2011 Kurdish protests in Iraq

Demonstrations and riots in Iraqi Kurdistan 2011 Kurdish protests in Iraq the 2011 Iraqi protests خۆپیشاندانەکانی حەڤدەی شوبات.jpg Security guards in front of the headquarter of Kurdistan Democratic Party responded by shooting into the crowd. 17 February – 30 April 2011(02 17 2011 04 30 2011) Iraqi Kurdistan * Corruption, Nepotism, Arab Spring, Social injusticehttp://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54521 IPS News 17 February 2011 21 July 2011 IRAQ: Protests Spread to Kurdistan Mohammed Salih https://web.archive.org/web/20110703111705/http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54521 3 July 2011 dead dmy-all * Greater autonomy Political reforms * Demonstrations, Riots Kurdistan Kurdish protestersOpposition parties Movement for Change Kurdistan Islamic Union Kurdistan Justice Group Kurdistan Government of Kurdistan border|25px Kurdistan Democratic Party Flag of PUK.svg 25px Patriotic Union of Kurdistan The 2011 Kurdish protests in Iraq (ckb خۆپیشاندانی ١٧ی شوباتی ٢٠١١) were a series of demonstrations and riots against the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraqi Kurdistan. The autonomous region experienced protests that were concurrent with the 2011 Iraqi protests and the wider Arab Spring. The Iraqi Kurdish protests were also related to the 2011 Kurdish protests in Turkey and the 2011–2012 Iranian protests, as well as the civil uprising phase of the Syrian Civil War. Background Inspired by the Arab Spring, the Movement for Change, a major opposition party, called for the resignation of the Cabinet and the disbanding of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The movement was criticized by ruling and opposition parties for causing unnecessary unrest.http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3452.html Rudaw in English The Happening: Latest News and Multimedia about Kurdistan, Iraq and the World – Parties Try To Soothe Gorran's Revolutionary Rage Rudaw.net 13 February 2011 20 August 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110213061403/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3452.html 13 February 2011 Qubad Talabani said that there was no need for the government to disband because "unlike Tunisia and Egypt, there is an open political process with a viable opposition in Kurdistan."http://qubadsblog.com/2011/01/kurdistan-is-not-tunisia/ Kurdistan is not Tunisia qubadsblog.com 29 January 2011 7 July 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131207035304/http://qubadsblog.com/2011/01/kurdistan-is-not-tunisia/ 7 December 2013 dead Despite this criticism, the Movement for Change continued to organise demonstrations. Protests Sulaymaniyah Protests erupted in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, mainly in the city of Sulaimaniya where a crowd of 3000 protesters gathered against corruption and social injustice. The demonstrations turned violent when a group of protesters tried to storm the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and threw rocks at the building. The security guards responded by shooting into the crowd several times to disperse them, during the protest Rezhwan Haji Ali was killed and 57 were wounded.Khalid al-Ansary https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-protests-idUSTRE71G6PF20110217 Two killed, 47 hurt in Iraq protest violence Reuters 20 August 2012http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3468.html Rudaw in English The Happening: Latest News and Multimedia about Kurdistan, Iraq and the World – Five Dead, Dozens Wounded in Iraqi Kurdistan Protest Rudaw.net 20 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20110221073824/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3468.html 21 February 2011 dead dmy-all The Movement for Change took responsibility for the demonstrations but said it had nothing to do with the storming of the building and condemned the attack on the headquarters.Teenager dies, 39 hurt in fresh clashes in Iraq's Kurdistan Mohammed Tawfeeq http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/21/iraq.protests/index.html CNN 21 February 2011 25 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110224073955/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/21/iraq.protests/index.html 24 February 2011 dead In the following weeks the demonstration expanded and reached a height of 7000 protesters. A sit-in demonstration was held and demonstrators occupied the Freedom Square (Saray Azadi in Kurdish) in Sulaymaniyah. About 400 protesters gathered in Sulaimaniya's central square, but at least 50 were hurt when some demonstrators allegedly began to attack police with sticks and stones, leading to a riot.http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-17/world/iraq.unrest_1_riot-police-peaceful-protest-angry-protesters?_s=PM:WORLD CNN 17 April 2011 29 April 2011 At least 50 wounded in Kurdish protest in Iraq Mohammed Tawfeeq https://web.archive.org/web/20110429090739/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-17/world/iraq.unrest_1_riot-police-peaceful-protest-angry-protesters?_s=PM%3AWORLD 29 April 2011 dead http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3473.html Rudaw in English The Happening: Latest News and Multimedia about Kurdistan, Iraq and the World – Most Massive Anti-Govt Protest in Sulaimani Rudaw.net 25 February 2011 20 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20110301184305/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3473.html 1 March 2011 dead dmy-all Religious leaders and other opposition parties joined the protestershttp://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/2/state4716.htm Day Eight of Protest in Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, Religious Leaders Join In. By Karzan Kardozi Ekurd.net 24 February 2011 20 August 2012 25 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225022840/https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/2/state4716.htm dead Security forces clashed with protesters several times and both sides took casualties resulting in the dead of ten peopleAnger Lingers in Iraqi Kurdistan After a Crackdown https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/world/middleeast/19iraq.