† Christianity in Kurdistan †

Christians in Kurdistan

2010-06-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Li Diyarbekirê bi navê Hz. Îsa mizgeftek tê çêkirin

2009-09-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

NETKURD
Aktuelbûn: 2009-09-19 12:00:54

Di dîroka îslamê de ev cara yekem e ku bi navê Hezretî Îsa Mizgeftek tê çêkirin. Keşîşê Dêra Dayîka Meryem a Diyarbekirê li hember vê yekê kêfxweşîya xwe anî ziman.

Bi pêşengîya Komeleya Xêrxwazan a Diyarbekir, li Diyarbekirê li taxa “500 Evler”ê bi navê Hezretî Îsa mizgeftek tê çêkirin. Vê komeleyê ji sala damezirandina xwe ji sala 1995an heta niha li Diyarbekirê bi dehan mizgeft daye çêkirin.

Rêvebirên Komeleya Xêrxwazan a Diyarbekir, vê projeyê wek projeya xurtkirina diyaloga navbera misilman û xiristiyanan û rêlibergirtina pevçûnên olî binav dikin.

Keşîşê Dêra Dayîka Meryem a Diyarbekirê Yusuf Akbulut kefweşîya xwe ji bo çêkirina Mizgefta Hz. Îsa wiha anî ziman: “Ev proje, ji bo alema îslam û xiristiyan gaveke dîrokîye. Ez neşaşbim di dîroka îslamê de ev cara yekem e ku bi navê Hz. Îsa mizgeftek tê çêkirin. Ev ciyê kefxweşîyê ye. Em wek cemaeta xiristiyan piştgirî didin çêkirina vê mizgeftê û yên ku vê mizgeftê didin çêkirin ji dil û can pîroz dikin.”

Serokê Dêra Protestan a Diyarbekirê Ahmet Guvener jî ji bo çêkirina Mizgefta Hz. Îsa kefxweşîya xwe anî ziman û dazanîn ku tu mezhûrek ji bo çêkirina vê mizgeftê nîn e.

Muftîyê Peyasê (Kayapinarê) Abdulkerîm Melikoglu jî di heqê çêkirina Mizgefta Hz. Îsa de wiha got: “Belê rast e, di nava sînorê qezaya me de bi navê Hz Îsa mizgeftek tê çêkirin. Li hemberî vê yekê hem reaksiyonên erênî û hem jî yên neyênî hene. Hz. Îsa pêxemberekî Xwedê ye û divê em îman bi wî jî bînin. Ciyê hemû pêxemberan li ba me yek e. Meriv dikare çêkirina Mizgefta Hz. Îsa wek destpêkirina diyaloga navbera olan binav bike."

Jesus Christ to Kurdistan

2009-07-10T03:05:00.000-07:00

Ken Raggio link

Pray for the people of Kurdistan

2009-06-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

Prayer guide for Kurds:

* Pray for the very small number of Christians among the Kurds, Assyrians and Armenians. May they put their trust fully in King Jesus, while growing and being strengthened in the faith.

* Pray also that the complete New Testament can be translated into all languages as soon as possible, be approved for publication, printed and distributed. May audio and video versions of the Gospel also be widely distributed.

The Christian Quarters in Sulaimaniya

2009-06-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Christian quarters traditionally lie in the eastern part of the city, along with one of three churches. The oldest church was built in 1862. Most indigenous Christians belong to the Chaldean Church, an ancient oriental church linked with the Church of Rome. Evangelical missions in Kurdistan began around 1830. Only a few isolated Kurds from an Islamic background have found faith in Jesus Christ. Many are held back by fear of being excluded from the Islamic community.

Prayer for the Oppressed: Psalm 10

2009-06-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

My heart is gripped with God’s emotions and concern for the fatherless of the earth. Especially those afflicted and oppressed. Praying through these gut wrenching images God has put in my mind has lead me to Psalm 10. Although I have read it many times, it was like it was the first. If your interested in seeing God’s heart for these dear ones of the earth, check out Psalm 10. I have attached a short bible study/xref on the psalm, along with a prayer of my heart.Psalm 10 and Prayer for Afflicted

Qubad Talabani - Religious freedom in Kurdistan

2009-06-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

"KRG Minister of Tourism in DC, as he is Assyrian means we'll likely focus more on religious freedom issues in Iraq than tourism in Kurdistan"

Kurdish Christian radio > Radio Mizgin

2009-03-17T00:43:00.000-07:00

ERF.DE > RADIO MIZGIN

Gazîkirina Lêwî (16.03.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Bacgir û Fêrisî (09.03.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Tengahî (02.03.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Zexayos (23.02.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Peyva Xwedê wek tov e (16.02.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mirov bi rehma Xwedê xilas dibe. (09.02.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Bihişt 2 (02.02.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Bihişt 1 (26.01.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Dojeh 2 (19.01.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream
Dojeh 1 (12.01.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mizgînî çi ye? 2 (05.01.2009) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mizgînî çi ye? 1 (29.12.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Silamet 6 (22.12.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Silamet 5 (15.12.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Silamet 4 (08.12.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Silamet 3 (01.12.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Silamet 2 (24.11.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Silamet 1 (17.11.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Kurê windabûyî. (10.11.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream
Ronahî û Tarî. (03.11.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Hezkirina rastin. (27.10.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Şivanê qenc 2 (20.10.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Şivanê qenc 1 (13.10.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Ez ji bo te dimirim 2 (06.10.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Ez ji bo te dimirim 1 (29.09.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Xemxwarin (22.09.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Dua 4 (15.09.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Psalms page 6 (09.09.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Dua 3 (08.09.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream
Dua 2 (01.09.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Dua 1 (25.08.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Lê ku ew afû bike? (18.08.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mesîh kî ye? 8 (11.08.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mesîh kî ye? 7 (04.08.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mesîh kî ye? 6 (28.07.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mesîh kî ye? 5 (21.07.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mesîh kî ye? 4 (14.07.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mesîh kî ye? 3 (07.07.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Mesîh kî ye? 2 (30.06.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream
Mesîh kî ye? 1 (23.06.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Çawa em dikarin herin bihiştê? 2 (17.06.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Çawa em dikarin herin bihiştê? 1 (09.06.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Ûnis pêxember. 2 (02.06.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Ûnis pêxember 1 (26.05.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Bawerî. (19.05.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Aqûb. 5 (05.05.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Aqûb. 4 (28.04.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Aqûb. 3 (21.04.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Aqûb. 2 (14.04.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream
Aqûb. 1 (07.04.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Îsa çima hat dinyayê? 4 (31.03.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Îsa çima hat dinyayê? 3 (24.03.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Îsa çima hat dinyayê? 2 (17.03.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Îsa çima hat dinyayê? 1 (10.03.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Du xanî. 4 (03.03.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Du xanî. 3 (25.02.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Du xanî. 2 (18.02.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Du xanî. 1 (11.02.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Eyûb. 3 (04.02.2008) - MP3: Download | Stream

Christian missioners in Kurdistan

2009-03-17T00:20:00.000-07:00

http://kurdishcommission.faithforthefamily.com/

Some Information and pictures

As we returned to Dohuk, we stopped at the top of the mountain range which overlooks the city to pray. We prayed with these gracious men that God would call out of Kurdistan a people for His name. God gave us a sweet time of fellowship with these brothers in Christ.

Praying for a free Kurdistan in Duhok

Pastor in Duhok

Church in Duhok

God has no language barriers and He hears each of our prayers.

