled with water. Panicked passengers stood up to get the attention of another ship, but the hull of the capsizing boat burst under the weight of the water. All the passengers fell into the freezing sea. The 2022 accident was one of the deadliest in the Channel in recent years. In November 2021, another deadly incident killed 27 people off the French coast, in a case that has not yet gone to court. At least 17 people have died attempting the perilous Channel crossing from France to Britain this year, after a record 78 lost their lives last year.
The National
30-06-2025
- The National
Iraqi and Afghan migrant smugglers jailed over deadly small boat crossing
Seven Afghans and two Iraqi Kurds have each been sentenced to seven or eight years in jail over the deadly capsizing of a boat carrying migrants from France to England in 2022. A French court heard the small, inflatable boat left France in freezing conditions early on December 14 of that year, carrying people from Afghanistan, Albania, India and Senegal. Four died and another four were reported missing at the time after the vessel capsized a few kilometres from the English coast with only one of the bodies identified – an Afghan man. Rescuers saved 39 people, while those missing were presumed dead. An investigation by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch found the boat was 'wholly unsuitable and ill-equipped' for the hazardous journey. The water temperature was 11°C and the air temperature minus 4°C, too cold for a surveillance aircraft that would usually patrol the channel to fly. Cold-water shock can occur in anything below 15°C and can lead to swift loss of life. The UK government has vowed to crack down on people smuggling gangs operating in the Channel, with crossings at a record high for this point in the year, totalling 18,518. A court in the French city of Lille sentenced three men to eight years in jail on Monday. They included an Afghan being tried in absentia and thought to be the mastermind of the trafficking operation. It handed the rest seven-year sentences, including two Afghan brothers accused of financing the scheme. A 10th man who is being held in Belgium will face trial at a later date. A British court had already sentenced a Senegalese minor who drove the boat to nine years in jail, French prosecutors said. The investigation found several people had heard a loud bang that sounded like the boat had been punctured shortly before departure. The smugglers told the passengers not to worry and that the boat was the only one available for the crossing. But the sea was rough and there were not enough life jackets – all those who died were not wearing one, survivors said. After about an hour the boat was filling up with water and when panicking passengers stood up to get the attention of a passing ship, the hull of the capsizing boat burst under the weight of the water. All the passengers fell into the cold sea. The accident was one of the deadliest in the Channel in recent years. In November 2021 in another deadly incident, 27 people were killed off the French coast in a case that has yet to reach court. At least 17 people have died attempting the perilous Channel crossing from France to Britain this year, after a record 78 last year. The French and British governments have been holding talks over how to tackle the small boats crisis but have yet to reach a solution. France is due to start intercepting boats up to 300 metres from the coast and the two countries are said to be nearing agreement on sending asylum seekers back to France under certain conditions.
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kurdish Aspirations: From statehood dreams to the pursuit of peace
Shafaq News/ As geopolitical dynamics continue to shift across the Middle East, the Kurdish question is undergoing a notable transformation. Once defined by dreams of independence, the Kurdish narrative is increasingly centered on securing peace and preserving hard-won autonomy. A recent comprehensive report published by The National under the title 'The future of the Kurds: from dreams of independence to settling for peace' offers a timely and in-depth reflection on this shift. Across Iraq, Syria, Turkiye, and Iran — where Kurdish populations are spread — aspirations for a sovereign Kurdish state have often clashed with complex regional realities. But today, as The National notes, 'the Kurdish dream of independence [has] transform[ed] into one of peace.' This recalibration is rooted not in resignation but in pragmatism, driven by lessons learned from a century marked by conflict and fragmentation. In Iraq's Kurdistan Region, where Kurds have enjoyed a level of autonomy unmatched elsewhere, leaders are increasingly positioning themselves as advocates for regional stability. Speaking at the recent Sulaimani Forum, Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani encapsulated this shift: 'The power of peace is greater than the power of all wars.' The National observes that this sentiment is now broadly shared across the Kurdish political spectrum — a marked contrast from the more assertive rhetoric that preceded the ill-fated 2017 independence referendum. That referendum, once seen as a potential watershed moment, ultimately triggered a harsh regional backlash and brought a sobering dose of reality. Since then, Baghdad has gradually reasserted authority through legal and political channels, eroding aspects of the Kurdistan Region's autonomy. As The National rightly points