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss New York Times 18 May 2011 Arango Tim Crackdown On 19 April security forces stormed the main square of Sulaimaniya to impose order and prevent further demonstrations. Security forces were successful in quelling demonstrations.http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/4/state5030.htm Kurdistan Peshmarge Minister gives green light to shoot as PUK extreme elements take charge. By Shwan Zulal Ekurd.net 20 August 2012 27 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210227072355/https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/4/state5030.htm dead Security forced were deployed all around the province making for an uneasy peace between authorities and civilians.http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3614.html Rudaw in English The Happening: Latest News and Multimedia about Kurdistan, Iraq and the World – Heavy Security Causes Anxiety In Sulaimani Rudaw.net 21 April 2011 20 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120315185215/http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/3614.html 15 March 2012 dead dmy-all Parliament The opposition called for a motion of no confidence against the cabinet of prime minister Barham Salih. The motion was rejected with 67 to 28. The opposition said it didn't expect the motion to pass but that it wanted to give a symbolic gesture.Shwan Zulal http://kurdishviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/barham-salih-and-first-motion-of-no.html KURDISH VIEWS: Barham Salih and first motion of no confidence in KRG parliament Kurdishviews.blogspot.com 10 March 2011 20 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120324140914/http://kurdishviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/barham-salih-and-first-motion-of-no.html 24 March 2012 dead Barham Salih responded by saying that the debate "offered opportunity to present achievements, challenges& agenda for expanding reforms. [We] Must listen to voices of people."https://twitter.com/BarhamSalih/status/45811370888933376 Twitter / BarhamSalih: Parliamentary debate offered .. 7 August 2013 Twitter 3 October 2011 Reaction Massoud Barzani: After a week of protests the Kurdistan Regional President Massoud Barzani responded to the protesters saying everyone has the right to protest as long as it is peaceful.http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/2/state4743.htm Massoud Barzani's Response to protests in Iraqi Kurdistan Ekurd.net 20 August 2012 27 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210227074036/https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/2/state4743.htm dead Jalal Talabani: The Iraqi President, whose party relies on the city of Sulaymaniyah for support, said in an interview that the "crowd's demands are inspirational and legitimate".http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/3/state4865.htm Talabani acknowledges protesters and MP vote on their demands. By Shwan Zulal Ekurd.net 20 August 2012 25 February 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210225014004/https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2011/3/state4865.htm dead Amnesty International: Amnesty International called for an end to the crackdown saying: "Iraqi authorities must end the use of intimidation and violence against those Iraqis peacefully calling for political and economic reforms".https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/iraqi-authorities-must-halt-attacks-protesters-2011-04-11 Iraqi authorities must halt attacks on protesters Amnesty International 12 April 2011 20 August 2012 Human Rights Watch: HRW criticized the authorities saying: "In a time when the Middle East is erupting in demands to end repression, the Kurdish authorities are trying to stifle and intimidate critical journalism.https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/05/24/iraqi-kurdistan-growing-effort-silence-media Iraqi Kurdistan: Growing Effort to Silence Media Human Rights Watch 24 May 2011 20 August 2012 " Regional connections Kurdish protesters in Iraqi Kurdistan have expressed solidarity with brethren in Syria and Turkey, and the relative autonomy of the region has helped it to function as a sort of sanctuary for Kurdish leaders and refugees. After the independence of South Sudan in East Africa, some Iraqi Kurds suggested that the example of the South Sudanese peacefully and democratically gaining independence from Arab-dominated Sudan should be a model for the Kurdish population in the Middle East.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\07\21\story_21-7-2011_pg4_8 Daily Times Kurdish nationalism rises with Arab unrest, Sudan split 21 July 2011 21 July 2011 See also Battle of Sulaymaniyah 2011 Dohuk riots 2011–2012 Kurdish protests in Turkey List of protests in the 21st century 2020 Kurdish protests in Sulaymaniyah Governorate References 30em April 2014 Category:Kurdish protests in Iraq Protests Category:2011 protests Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan Category:History of Sulaymaniyah Category:Kurdistan Region in the Iraq War Category:February 2011 in Iraq Category:March 2011 in Iraq Category:April 2011 in Iraq Category:Attacks on government buildings and structures in Iraq Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2011 Category:2011 riots Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in the Kurdistan Region (Iraq)