Today was a very eventful yet very profitable day. The Lord blessed us in a great way with encouraging trips to several villages outside the city of Dohuk. We hit the ground running by meeting with house churches in villages near the Iraqi-Syrian border. The above photo is the meeting with the house church in Zakho.

Orthodox Church in Zaxo

Priest in Duhok

2009-03-17T00:18:00.001-07:00

Pastor Bahzad and his family

Catolic priest and two Kurdish men

2009-03-17T00:12:00.000-07:00

Old photo

Kurdistan Church Service for Jesus Christ

2009-03-16T03:40:00.000-07:00

Kurdish shepherd accidentaly finds 'Garden of Eden' in Kurdistan

2009-03-01T01:43:00.000-08:00

For the old Kurdish shepherd, it was just another burning hot day in the rolling plains of eastern Turkey. Following his flock over the arid hillsides, he passed the single mulberry tree, which the locals regarded as 'sacred'. The bells on his sheep tinkled in the stillness. Then he spotted something. Crouching down, he brushed away the dust, and exposed a strange, large, oblong stone.

The man looked left and right: there were similar stone rectangles, peeping from the sands. Calling his dog to heel, the shepherd resolved to inform someone of his finds when he got back to the village. Maybe the stones were important.

They certainly were important. The solitary Kurdish man, on that summer's day in 1994, had made the greatest archaeological discovery in 50 years. Others would say he'd made the greatest archaeological discovery ever: a site that has revolutionised the way we look at human history, the origin of religion - and perhaps even the truth behind the Garden of Eden.

The site has been described as 'extraordinary' and 'the most important' site in the world

A few weeks after his discovery, news of the shepherd's find reached museum curators in the ancient city of Sanliurfa, ten miles south-west of the stones.

They got in touch with the German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul. And so, in late 1994, archaeologist Klaus Schmidt came to the site of Gobekli Tepe (pronounced Go-beckly Tepp-ay) to begin his excavations.

As he puts it: 'As soon as I got there and saw the stones, I knew that if I didn't walk away immediately I would be here for the rest of my life.'

Remarkable find: A frieze from Gobekli Tepe

Schmidt stayed. And what he has uncovered is astonishing. Archaeologists worldwide are in rare agreement on the site's importance. 'Gobekli Tepe changes everything,' says Ian Hodder, at Stanford University.

David Lewis-Williams, professor of archaeology at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, says: 'Gobekli Tepe is the most important archaeological site in the world.'

Some go even further and say the site and its implications are incredible. As Reading University professor Steve Mithen says: 'Gobekli Tepe is too extraordinary for my mind to understand.'

So what is it that has energised and astounded the sober world of academia?

The site of Gobekli Tepe is simple enough to describe. The oblong stones, unearthed by the shepherd, turned out to be the flat tops of awesome, T-shaped megaliths. Imagine carved and slender versions of the stones of Avebury or Stonehenge.

Most of these standing stones are inscribed with bizarre and delicate images - mainly of boars and ducks, of hunting and game. Sinuous serpents are another common motif. Some of the megaliths show crayfish or lions.

The stones seem to represent human forms - some have stylised 'arms', which angle down the sides. Functionally, the site appears to be a temple, or ritual site, like the stone circles of Western Europe.

To date, 45 of these stones have been dug out - they are arranged in circles from five to ten yards across - but there are indications that much more is to come. Geomagnetic surveys imply that there are hundreds more standing stones, just waiting to be excavated.

So far, so remarkable. If Gobekli Tepe was simply this, it would already be a dazzling site - a Turkish Stonehenge. But several unique factors lift Gobekli Tepe into the archaeological stratosphere - and the realms of the fantastical.

The Garden of Eden come to life: Is Gobekli Tepe where the story began?

The first is its staggering age. Carbon-dating shows that the complex is at least 12,000 years old, maybe even 13,000 years old.

That means it was built around 10,000BC. By comparison, Stonehenge was built in 3,000 BC and the pyramids of Giza in 2,500 BC.

Gobekli is thus the oldest such site in the world, by a mind-numbing margin. It is so old that it predates settled human life. It is pre-pottery, pre-writing, pre-everything. Gobekli hails from a part of human history that is unimaginably distant, right back in our hunter-gatherer past.

How did cavemen build something so ambitious? Schmidt speculates that bands of hunters would have gathered sporadically at the site, through the decades of construction, living in animal-skin tents, slaughtering local game for food.

The many flint arrowheads found around Gobekli support this thesis; they also support the dating of the site.

This revelation, that Stone Age hunter-gatherers could have built something like Gobekli, is worldchanging, for it shows that the old hunter-gatherer life, in this region of Turkey, was far more advanced than we ever conceived - almost unbelievably sophisticated.

The shepherd who discovered Gobekli Tepe has 'changed everything', said one academic

It's as if the gods came down from heaven and built Gobekli for themselves.

This is where we come to the biblical connection, and my own involvement in the Gobekli Tepe story.

About three years ago, intrigued by the first scant details of the site, I flew out to Gobekli. It was a long, wearying journey, but more than worth it, not least as it would later provide the backdrop for a new novel I have written.

Back then, on the day I arrived at the dig, the archaeologists were unearthing mind-blowing artworks. As these sculptures were revealed, I realised that I was among the first people to see them since the end of the Ice Age.

And that's when a tantalising possibility arose. Over glasses of black tea, served in tents right next to the megaliths, Klaus Schmidt told me that, in his opinion, this very spot was once the site of the biblical Garden of Eden. More specifically, as he put it: 'Gobekli Tepe is a temple in Eden.'

To understand how a respected academic like Schmidt can make such a dizzying claim, you need to know that many scholars view the Eden story as folk-memory, or allegory.

Seen in this way, the Eden story, in Genesis, tells us of humanity's innocent and leisured hunter-gatherer past, when we could pluck fruit from the trees, scoop fish from the rivers and spend the rest of our days in pleasure.

But then we 'fell' into the harsher life of farming, with its ceaseless toil and daily grind. And we know primitive farming was harsh, compared to the relative indolence of hunting, because of the archaeological evidence.

To date, archaeologists have dug 45 stones out of the ruins at Gobekli

When people make the transition from hunter-gathering to settled agriculture, their skeletons change - they temporarily grow smaller and less healthy as the human body adapts to a diet poorer in protein and a more wearisome lifestyle. Likewise, newly domesticated animals get scrawnier.

This begs the question, why adopt farming at all? Many theories have been suggested - from tribal competition, to population pressures, to the extinction of wild animal species. But Schmidt believes that the temple of Gobekli reveals another possible cause.

'To build such a place as this, the hunters must have joined together in numbers. After they finished building, they probably congregated for worship. But then they found that they couldn't feed so many people with regular hunting and gathering.

'So I think they began cultivating the wild grasses on the hills. Religion motivated people to take up farming.'

The reason such theories have special weight is that the move to farming first happened in this same region. These rolling Anatolian plains were the cradle of agriculture.

The world's first farmyard pigs were domesticated at Cayonu, just 60 miles away. Sheep, cattle and goats were also first domesticated in eastern Turkey. Worldwide wheat species descend from einkorn wheat - first cultivated on the hills near Gobekli. Other domestic cereals - such as rye and oats - also started here.

