Latest news with #Ur
Iraq Business
3 hours ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq Sets Conditions for Reopening Applications for Bismayah Housing Units
By John Lee. The National Investment Commission (NIC) has reportedly announced that applications for housing units in the Bismayah Residential Project will reopen only after the resumption of work by South Korea's Hanwha Engineering & Construction, the company contracted to complete an additional 70,000 housing units under a new phase of the project. NIC spokesperson Hanan Jasem told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that three conditions must be met before applications can be accepted again: A full review of the existing digital application platform. Exclusion of applicants under the legal age or over 60 years old. Ensuring no duplicate applications from individuals within the same family, in accordance with public bank lending rules. Jasem confirmed that around 70,000 Iraqis had already applied via the "Ur" government platform. She added that the Bismayah complex has a total planned capacity of approximately 100,000 units, intended to house around 600,000 people. According to the INA article, Hanwha has completed about 30,000 units to date, of which roughly 21,000 have been officially handed over to the Commission and distributed to eligible citizens. (Source: INA)
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Long before Magna Carta, Cholas had ‘ballot pots': What is the ancient voting system PM Modi lauded?
Standing before the thousand-year-old stone temple built by Rajendra Chola I, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Chola empire carried forward India's ancient democratic traditions. 'Historians talk about Britain's Magna Carta in the name of democracy,' he said, referring to the 1215 English charter. 'But many centuries ago, elections were held in the Chola Empire through a democratic method.' Long before the Enlightenment in Europe birthed the ideals of representative governance, the Cholas had etched out rules for local self-rule, literally inscribed into stone. The inscriptions of Uttaramerur, a village in present-day Kanchipuram district, offer some of the world's earliest surviving evidence of a formal electoral system. As chronicled by K A Nilakanta Sastri in The Cholas (1935), the Chola administrative framework was built on two foundational units: the Sabha for Brahmin settlements and the Ur for non-Brahmin villages. These were not symbolic councils but elected bodies with real powers over revenue, irrigation, temple management, and even justice. 'It was democracy at the grassroots — built into the fabric of Tamil civic life,' Sastri wrote in Chapter VIII, 'Local Self-Government'. But what made the system particularly striking was the method of voting, a process called the Kudavolai system or 'ballot pot' election. Under this method, as detailed in the Uttaramerur Inscriptions documented in Epigraphia Indica Vol. XXII (1933–34), the names of eligible candidates were inscribed on palm leaves and placed inside a pot. A young boy, typically chosen for his impartiality, would draw the lot in full public view. This randomised draw was not a game of chance but a civic ritual rooted in transparency, fairness, and collective consent. While many historians say it as one designed to combine divine will and civic integrity, essentially to ensure that power was not monopolised by dynastic elites, eligibility criteria under the system were strict. Candidates had to own tax-paying land, be between 35 and 70 years old, possess knowledge of Vedic texts or administration, and have no record of crime or domestic abuse. Debt defaulters, alcoholics, and close relatives of sitting members were disqualified. 'The disqualifications were perhaps even more revealing than the qualifications, laying out a moral vision of public service,' Sastri wrote. Accountability was embedded. Annual audits were mandatory. Misappropriation of funds or dereliction of duty could lead to disqualification from future office, a radical mechanism even by modern standards. Inscription no. 24 from Epigraphia Indica details the dismissal of a treasury officer over embezzlement, followed by a fine. These weren't isolated experiments. As Anirudh Kanisetti notes in Lords of the Earth and Sea (Penguin, 2023), the Chola model of statecraft relied heavily on decentralised administrative systems. By empowering merchant guilds such as the Manigramam and Ayyavole, and sustaining local assemblies, the Cholas expanded both trade and legitimacy. 'Imperial rule,' Kanisetti wrote, 'was constructed not just through conquest, but by engineering sustainable civic systems'. This is the vision Modi looked to tap into when he said, 'We hear about kings who brought gold, silver, and livestock after conquests. But Rajendra Chola brought Gangajal', a reference to the emperor's symbolic act of bringing Ganga water to his new capital, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, in 1025 CE. The act, memorialised in copper plates (as cited in Sastri's The Cholas), was described as building a 'liquid pillar of victory (ganga-jalamayam jayastambham)', merging military triumph with ritual statecraft. However, the Chola system was far from egalitarian in the modern sense. It excluded women, labourers, and landless groups. But as historian Tansen Sen wrote in The Military Campaigns of Rajendra Chola, the Cholas were masters of strategic signalling, not just through naval conquests but in governance structures that prefigured electoral thought.
Iraq Business
08-07-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Rasheed Bank Launches Solar Energy Loans
By John Lee. State-owned Rasheed Bank has launched specialised loans for purchasing renewable energy systems, specifically solar panels, with financing provided directly by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). The initiative allows citizens and public sector employees to apply for loans of up to 30 million Iraqi dinars [$21,000], at an interest rate of just 3 percent. The bank says the move aligns with Iraq's national strategy to promote clean, sustainable energy and reduce reliance on traditional power sources. Applicants are invited to apply via the "Ur" platform, with Rasheed Bank promising a simplified process designed to reach as many people as possible. (Source: Rasheed Bank)
Iraqi News
07-07-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Al-Rasheed Bank launches 30M IQD loans for solar energy systems with 3% interest
Baghdad ( – Al-Rasheed Bank announced on Monday (July 7, 2025) the launch of a new loan program for citizens and employees to purchase renewable (solar) energy systems. The initiative offers loans up to 30 million Iraqi dinars. In a statement, the bank confirmed the program is directly financed by the Central Bank of Iraq and comes with a low interest rate of just 3%. The application process is streamlined and will be conducted through the government's 'Ur' electronic platform to ensure wide accessibility. This initiative aims to support clean and sustainable energy projects, aligning with the Iraqi government's strategy to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources and promote environmental and economic development. By providing accessible financing for individual solar panel installations, Al-Rasheed Bank and the Central Bank are taking a practical step to encourage the grassroots adoption of renewable energy across Iraq.
