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Iran
- Kurdish activists in Iran and around the world launched a social media campaign calling on the new U.S. administration to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist entity.
- Four Kurdish civilians have been detained by the Iranian security members for “supporting Kurdish parties against the Islamic revolution” in the Kurdish Saqqez city of Sinna Province. The “Islamic Revolution Court” sentenced three of the detainees for two and half years in prison.
Iraq
- The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq lost a court case against the Dana gas company, which is based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The decision by a Court in London for International Arbitration obligates the KRG to pay Dana gas $121 million for delayed developments of the field that was under contract with the KRG. In 2015 the same court ordered the KRG to pay $1.98 billion to Dana Gas and two others companies over a similar dispute between the two sides.
- The British Minister of Defense Michael Fallon visited the Kurdistan region. During his visit, he met the KRG President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and other KRG officials. Fallon’s visit focused on the developments in the fight against ISIS and the Mosul operation. Fallon expressed his support for the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
- After five months of internal disagreements, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) political bureau held a meeting to discuss the political deadlock in the region. The joint leadership committee of the PUK-Change (Gorran) party also held a meeting amid an unclear vision on whether the PUK will reach a new agreement with the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP) to form a new government.
Syria
- During an interview with the Washington Kurdish Institute (WKI) the Co-chair of the Democratic Syria Council, Ilhamd Ahmed said: “The city of Raqqa is surrounded. The SDF has been able to achieve significant advances.” During a press conference, the spokesperson of the liberation operation of Raqqa, “Wrath of Euphrates,” said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were able to liberate 700km2 northeast of the city. According to the SDF, the third phase of the operation is close to achieving its goals and the troops are only 11km away from the city.
- The People’s Defense Units (YPG) released a statement accusing the Turkish army of “violent attacks on Rojava.” The YPG accused the Turkish army of attempts to enter the Kurdish areas in Syria. “On February 12 the Turkish army attacked the border villages of Esafa and Qawikli to the east of Kobane with heavy weapons,” the statement said. Tensions continue between the YPG and the Turkish army alongside the Syrian-Turkish border.
Turkey
- The Executive Board of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) announced that the Turkish government arrested 318 members of their party in 12 provinces. According to the statement 859 administrators, provincial-district co-chairs and HDP members were detained since July, 15, 2016. While the 12 jailed HDP deputies remain in jail, the prosecutor sought 21 years in prison for a Kurdish deputy of Batman province.
- The referendum for constitutional amendments proposed by Turkey’s ruling party of Justice and Development (AKP) will be held on April 15. The HDP and The Republican People’s Party (CHP) are against granting more powers to Turkey’s president. The Nationalist Movement Party leaders accept the proposal. The recent polls show a “No” vote, against granting more powers to the presidency, is favored to win.
- Thousands of Kurds held marches in support of the imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in cities of Turkey and Europe. The marches took place on the anniversary of Ocalan’s arrest in 1999. Ocalan’s lawyer Sirri Onder told the pro-Kurdish ANF news “As a person that has worked with Mr. Öcalan for three years, I know that the march for peace will lead to equality, freedom and justice despite the obstacles. We will do this all together.”