The stones unearthed by the shepherd turned out to be the flat tops of T-shaped megaliths

But there was a problem for these early farmers, and it wasn't just that they had adopted a tougher, if ultimately more productive, lifestyle. They also experienced an ecological crisis. These days the landscape surrounding the eerie stones of Gobekli is arid and barren, but it was not always thus. As the carvings on the stones show - and as archaeological remains reveal - this was once a richly pastoral region.

There were herds of game, rivers of fish, and flocks of wildfowl; lush green meadows were ringed by woods and wild orchards. About 10,000 years ago, the Kurdish desert was a 'paradisiacal place', as Schmidt puts it. So what destroyed the environment? The answer is Man.

As we began farming, we changed the landscape and the climate. When the trees were chopped down, the soil leached away; all that ploughing and reaping left the land eroded and bare. What was once an agreeable oasis became a land of stress, toil and diminishing returns.

And so, paradise was lost. Adam the hunter was forced out of his glorious Eden, 'to till the earth from whence he was taken' - as the Bible puts it.

Of course, these theories might be dismissed as speculations. Yet there is plenty of historical evidence to show that the writers of the Bible, when talking of Eden, were, indeed, describing this corner of Kurdish Turkey.

Archaeologist Klaus Schmidt poses next to some of the carvings at Gebekli

In the Book of Genesis, it is indicated that Eden is west of Assyria. Sure enough, this is where Gobekli is sited.

Likewise, biblical Eden is by four rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates. And Gobekli lies between both of these.

In ancient Assyrian texts, there is mention of a 'Beth Eden' - a house of Eden. This minor kingdom was 50 miles from Gobekli Tepe.

Another book in the Old Testament talks of 'the children of Eden which were in Thelasar', a town in northern Syria, near Gobekli.

The very word 'Eden' comes from the Sumerian for 'plain'; Gobekli lies on the plains of Harran.

Thus, when you put it all together, the evidence is persuasive. Gobekli Tepe is, indeed, a 'temple in Eden', built by our leisured and fortunate ancestors - people who had time to cultivate art, architecture and complex ritual, before the traumas of agriculture ruined their lifestyle, and devastated their paradise.

It's a stunning and seductive idea. Yet it has a sinister epilogue. Because the loss of paradise seems to have had a strange and darkening effect on the human mind.

Many of Gobekli's standing stones are inscribed with 'bizarre and delicate' images, like this reptile

A few years ago, archaeologists at nearby Cayonu unearthed a hoard of human skulls. They were found under an altar-like slab, stained with human blood.

No one is sure, but this may be the earliest evidence for human sacrifice: one of the most inexplicable of human behaviours and one that could have evolved only in the face of terrible societal stress.

Experts may argue over the evidence at Cayonu. But what no one denies is that human sacrifice took place in this region, spreading to Palestine, Canaan and Israel.

Archaeological evidence suggests that victims were killed in huge death pits, children were buried alive in jars, others roasted in vast bronze bowls.

These are almost incomprehensible acts, unless you understand that the people had learned to fear their gods, having been cast out of paradise. So they sought to propitiate the angry heavens.

This savagery may, indeed, hold the key to one final, bewildering mystery. The astonishing stones and friezes of Gobekli Tepe are preserved intact for a bizarre reason.

Long ago, the site was deliberately and systematically buried in a feat of labour every bit as remarkable as the stone carvings.

The stones of Gobekli Tepe are trying to speak to us from across the centuries - a warning we should heed

Around 8,000 BC, the creators of Gobekli turned on their achievement and entombed their glorious temple under thousands of tons of earth, creating the artificial hills on which that Kurdish shepherd walked in 1994.

No one knows why Gobekli was buried. Maybe it was interred as a kind of penance: a sacrifice to the angry gods, who had cast the hunters out of paradise. Perhaps it was for shame at the violence and bloodshed that the stone-worship had helped provoke.

Whatever the answer, the parallels with our own era are stark. As we contemplate a new age of ecological turbulence, maybe the silent, sombre, 12,000-year-old stones of Gobekli Tepe are trying to speak to us, to warn us, as they stare across the first Eden we destroyed.

Christian autonomy in Kurdistan

2009-02-11T06:55:00.001-08:00

Kurdistan Otonomîyê dide suryanî-kildanî-asûriyan

NETKURD
Aktuelbûn:14:22 - 11/2/2009

Partî û aliyên Mesîhî yên Kurdistanê daxwazê dikin di destûra Herêma Kurdistanê de mafê otonomiyê li wan navçeyên ku piranî tê de ne bê çespandin.

Partî û aliyên Mesîhî yên Kurdistanê daxwazê dikin di destûra Herêma Kurdistanê de mafê otonomiyê li wan navçeyên ku piranî tê de ne bê çespandin. Serokê Partiya Nîştîman a Asûrî dibêje, rêvebiriya siyasî ya Kurdistanê bi vê daxwazê razî ye.

Hefteya derbasbûyî serokê Parlamentoya Herêma Kurdistanê Ednan Mûftî ragihand ku projeya destûra Herêma Kurdistanê temam bûye. Rewaneyî Serokê Herêma Kurdistanê û bi rêya endamên parlamentoyê jî rewaneyî aliyên siyasî hatiye kirin, ji bo bal û têbiniyên xwe li serê diyar bikin.

Endan Mûftî ragihand çepemeniyê ku yek ji wan xalan hîn jî nehatiye yekalîkirin. Ew jî meseleya danîna navekî hevbeş ji bo Mesîhiyan di destûrê de ye: “Ew bi xwe di vê derbarê de nakok in û pêwîs te li ser navekî hevgirtî rêk bikevin.”

Lê aliyên Asûrî wê yekê reddikin ku li ser meseleya nav nakokiyek di navbera wan de hebe û dibêjin hemû alî pêkhatîne navê wan wek “Suryanî-Kildanî-Asûrî” bê danîn.

Lê Kildanî û bi taybet jî Partiya Nîştîmanî a Kildanî ya bi Serokatiya Eblehed Efram daxwazê dike ku Kildan ji Asûriyan wek netewekî cuda bê hesabkirin û ev yek jî di destûra herdemî ya İraqê de çespaye.

Serokê Partiya Nîştîman a Asûriyan Nemrud Bîto ragihand Rûdawê ku di destûra İraqê de navê Mesîhiyan bi Kildan û Asûriyan ve hatiye tomarkirin, û ew naxwazin ev yek di destûra Herêma Kurdistanê de dûbare bibe: “Em yek gel în û dixwazîn navek di destûra Herêma Kurdistanê de bi “Suryanî-Kildanî-Asûrî” bê danîn û di nava navan de bêhnûk yan jî “û” bê danîn.

Di derbarê vê yekê de Serokê Partiya Bet Nehrîn Romyo Hekarî ku dariştina destûra nuneriya Mesîhiyan dike, ji Rûdawê re wiha got: “Hemû aliyên gelê (Suryanî-Kildanî-Asûrî) ji şeş mehan zêdetir e bi şeklekî fermî yadaştname dayîne licneya nivîsîngeha destûrê. Maddeya projeyê dibêje, gelê Kurdistanê ji gelên Kurd, Tirkmen, Kildan, Asûrî û Ermenî pêkhatiye. Em li dijî vê birgeyê ne û me pêşniyaz kiriye ku bê nivîsandin gelê Kurdistanê ji Kurd û gelên Kildanî-Suryanî-Asûrî,Tirkmen pêkhatiye û êdî ew licneye azad in çi netewek din zêde bikin. Lê ya ku me bike bi sê netew, ev ne cihê pejirandinê ye û em di wê baweriyê de ne zilmek li me tê kirin. Çawa di destûra İraqê de ev zilm li me hatiye kirin û ji qesta em ji dû netewan zêdetir kirîne.”