out, a series of supreme court rulings have tilted the balance of power away from Erbil, while ongoing internal divisions between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have further complicated the political landscape. Yet Kurdish leaders remain undeterred in their commitment to play a constructive role. Prime Minister Masrour Barzani emphasized this vision, telling The National, 'If we can play an effective role in mediating between the parties involved in regional hostilities and improving the security of the region, that would be a positive contribution.' President Nechirvan Barzani reinforced this outlook, asserting that 'the Kurds and the people of Kurdistan are inherently peaceful… whenever there has been a hint of peace, the people of Kurdistan embraced it with optimism.' The shift in tone and strategy is also linked to recent events in neighboring Syria. Following the collapse of the Al-Assad regime, the newly formed government in Damascus has clashed with the de facto autonomy long maintained by Kurdish groups in the northeast. The National highlights how Iraqi Kurds have expressed solidarity with their Syrian counterparts, offering political support and practical guidance. 'Our brothers and sisters in Syria can benefit from the Kurdistan Region's experiment,' Prime Minister Barzani said, pointing to the possibility of a decentralized governance model that could help preserve Kurdish rights without demanding outright independence. The idea of decentralization is now gaining traction as a realistic and peaceful path forward. Ilham Ahmed, co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), told The National that Syrian Kurds are not seeking statehood but rather constitutional guarantees for autonomy. 'What we are proposing now… is a model to be used in other areas,' she said, citing regions like Deraa, Idlib, and Suwayda as examples where localized self-administration has already taken root. She added that this proposal could offer a stable framework for post-conflict Syria, as long as it includes the rights of all communities. This renewed Kurdish approach is not limited to Syria. In Turkiye, a glimmer of hope emerged earlier this year when imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan called for the group to disarm and disband. The National reports that this unprecedented move raised 'hopes of a renewed peace process' in a conflict that has cost more than 40,000 lives. Kurdish leaders in Iraq welcomed the announcement. 'Developments in Turkey aimed at fostering peace represent a significant historical opportunity. We wholeheartedly endorse and support these efforts,' President Barzani declared. Prime Minister Barzani echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that peace cannot be achieved unilaterally. He acknowledged the involvement of nationalist parties in Turkiye and stressed that dialogue must be mutual. Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, the framework for a lasting peace has yet to be defined. Still, the gesture was widely interpreted as a signal that regional actors — including Kurdish groups — are ready to pursue new strategies grounded in diplomacy rather than armed struggle. Even as Kurds across the region pivot toward peace, internal challenges remain. In Iraq, the long-delayed parliamentary elections held in October failed to produce a government. As The National points out, 'parties have yet to reach a consensus,' raising concerns that the stalemate could drag on until Iraq's general elections in November. While both the KDP and PUK participated in a high-level meeting during the Sulaimani Forum, no major breakthroughs were announced. Despite these complications, Kurdish leaders continue to stress the importance of unity — not just within the Kurdistan Region but across the broader Kurdish diaspora. 'The solution of the Kurdish issue in Syria is not easy,' admitted senior KDP official Hoshyar Zebari, 'but the Kurdistan Region [of Iraq] is ready to provide support in this regard.' His comment, quoted by The National, reflects a growing consensus that Kurdish interests are best served through cooperation and careful statecraft rather than unilateral moves. This emphasis on unity and peace is not merely rhetorical. As The National underscores, the Kurdish Region has become a model of governance and coexistence. 'We are one of the major partners in the Middle East,' said Rebar Ahmed, KRG Interior Minister, adding that Kurds have a duty to safeguard the rights of all communities. 'From the Kurdish perspective, we have to take care of the future of all the constituents here in the Middle East,' he said. In the background of all these developments lies the memory of a painful past: decades of persecution, cultural erasure, and military conflict. President Barzani, in remarks cited by The National, warned that 'the last century has unequivocally shown that the disregard and rejection of the rights of the Kurds and the people of Kurdistan have led to ongoing conflict, chaos, destruction, suffering, and stagnation in the region.' Today, with that history in mind, Kurdish leaders are turning the page — not by abandoning their identity or rights, but by recalibrating their goals in light of new realities. As The National insightfully concludes, the Kurdish focus is shifting from secession to stability, from maximalist demands to sustainable solutions. And in doing so, the Kurds may be charting a new course not just for themselves, but for the region as a whole.
