Latest news with #Nawar
Libya Observer
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Sumood Convoy says 7 detained activists are released, hoping for return of the rest
The Sumood Convoy, which is part of international efforts to break the siege on Gaza, announced the release of seven of its members who had been detained by the forces of Khalifa Haftar, following days of negotiations and communication with various parties. A statement issued by the convoy explained that the release was carried out according to prior understandings, without disclosing the details, adding that contacts are still ongoing to secure the release of another group of detainees. Earlier, the 'Joint Action Coordination for Palestine' had announced its decision to withdraw from completing the Sumood Convoy's journey towards the Rafah crossing, after Haftar's forces insisted on preventing the convoy from crossing Sirte. Wael Nawar, the convoy's spokesperson, said that the decision came as a result of continuous restrictions, confirming that the sit-in in the Buwairat Al-Hassoun area west of Sirte will continue until all the detainees — a total of 15 people — are released. Nawar had previously announced that 15 members of the convoy, including 11 Libyans, were arrested by security units affiliated with Haftar's forces on the outskirts of Sirte. He also mentioned that he himself was physically assaulted, dragged, and had his belongings stolen, before the convoy was forcibly pushed back toward the outskirts of Misrata. Nawar pointed out that the decision to withdraw was made to avoid further violations, especially after participants were attacked at the 'Gate 50' checkpoint west of Sirte. He confirmed that authorities in the eastern region explicitly informed them during a meeting with the Hamad government: 'If Egypt agrees, we will allow you to pass.' Several members of the convoy also spoke of shocking details of what they faced on the outskirts of Sirte, where they were subjected to a suffocating siege, deliberate starvation, direct threats at gunpoint, as well as physical assaults and arrests of several participants, including the convoy's spokesperson.
Libya Observer
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Sumood Convoy gives up drive to Gaza border and calls on Haftar's forces to release detainees
The Joint Action Coordination for Palestine announced its withdrawal from continuing the 'Sumood Convoy' march towards the Rafah crossing. The convoy's spokesperson, Wael Nawar, explained that the decision to withdraw came after the persistence of east Libya forces in preventing the convoy from crossing through Sirte. Nawar reaffirmed that they will continue their sit-in in the Buwairat Al-Hassoun area, west of Sirte, until 15 detained members of the convoy are released. Nawar had earlier announced that 15 convoy members, including 11 Libyans, were arrested by security elements affiliated with Haftar's forces on the outskirts of Sirte. He said that he personally was assaulted, beaten, and dragged, in addition to having his personal belongings stolen, before the convoy was forcibly pushed back toward the outskirts of Misrata. He indicated that the decision to turn back was made to avoid further violations, after the participants were attacked at the 'Gate 50' checkpoint west of Sirte. Regarding their meeting with the Hamad government, Nawar said that the authorities in eastern Libya told them explicitly: 'If Egypt agrees, we will allow you to pass.' Some convoy members revealed shocking details of what they experienced on the outskirts of Sirte, where forces affiliated with the eastern Libya government surrounded them and prevented them from continuing their journey. The participants spoke of a suffocating siege, deliberate starvation, direct threats at gunpoint, as well as physical assaults and arrests of several members, including the convoy's spokesperson.
Shafaq News
25-04-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Klash legacy: One man's fight to keep Kurdish tradition alive
Shafaq News/ In the narrow lanes of Halabja's old bazaar, the scent of raw fabric and natural leather rises above the din of nearby spice stalls. There, seated cross-legged beside a pile of cotton and tools, 60-year-old Nawar gently threads a needle into the base of a nearly finished pair of traditional Kurdish shoes known as Klash. "Even if I had all the money in the world, I wouldn't leave this place," he told Shafaq News, with his eyes glinting with pride as he worked. For Nawar, shoemaking is more than a trade; it's an inheritance. Made of cotton fabric and animal hide, Klash shoes are lightweight, breathable, and environmentally friendly. The shoes are entirely handmade, taking up to a week to produce. Despite the rise of modern footwear, Klash continues to hold ceremonial and cultural significance, Nawar said, noting that young Kurds don the shoes during national holidays like Newroz and Flag Day. A single pair of Klash typically sells for between 40,000 and 120,000 Iraqi dinars (roughly $30–$90), depending on the quality of fabric, stitching, and custom design. More elaborate pairs, often ordered by Kurds abroad or gifted during festivals, can fetch up to 300,000 dinars ($210). While the price reflects the labor-intensive craftsmanship, many local artisans say it barely offsets the time and materials invested. The industry faces other challenges: limited government support, labor shortages, and shifting consumer habits. Yet artisans continue to resist disappearance through small-scale training workshops aimed at preserving knowledge among younger generations. Dozens of family-run Klash workshops in Halabja have dwindled to fewer than ten, as imported alternatives, particularly from Iran, undercut local shoemakers with lower prices, flooding the market and eroding demand. "These factory shoes have no soul. This—" he gestures to the shoe in his hand, "—this carries history," Nawar stated. In 2017, UNESCO recognized Klash shoemaking as part of Iraq's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Still, for Nawar and others like him, the true recognition lies in the quiet moments: a stitch pulled tight, a customer who waits weeks for a custom order, and the knowledge that every pair carries a story. 'One of my customers in Europe asked for a pair just to remember the scent of his old home,' Nawar recalled with a soft smile. 'This is not just a shoe. It's memory stitched into fabric.'