Romyo Hekarî daxwaz kir ku: “Ew şaşiya di destûra İraqê de hat kirin, divê bê rastkirin. Eger bêjin divê navek bi şeklekê be ku di destûra İraqê de heye, bi rastî ev bahaneya wê yekê ye ku carek din zilm li me bê kirin.”

Nemrûd Bêto ragihand ku hemû aliyên Mesîhiyan pêkhatîne li ser wê yekê ku reşnivîsa destûrê berî ku destkarî tê de bêkirin, li rûyê garantîkirina mafê wan û nav anîna wan de ne di asta pêwîst de bû: “Piştî wê yadaştnameya me daye parlamentoyê, ji serokê parlamentoyê û herdû serokê partiyan ve jî hatiye piştrastkirin ku daxwazên me di wê projeyasayê de bicih bikin.”

Di derbarê mafê otonomiyê de adara derbasbûyî, aliyên Mesîhî pêşniyazek pêşkêşî licneya dariştina destûrê kir. Yek ji wan xalan jî ji damezirandina navçeyeka otonom ya li navçeya Nînova pêkhatîbû. Ji berî vê jî Wezîrê Darayî Sergîs Axacan ev pêşniyaz kiribû. Lê Romyo Hekarî ew yek redkir ku wan daxwaza navçeyeka diyarkirî kiribin û got: “Daxwaza me otonomi ye, ne navçeyeka otonom e. Em daxwaza otonomiyê li navçeyeka gelê xwe dikîn û em tê de piranî bîn. Nimûne jî Qereqoş, ango Hemedaniye. Navçeyên Bertîle, Elqoş, Tilkêf û ew cihane. Hilbijartina civata wîlayetan ya di hefteya derbasbûyî de diyar kir ku gelê me di wan navçeyan de piranî ne. Ya em daxwazê dikîn, gelê me li wan navçeyan mafê xwe rêvebirinê hebin li gor sîstema otonomîyê.”

Herçend nêrînek heye ku dibêje biryardan li ser otonomiyê ji desthilata federali ye, ne ya herêman: “Çêdibe di lîsteya federalî de çend herêm hebin û di nava herêman de jî navçeyên otonom hebin.”

Her di vê derbarê de Nemrûd Bîto ragihand ku ya ew daxwaz dikin, pêdana mafê otonomiyê wek meseleyeka mebdeî ye û got: “Ya em dixwazîn ew e ku ew destûr bêje mafê wî gelî heye, ne şert e sinorê coxrafî yê wê navçeyê bê diyarkirin. Lê danîn bi mafê pêkanîna navçeyekî otonom ji bo gelê Suryan-Kildan-Asûrî tiştekî giring e. Êdî wirdekariyên din yên wek; wê navçe li kuderê be, sinor û desthilata wan çi ye? Ji xwe di destûrê de behsa van tiştane nayê kirin û tenê destûr biryarê li ser tiştên mebdaî dide.”

Herwiha Nemrud Bîto ragihand ku wan hîn jî dariştina dawî ya projeya destûrê nedîtîye. Lê li gor statîstîkên siyasî yên Kurdistanê gihaye wan, çaverê dikin ku proje destûr tevayî mafên wan garantî bike. Tekoşîn jî li ser wê yekê kir ku: “Em naxwazîn wek Mesîhî bên binavkirin. Rast e bi ol em Mesîhî ne, lê em daxwaza mafê Mesîhîbûnê nakîn. Yanê mesele netewî ye, ne ayînî ye. Ya em dixwazîn ew e ku mafên me wek netewe bên diyarkirin, ne wek grûbeka ayînî ku bi dirûstkirina çend dêr, terxankirina azadiya îbadet û rojî girtinê bi dawî tê.”

Serokê Partiya Bet Nehrîn Romyo Hekarî jî dibêje ku di ew hewl didin ku piştgiriya hemû aliyan ji bo bidestxistina mafên xwe bigrin: “Heta niha her sê serokatiyên li Herêma Kurdistanê ji bo mafê otonomiyê piştgiriya wan kirîne.”

Serokê Licneya Dariştina Destûrê yê li Parlemena Herêma Kurdistanê Şêrwan Heyderî dûpat kir ku li gor dariştina dawî ya projeyê, mafê Mesîhiyan li navçeyên piranî ya xwe birêvebirinê heye. Lê Romyo Hekarî jî dibêje; “divê mafê otonomiyê têde hebe û daxwazê dikîn ew maf bê bicihkirin.

Serokê Partiya Bet Nehrîn piştgiriya sîstema kota ya ji hilbijartinê kir û got: “Li gel wê yekê ne ku sîstema kotayê hebe. Ango taybetmendî hebe, lê ne bi şeklê sala 1992an. Ji ber ku heta niha bi şeklekî fermî nehatiye cêgîrkirin ku divê 5 endamên gelê Kildan-Sûryanî-Asûrî li parlemenê hebin. Em daxwazê dikîn ji berî encamdayîna hilbijartinê ev yek bê çespandin, bi şeklekî herdemî 5 endamên wan li parlemenê hebin û ev taybetmendî bê reçawkirin.”

The Kurdistan Brothers (Muslim convert to Christian)

2009-02-09T06:35:00.001-08:00

A brother is born for adversity according to an old proverb and the two brothers in the following story illustrate the truth of that saying. When the younger one broke with tradition the older one wanted to break his neck. This is the true story of Syeed and Kocka, two brothers from Kurdistan who were adversaries until their minds, and hearts and lives were unshackled.

Movie about Jesus in Kurdish

2009-02-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

Werin hevalino

2009-02-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

Gods plan (Plana Xwede, Sorani)

2009-02-09T06:03:00.000-08:00

Part 1

The Lord's Prayer in Arameic - language of Jesus Chist

2009-02-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

Kurdish writer finds God through Bible translation

2009-02-09T05:59:00.000-08:00

USB SPECIAL REPORT 27, http://www.biblesociety.org/sr_27/sr27_14.htm

A well-known Kurdish leader, writer and historian recently became a Christian after working on the translation of the Kurdish New Testament. This is his testimony.

“I am from a Muslim family – my father was a well-known and powerful Islamic leader and we were raised as good Muslims. As a student I was a tireless searcher, reading Islamic theology, history, philosophy and mythology, but I was faithless in my heart.

“One day in 1993 I was approached by the Bible Society who asked me to participate in the translation of the new Kurdish New Testament. I accepted with joy and respect. ‘Now my people will be able to read something in their own language,’ I thought, ‘and that will strengthen our culture.’

Love his enemy?

“I started translating the Book of Matthew. When I came to Matthew 5:44, I was amazed at what I was reading – I could not understand how a man could love his enemy. In my tradition, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ contained the notion of justice. I had never read anything like this before and I was shaken.

Small and humble

“I closed my eyes and saw Jesus standing there in front of me. I felt so small and humble. I looked up at Jesus and accepted him as my saviour. My heart was rejoicing. For years I had been longing for something that I could not explain but now I felt I had found peace and belonged to God.

“I have travelled much in my life, in Syria, Iraq and other countries in the Orient. I do not want to get involved in politics but I have seen so much pain and suffering caused by hatred and evil. I want to pass God’s love on to others and to establish a Kurdish church for my people.