Iraqi News
16-03-2025
- Health
- Iraqi News
Mass Graves in Iraq: bloody testimonies of Baathist crimes that will not be forgotten
Baghdad – INA Iraq marks the grim anniversary of crimes committed by Saddam Hussein's Baathist regime against its people—atrocities that include Halabja massacre, the Anfal campaign, mass graves, the Shaaban uprising, the assassination of scientists, and targeted attacks on political parties. These crimes, embodied in hundreds of mass graves discovered before 2003, were later echoed by the horrors perpetrated by terrorist groups before and after 2014. Judicial and governmental efforts continue to hold perpetrators accountable for these atrocities, which remain an indelible stain on the history of a regime that had no place for humanity in its doctrine. Rights for Martyrs' Families Abdullah Al-Naeli, head of the Martyrs Foundation, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that laws governing the foundation and victims of terrorism provide financial and moral rights to the families of martyrs. These rights include pensions for all categories of martyrs—whether victims of the former Baathist regime, terrorism, or members of the Popular Mobilization Forces and security services. 'All these groups receive equal pensions of 1.2 million Iraqi dinars per month, in addition to being granted residential plots and inclusion in health insurance and social welfare programs,' he said. However, al-Naeli acknowledged that financial constraints prevent the foundation from fully covering all affected families. He added that efforts are underway to activate the Martyrs Fund, established in 2024, to support programs benefiting victims' families. The foundation has also launched a health insurance registration portal through the 'Ur' platform, allowing for the classification of beneficiaries and coordination with hospitals inside and outside Iraq to ensure medical care for martyrs' families. Al-Naeli emphasized the foundation's role in documenting human rights violations, from those committed by the Baathist regime to those by ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Furthermore, he highlighted the establishment of a National Registry for the Missing, spearheaded by the Mass Graves Directorate, to document individuals who disappeared under Saddam's rule and in post-2003 conflicts. This registry aims to substantiate claims for financial compensation and legal recognition for victims' families. Mass Graves: Silent Witnesses to Genocide Diaa Karim, Director-General of the Mass Graves Directorate, told INA that Iraq has documented two main categories of mass graves: those resulting from Baathist-era crimes and those linked to terrorist organizations. 'Some of the most infamous sites are in the Samawah desert, where mass graves contain massive numbers of victims, predominantly women and children. The gruesome nature of these burials suggests a systematic and brutal campaign of extermination—remains are often intertwined, indicating hasty, large-scale executions,' he said. Statistics indicate that 221 mass grave sites have been identified before and after 2003, including 96 linked to the Baathist regime and 125 attributed to terrorist organizations like ISIS. Of these, 134 sites have been excavated (80 from the Baathist era and 54 from terrorism-related crimes), while 87 remain unexamined. Karim detailed the figures: 300 mass graves have been uncovered (160 from the Baathist era, 140 from terrorist groups). 7,709 sets of remains have been exhumed, with 4,451 linked to Baathist crimes and 3,258 to ISIS and other terror groups. 71 mass graves from terrorist crimes remain unexcavated, along with 16 from the Baathist regime. Terrorist Mass Graves: The Alu Antar Well Diaa Karim pointed to the Alu Antar Well in Mosul as one of the most notorious mass graves linked to ISIS atrocities. 'This site contains numerous victims, whose remains have been found in an unusually well-preserved state, almost mummified. Scientific analysis suggests this is due to the low-lying terrain and the cold temperatures at the time of execution,' he explained. The exhumation process is ongoing, and authorities plan to resume recovery operations in May to retrieve the remaining remains. Government Measures The Mass Graves Protection Directorate is working on a unified missing persons registry, which will provide a definitive count of Iraq's disappeared, covering cases from before and after 2003. Karim revealed that the latest grave site discovered is in the Samawah desert, where aerial imagery and geospatial analysis helped uncover additional burial sites. Authorities have identified seven to eight more potential mass grave locations in the area. 'This issue demands significant resources, as many of these sites are in remote, insecure areas with harsh environmental conditions and deeply interwoven remains. Excavation requires financial allocations, skilled personnel, and international cooperation,' he stressed. Karim emphasized that beyond exhumation, these efforts serve a greater purpose—documenting the crime scenes and preserving evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity. He called for greater international engagement, stating that global recognition and support are essential for ensuring these atrocities are not erased from history. Calls for International Criminal Court Membership Legal expert Abbas Al-Aqabi urged the Iraqi government to reconsider rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC). 'Iraq has suffered from its withdrawal from the ICC in 2005, as it has limited our ability to prosecute international criminals. It is crucial for Iraq to rejoin the court and accede to the Rome Statute, allowing for the prosecution of those responsible for crimes against the Iraqi people. The ICC can only address cases involving its member states,' Al-Aqabi told INA. Judicial Challenges and Prosecution of Perpetrators Legal expert Haider Al-Zalmi noted that Iraq had previously established the High Criminal Court under Law No. 10 of 2005, tasked with prosecuting key figures of Saddam Hussein's regime for genocide and crimes against civilians. However, this court was later dissolved, and its jurisdiction transferred to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq under the Supreme Judicial Council. 'The government is still working to address unresolved cases through the Accountability and Justice Commission, which continues to pursue high-ranking former regime officials involved in mass killings,' he explained. Political analyst Ali Al-Tamimi echoed calls for Iraq to join the Rome Statute, enabling it to hold perpetrators accountable on an international level.