“I feel very fortunate to have discovered Christ. I still have many Muslim imam friends and many university professors are my personal friends. I miss no opportunity to explain my faith to them, and they respect me for what I stand for.

“I recently donated a large library of 4,000 books to a Kurdish academic foundation, comprising an important collection of Islamic theological books as well as Christian literature. I gave them on condition that the Christian books would never be separated from the rest.

“I am most grateful to the Bible Society for their work in Turkey and for asking me to participate in the translation of the Kurdish New Testament.” (SR 27/14 - 11.01)

Persecution of Christians in Turkey

2009-02-07T01:27:00.000-08:00

Persecution of Christians in Turkey

Christianity in Kurdistan

2009-02-06T10:03:00.001-08:00

Revival Comes to the Muslim World

By Chris Mitchell

CBN News Mideast Bureau Chief

February 6, 2009

CBNNews.com - IRAQ - Some call it a revolution in the Middle East but it's not the result of political movement. Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus Christ in large numbers.

A worship service in northern Iraq is one example of the biblical revolution going on throughout the Middle East. The body of believers live in the predominately Kurdish area of Iraq that some refer to as Iraqi Kurdistan.

Because of their culture and upbringing, they're often referred to as Muslim background believers.

A Biblical Revolution

"The Bible makes us feel like the Book of Acts will be repeated here in Kurdistan," said one Kurdish pastor.

In Erbil, the government officially sanctioned the Kurdsman Church in 2004. This church represents an historic breakthrough in church history. It's the first Kurdish church in 1400 years.

"So this is the first time for the Kurdish people that they have a church. Sometimes when the non-believers come to the church, they see that we are singing and shouting, teaching in the Kurdish language, they will be surprised," said Pastor Majeed Muhammed, the church's pastor.

In another church in Suleimania, an entire group of worshippers is made up of former Muslims including their pastor, Pastor Zagros Saeed, who is a former Muslim cleric.

"I was one of those before I came to believe the message that I should kill the others. Sometimes I wanted to kill my wife because she did not cover her hair. But when I found my life in Jesus, when I surrendered my life to God, Matthew 5 tells me to love my enemies," Saeed said.

Others throughout the region have also been transformed.

"I'm very happy that Jesus came and knocked on the door of my heart and that I got to know the real God in a real way of life," said one convert.

Another convert said, "Before becoming a believer I always felt there was something missing in my life, as if I had lost something. That feeling was constantly with me. Now that I'm a believer that feeling is gone. I know that I have found what was missing in my life."

Huge Potential for Growth

Tom Doyle works with Muslims throughout the Middle East and says the church's potential for growth is amazing.

"In Syria and in Jordan and Iraq and Afghanistan great things are happening and many Muslims are open to the Lord Jesus Christ right now," Doyle said.

"Just in the four countries we work in, we're projecting one hundred new churches just in Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt," he explained. "In Iran, the ministries that are working together are projecting 10,000 churches in Iran next year. That's how fast they're opening up to the Gospel." Turkey

Turkey is another Middle Eastern country where more Muslims are coming to faith in Jesus.

One Turkish believer told CBN News many Muslims come to church after seeing a vision or having a dream: "The people saw a vision about Jesus, even if they not read the Bible, even if they don't know anything about the New Testament or about the church, they just see Jesus in their dream."

Pastor Saeed had two dreams, one in 1988 and the other in 1999.

"I saw Jesus another time in my dream in 1999," he recalled. "He didn't leave me alone. He came to me again. He said I love you and I want you to be saved."

Join the Spiritual Revolution

So how can believers around the world join in this spiritual revolution? Leaders here say the answer is prayer.

Doyle explained, "The most important thing the leadership tells us here in the Middle East - and we shouldn't be surprised at this - is that as the prayer teams grow around the world for them that the work just takes off."

"So the more that people pray for God's Spirit to rest on these young men and women to share the Gospel," he continued, "the more He just furthers the Kingdom of God."

And the message coming from these believers is the 2,000 year old message of the Gospel.

"I want to tell the world, accept the love of God. It will be today or in the future, they have to kneel to God. It's better to do it right now."

Kongra-Gel congratulate the Christians during Christmas

2008-12-27T15:22:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow is the birthday of Jesus and a day that is celebrated solemnly during Christmas. Kurdistan is one of the countries in which the feast was celebrated in the first and it is a feast during which more than 1000 years, celebrated by our Christian brothers and sisters who live among us. Kurdistan is an area where people of different religions have peacefully lived side by side, but throughout history have external forces laid the foundations of several tragedies.

Festivals are days that symbolize joy, peace and quiet, and Christmas is a day that should be celebrated with the same spirit. We as Kongra-Gel congratulate mainly Christians in Kurdistan, but also the Kurdish people and Christians in general over Christmas. We as Kongra-Gel hope it will be a period of quiet and peace.

Merry Christmas wishes

Kongra-Gels presidency

Pictures from Christmas in Kurdistan

2008-12-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

KRG wishes Christians a Merry Christmas

2008-12-27T09:06:00.001-08:00

KRG wishes Christians a Merry Christmas

» Picnic in snowy mountains of Kurdistan Region. A&S Clarry

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Council of Ministers wishes a very Merry Christmas to the Christian community in the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq.

The KRG would also like to extend special Christmas wishes and greetings to all those who escaped from terror and found a safe and peaceful haven in the Kurdistan Region and who are now enjoying a life of peaceful co-existence and rule of law here in the Region.

This Christmas and for the forthcoming New Year, the KRG wishes the best to the people of the Kurdistan Region and hopes that the year 2009 will further enhance democracy, justice and rule of law in the Region and all of Iraq and, brings further prosperity and progress.

We in the KRG look forward with optimism to the New Year and hopes that we will be able to accomplish our goals of providing more services to the people of the Region and ensuring that needs are met in all areas of life, especially public services and the health and education sectors.

The KRG will continue its policies of encouraging further collaboration between the public and private sectors, paying attention to improving the living standards of all its citizens, rehabilitating the countryside, creating equal job opportunities and protecting the environment of the Kurdistan Region. The KRG also aims to create a self-sufficient society that ensures sustainable food security.

There are still many challenges ahead of us. However, the KRG is adamantly committed to the Constitution of Federal Iraq; as a guiding principle and the road map to the political process, for the enhancement of national reconciliation and as a basis for dialogues among all the parties.

We in the KRG will continue in our efforts to support and build a democratic, federal and pluralistic Iraq, where all Iraqi citizens enjoy prosperity, stability and peaceful coexistence in the Kurdistan Region and all of Iraq. We hope that the New Year will bring happiness and further stability to Iraq and all its citizens.

Once again we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

http://www.krg.org/articles/detail.asp?rnr=223&lngnr=12&smap=02010100&anr=27169

Kurdish verision of Suryoyo song Bagiye

2008-12-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

Xaça Îsa ya dîrokî li Amedê derket!?

2008-12-25T11:11:00.001-08:00

Xaça Îsa ya dîrokî li Amedê derket!?
2008 12 18 - 22:34

Xaça ku Îsa pexember pêve hatibu dalaqandin li bakurê Kurdistan li Amedê derket holê. Pexemberê pirtûka muqaddes Încîl/mizgînî Îsa pexember piştî ku ji alîyê împratorîya Bîzansê li Qudsê hatibu dalaqandin jiyana xwe jidest dabu.

Piştî vê buyerê şahbanûya Bîzans, Elena ola xiristiyanîyê dihildibijêrê û tevlî bahwarmendê Îsa pexember dibê.

Ligor agahdarîyên ku ji alîyê berpirsê waqfa Dêra Suryanîyan ya li Amedê Can Şakare rev xaç duwayî ji alîyê Elena tê bidetsxistin û tînê Stenbolê. Piştî mirina şahbanûya Bîzans parçeyek/alîyek vê xeçê ji alîyê bahwarmendêk suryanî tê herêma bakurê Kurdistan ê Amedê.

Ev xaça dîrokî niha li Dêra Suryanîya ya bi navê Meryem Ana ye û dibin parastina polîsê tirk de ye.

Tê gotin ku ev jeyanî niha jibo ku newê dizîn an ji êrîş lê newê kirin nehatîya diyarkirin û tenê di rojên olî yên girîng de jibo mêhvanê dêr tê nîşandan.

Serok Barzanî cejna mesîhîyan pîroz kir

2008-12-25T01:54:00.000-08:00

Serok Barzanî cejna mesîhîyan pîroz kir

NETKURD
Aktuelbûn:23:02 - 24/12/2008

“Em, xwîşk û birayên mesîhî wek beşeke girîng ya herêma Kurdistanê dihesibînin û di bin siya azadî û hikumraniya xwe de ji bo avedankirinê, beşdariyê bi wan dikin.”

Bi minasebeta cejna mesîhîyan, Serokê Kurdistanê Mesûd Barzanî peyameke pîrozbahiyê pêşkêşî mesîhîyan kir.

Peyama Serok Barzanî wihaye:

Bi navê xwedêyê mezin û dilovan

Bi mûnasebeta hatina cejna ji dayikbûna hezretê Îsa Mesîh, civantirîn pîrozbahiyê pêşkêşî hemû xwîşk û birayên xweştevî yên mesîhî yên Kurdistan, Iraq û cîhanê dikim û hêviya cejneke tije xweşî ji wan re dixwazim.

Bi vê mûnasebetê, ez tekîdiyê li ser bihevrejiyana biratî û lêborîna olî li Iraqa federal dikim û daxwaz jî dikim, êrîşên ku li çend deverên Iraqê li hemberî xwîşk û birayên me yên mesîhî tên pêkanî, bên rawestandin û bila çav li ezmûna serkeftî ya Herêma Kurdistanê bikin, wekû çava îro wan xwîşk û birayan wek beşeke girîng ya herêmê dihesibîne û di bin siha azadî û hikûmraniya xwe de ji bo avedankirinê, beşdariyê bi wan dike.

Ez dubare jî dikim ku mafên wan xwîşk û birayan her tim bên parastin û deriyê Kurdistanê jî li ser her kesî vekirî ye.

Tevî zêdetirîn xweşewîstiyên min.

Serokê Herêma Kurdistanê

Mesûd Barzanî

Sazan : Christmas in Kurdistan

2008-12-24T10:24:00.001-08:00

FROM MANDALAWI BLOG, A KURDISH GIRL FROM KURDISTAN

The holiday and festive season has come in Kurdistan!!

It was Eid and we had a break for 8 days, soon we begin the christmas and new year break for another three weeks. After that comes Newroz break, then the other historical Kurdish occasions, following that is Easter and the list goes on...

The 'Jazhn' or 'Eid' season is big here. There are many celebrations and the tradition is deeply rooted. One that I have realized I can not agree with is the killing of animals such as sheep to give to poor and so on... but it appears to be a well known custom. Of course there is the family gathering and the early morning cooking.

The spirit of the festive season is everywhere; the Christmas tree has gone up in our university cafeteria and the area around the citadel has already been decorated with some lights at dark..

Ainkawa- where it is dominated by the Christian community is absolutely beautiful during this time of year as people prepare for their religious celebrations. The atmosphere and is vibrant and lively... (I just wish it would rain more and maybe even some snow...)

To conclude, it makes me so cheerful and happy that people in the region take the time to celebrate this time of year. Whether it is shopping, going for holiday, cooking or just spending time with family and relatives… I wish no matter what people do they make the best of it, and we must never take this opportunity for granted- I doubt people in other parts of Iraq can celebrate like this.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Noela we pîroz be & Seva piroz sahibe u sersala te piroz be

Assyrian conference in Suleymania

2008-12-16T23:23:00.000-08:00

On December 16 on Sunday in Suleymani they opened 5 conference on the Assyrian literature for the purpose of assistance to Assyrian culture.

In the three-day conference, which passes under the aegis of the President of Iraq Talabani, it participated 32 specialists in the Assyrian culture, and also Kurdish intellectuals and officials. About this it stated to agency “the voice of Iraq” Nizar of khan al -Dayrani, the chairman of the union of Assyrian writers. The purpose of the conference is also the propaganda of Assyrian literature in Suleymani.

Cotkare Xwede (kurdish christian clip)

2008-12-05T10:35:00.001-08:00

Song about Kerburan in Kurdistan

2008-12-01T01:42:00.001-08:00

Tomas Demir - Kerburan

PM of Kurdistan - Autonomy for christians in Iraq and Kurdistan

2008-11-30T06:04:00.000-08:00

http://netkurd.org/nuce_bixwine.asp?id=14289

Barzanî: Divê Fileh xwe bi xwe hikum bikin

Di hejmara xwe ya îroj de, rojnameya elmanî Frankfurter Rundschau, ku yek ji mezintirîn û giringtirîn rojnameyên Elmanyayê ye

Di hejmara xwe ya îroj de, rojnameya elmanî Frankfurter Rundschau, ku yek ji mezintirîn û giringtirîn rojnameyên Elmanyayê ye, li ser rewşa Filehan li herêma Kurdistanê hevpeyvîneke bi serokwezîr Nêçîrvan Barzanî re weşand. Do, wezîrên hundir ên Yekîtiya Ewropayê biryar da ku dora deh hezar welatiyên iraqî yên li Suriyê û Urdunê bînin Ewropayê û mafên rûniştinê bidin wan. Elmanyayê dê mafê rûniştinê bide 2500 penaberên iraqî. Piraniya van penaberan Fileh in. Li Ewropa – û bi taybetî li Elmanyayê –li ser rewşa Filehên li Kurdistana Iraqê û alîkariya ku hikumeta kurdî ji wan re dike, kêm tê zanîn. Di hevpeyvîna bi Nêçîrvan Barzanî re eşkere dibe ku di dema ku li beşên Iraqê yên din de Fileh tên kuştin û koçberkirin, ew li herêma Kurdistanê di rewşeke aram de dijîn. Malpera Amûdê kurdiya hevpeyvînê diweşîne:

* * * * *

Birêz Nêçîrvan, berî demekê li Musilê hejmareke mezin ji Filehan hatin kuştin û mecburkirin ku dev ji mal û milkên xwe berdin û birevin. Hingî hin alî hebûn ku Kurd bi pêkanîna van tawanan gunehkar kirin. Hûn çi dibêjin?

Ne ji berjewendiya me ye ku Fileh ji Musilê derkevin. Ev jî ji ber sedemekê: Li Musilê Kurd û Fileh hevalbend in. Eger Fileh li Musilê nemînin, hingî dengên me kêm dibin û dibe em di encumena parêzgehê de kursiyan winda bikin. Ev yek ziyanê digihîne me. Ez pirsekê dikim: Ma gelo maaqul e ku miletek bi dehên salan hatibe çewisandin, îroj bi heman şêweyî miletên din biçewisîne? Ji bo me wek Kurd ev yek ne di warê exlaqî, ne jî yê siyasî de ne dirust e.

Piştgiriya me ji Filehan re ne piştgiriyeke siyasî ye, lê bêtir piştgirtiyeke exlaqî ye. Ji bo me ne giring e bê hejmara Filehan çiqas e. Ji mo giring e ku ew li Kurdistanê dijîn û qurmên wan ên dîrokî li vî welatî hene. Dema rêjîma Sedam gund û deverên me xerab kirin, qet ji me nehat pirsîn bê kîjan gund ên Kurdan in, kîjan ên Filehan û kîjan ên Êzîdiyan in. Tawana me ew bû ku em bi hev re li vê herêmê dijiyan. Li ser vî essasî gundên me hatin xerabkirin. Piştî Şerê Iraqê Filehên Basra û Bexdayê hatin mecburkirin ku birevin. Hingî me dergehên xwe ji wan re vekir û bi hezaran ji wan li vê derê bi cî kir. Hingî me li gorî imkanên me yên kêm alîkariya wan malbatên filhe kir.

We çi kir?
Me ew li parêzgehên Hewlêr, Silêmanî û Duhok bi cî kirin û ji bo her malbatekê meaşeke mehane tirxan kir. Ji hingî ve me dora sed gundên wan li herêma Duhokê ji nû ve ava kirine. Me ji wan re gelek tişt kirine, ku em ji mêj ve nema behs dikin. Li Kurdistanê navendên wan ên rewşenbîrî hene, televizyonên wan hene, ew dikarin di dibistanên xwe de bi zimanên xwe bêne perwerdekirin û adet û teqalîdên xwe pêk bînin. Li herêma Kurdistanê Fileh di gelek deverên giring ên hikumetê de cî digirin. Ev mafên wan ên sirûştî ne. Em wan wek welatiyên vê deverê dibînin.

Hejmara Filehên ku hatine Kurdistanê, çend e?
Dora bîst hezar malbat hatine Kurdistanê, ango di navbera heyştê û sedhezar mirovê mesîhî.

Hûn kîjan modêlê ji bo pêşeroja Filehên Iraqê û kêmneteweyên din dibînin?
Em niha mijûlî nivîsandina destura herêma Kurdistanê ne. Em ji wan re nabêjin kêmnetewe, em wan wekî netewe bi nav dikin. Em mafên van neteweyan di çarçeweya destura herêma Kurdistanê de diyar dikin. Ez bi xwe piştgiriya hikumê zatî ji bo wan dikim. Em gelekî giringiyê didin paraztina wan li Kurdistanê. Em hesab nakin ku li Kurdistanê tenha Kurd dijîn, em xwe Kurdistanî dizanin. Li Kurdistanê Kurd - di nav wan de jî Êzîdî û Şebek hene – Turkmen û Fileh dijîn. Ta niha hîn zelal nebûye bê ka wê hikumê zatî di desturê de bi çi şêweyî bête çesipandin. Ev babet gelekî germ e û em li Kurdistanê niha gengeşê li ser dikin.

Gelo hikumeta herêma Kurdistanê bi serê xwe dikare kêşeyên kêmneteweyên li Iraqê çareser bike? Ewropa û bi taybetî Elmanya dikarin çi bikin?
Mixabin, dema me alîkariya Filehan dikir, kesek nehat û negot ka em çi dikarin ji bo wan bikin. Hikumeta navendî li Bexdayê jî ji bilî ragihandina çend daxuyaniyan tiştek nekir û di warê praktîk de alîkariya me nekir. Pêwîstiya miletên çewisandî bi alîkariyeke berdewam heye, ta ku bikaribin vegerin deverên xwe.

Qezenca Kurdistanê ji piştgiriya Filehan çi ye?
Qezenceke bêtir exlaqî ye û dûra siyasî. Ev miletek e ku bi me re jiyaye û êşeke me ya hevbeş heye.

Hejmareke mezin ji Filehan ligel Kurdan di Deşta Musilê de dijîn. Gelo hûn dixwazin vê deverê bi herêma Kurdistanê ve girêbidin?
Eger xelkên wê deverê di referendumeke azad vê yekê bixwazin, ser çavan. Eger na, nexêr. Em bi xwe ti dextê li wan nakin û wan mecburî vî tiştî nakin.

Jêder:
www.fr-online.de

E-Mail: sirwan@amude.com

Nechirvan Barzani : the pain of Christians - our overall pain

2008-11-30T06:03:00.001-08:00

On November 28 in the Friday issue of the largest German newspaper “[Frankfurter] of Rundshau” is published by the interview of the prime minister of Kurdistan [Nechirvana] Of [barzani] from The [shirvanom] dynamic meter, dedicated to situation with the Christians in Iraq. As is known, several days ago the European Union made the decision to present the refuge of 10 thousand Christians from Iraq, including 2,5 thousands of them it must accept Germany.

V.: Respected [Nechirvan], for a while in Mosul was back killed the large number of Christians. Them they forced to leave their houses and to run. At this time some parties accused of this of Kurds. What you will say to this?

O.: Not in our interests so that the Christians would leave Mosul, in particular because in Mosul the Kurds and Christians are partners. And if Christians in Mosul it will not remain, we will have less than voices and we have less than places in the provincial council. This does damage to us. I want to ask: perhaps it is possible to represent so that the people, which for many years did undergo violence, would make today the same with other peoples? For us, Kurds, these are even not policy, but the matter of honor. Our support to Christians does not bear political nature, but more it is the matter of honor. It is unimportant for us, which the number of Christians. It is important for us that they live in Kurdistan and have historical roots in this region. When the regime of Saddam destroyed in the region of village, no one asked, these are Kurdish, Christian or [ezidskie] villages. It is important for us that we together live in this region, and therefore our villages were destroyed. After war in Iraq the Christians of Basra and Baghdad were forced to run. At this time we opened for them our doors, and they gave refuge to thousand of them. We help them in accordance with our possibilities.

KKE EVENT FOR IMMIGRANT WORKERS IN ATHENS, GREECE.

2008-11-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

Kerkuks's Assyrian school drama group 1951

2008-11-17T16:05:00.001-08:00

Syriacs support free Kurdistan

2008-11-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

‘Azadiya kurdan aramiya herême ye’

Metranê Dêra Ortodoks a Sûriyeyê Yohanna Îbrahîm got ku pirsgirêka kurd heke çareser bibe dê li Rojhilata Navîn aramî pêk were. Matran Yohanna Îbrahîm di nav serokên bijarte yê xiristiyan yê Rojhalata Navîn de cih digire.

Metranê Dêra Ortodoks a Sûriyeyê Yohanna Îbrahîm got ku pirsgirêka kurd heke çareser bibe dê li Rojhilata Navîn aramî pêk were. Matran Yohanna Îbrahîm di nav serokên bijarte yê xiristiyan yê Rojhalata Navîn de cih digire. Matran Yahonna Îbrahîm ji bajarê Qamişloyê ye û bi dostaniya bi Rêberê Gelê Kurd Abdullah Ocalan jî tê nasîn. Metranê Civaka Ortodoks a Suryanî li Sûriyê Yohanna Îbrahîm di daxuyaniya ku da ANF’ê de got ku pirsgêrêka kurd pirsgirêkeke têvel e, lê şert û mercên ku derketine holê ji bo çareseriyê derfetê dide.

Îbrahîm da zanîn ku li Rojhilata Navîn têkoşîna guherînê gurr bûye, Tirkiye, Îran û Sûriyeyê divê nasnameya kurd bê naskirin û pirsgirêkên vî gelî bên çareserkirin. Kurd jî têkoşînekê dimeşînin û wek hemû gelên Rojhilata Navîn gelekî mezinin, di daxwaza mafên xwe de heta dawiyê mafdar in. Îbrahîm destnîşan kir ku berpirsiyariya kurdan jî heye û divê ev pêk bê. Metran Îbrahîm wiha dirêjî axaftina xwe bû: “Jixwe kurd jî di nav de tu kes li dijî vê muxalefet nake. Heke nasnameya kurdan bê nasîn, mafên wan ê civakî û çandî bê dayîn wê pêvajo asayî bibe. Di pirsgirêka kurd de aramiyek pêk bê dê pirsgirêkên herêmê jî jê sûd bigirin.”

‘Divê Sûriyeyê bi kurdan re diyalog bike’

Matranê Ortodoks da zanîn ku kurd ji bo hilpekîna aboriya Sûriyeyê ji dil û can dixebitin û wiha got: “Ez kurdên Heleb, Şam û Cizîrê nas dikim. Ew hemû ji bo pêşketina civak û aboriya Sûriyeyê dixebitin. Pir dirûst nêzî Sûriyeyê dibin, ji ber vê jî hêviyên wan hene. Lê di vê mijarê de diyalogek cidî dest pê nekiriye. Dive dewleta Sûriyeyê helsenga wekheviyê ya navbera gelan de damezirînê. Ev mijar pir girîng e.”

‘Parêznameyên Ocalan hêviya min zêde kirin’

Metran Îbrahîm bal kişan ser rista Rêberê Gelê Kurd Ocalan û waha berdewam kir: “Piştî ku birêz Ocalan hat girtin û parêznameya wî ya pêşkêşî dadgehê kir min xwend hêviyak bi min re peyda bû ku dê Tirkiye der barê pirsgirêka kurd de hin gavan biavêje. Ancax ev pir dirêj dom kir û gav jî nehatin avêtin. Li gori min çareseriya pirsgêrêka kurd dê li Rojhilata Navîn tu dewletan parçe neke. Kurdên jî wek gelên din ên herêmê mafên xwe yên xwezayî dixwazin. Heke li herêmê pergaleke adiltir bikeve meriyetê dê gel bextewar bibin. Jixwe daxwaza gelan jî ev bixwe ye. Serok Apo jî vana parast. Ji ber vê jî heke nêzîkatiyek ku jiyana Serok Apo bixe xetereyê pêk bê, di serî de ez, dê tu kesek jî qebûl neke.” Metran Îbarîm daxaz kir ku di cihê vê de ji bo çareseriya pirsgirêka kurd şert û mercên nîqaş û diyalogê bên afirandin. Heke ev pêk were dê kurd jî wake gelên din ên Rojhilata Navîn xwe welatiyên azad bibînin û ev jî dê kurdan bike hêz û dewlemendiya herêmê.

‘Sûryanî û kurd dostên hev in’

Metran Yohanna Îbrahîm da zanîn ku suryaniyên li Kurdistanê dijîn ji kurdan razîne û ji ber vê baxtewar in. Îbrahim derbarê têkiliyên kurd û suryaniyân de wiha axifî: “Biratiya me ji dîrokê tê. Divê li ser vê biratiyê hevkariyek xurt bê damezirandin.”

Metran Yohanna Îbarahî axaftina xwe wiha domand: “Suryanî û kurd bi hezarên salan ligel hev dijîn. Dema hêna kes li vê herêmê tine bûn jî ev her du gel li vir bi hev re dijiyan. Rûpelên dîrokê bi biranînên kurd û suryaniyan ên baş û xirab dagirtîne. Îro jî ev her du gel li gel hev jiyana xwe didomînin. Hêjmareke zêde asurî, suryanî, keldanî û kurd li Cîzîrê, başûrê Kurdistanê bi hev re ne. Min di serdana xwe ya Nînovayê de dît ku kurd û suryanî ji bo jiyana bi hevre bidomînin çiqas cidî ne. Ev baweriyeke xurt e û rayeka xwa ji dîrokê digire. Gavên ku tên avêtin dive pir balder bên avêtin da ku rûpelên reş yên dîrokê neyên dubarekirin.”

RAHMÎ YAGMUR/ ANF/MOSKOW

Kurdish christians, muslems, ezidi and alevi beliefers went to Holy City of Vatican

2008-11-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

Kurdên Êzdî, Elewî, Musilman û Xirîstiyan çûn serdana Vatîkanê

dergush: Nûnerên olên Mezopotamyayê yên êzdî, elewî, musilman û Xirîstiyanan weke heyetekê serdana Vatîkanê kirin. Heyet ji aliyê Serokê Konseya Edalet û Aştiyê ya Vatîkanê ve hat pêşwazîkirin.

Di nava heyetê de duyemîn Serokê Federasyona Komeleyên Êzdiyan (FKÊ) Serhan Cemîl, bi navê Federasyona Elewiyan (FEDA) Pîr Riza Yagmur, bi navê Civaka Îslam a Kurdistanê (CÎK) Melle Abdurahman û bi navê Xiristiyanan Georg Aryo cîh girtin.

Serokatiya Konseya Edalet û Aştiyê ya Vatîkanê ve weke heyetekê nûnerên olan li meqama xwe qebûl kir. Serokê konseyê diyar kir, yekemîn car weke heyetekê nûnerên car olan çûne serdana wan, lewma ev vê yekê bi wate dibînin û ji vê yekê bi tesîr bûne.

Di hevdîtinê de Georg Aryo da xuyakirin, ku ew bi navê Xiristiyanên li Kurdistanê hatiye û got, weke nûneretiya herî mezin a alema Xiristiyanan Vatîkan dikare ji bo aştiyê û çareseriya pirsgirêkan roleke bi bandor bilîze.

Bi navê FKÊ Serhan Cemîl jî bahsa rewşa êzdiyan kir û da zanîn, ku piraniya êzdiyên li bakurê Kurdistanê ji ber zextan koçberî Ewrûpa bûne û niha piraniya wan niha li dîasporayê, li Almanyayê dijîn. Li ser pirsa heyeta Vatîkanê, ku çima koçber bûne, Serhan Cemîl destnîşan kir, ku ola êzdî li Tirkiyê weke ol nedihat qebûlkirin û li ser nasnameya wan bêol dinivisandin. Cemîl got; `bi zext û zorê dixwestin me bikin musilman. Bi kurtasî şertê mayînê nemabû. Li Almanyayê dora 100 hezar êzdî dijîn.` Serhan Cemîl bi riya heyeta Vatîkanê ji Papa xwest, ku ji bo li Almanyayê mafên êzdiyan neyên kêmkirin, bibe alîkar.

Cemîl herwiha bahsa qetlîama li Şengalê jî kir û da zanîn, tevî ku bi sedan kesan jiyana xwe ji dest da, bi sedan kes birîndar bûn, bi sedan zarok sêwî man, ti dewleteke dibêjin em demokrat in, alîkariya însanî nekir. Cemîl got; `hukûmeta herêma Kurdistanê û hukûmeta Iraqê jî bi wan re eleqeder nebû. Hefteya pêş Wezîrê Karên Derve yê Iraqê tê vir. Emê kêfxweş bibin, ku hûn vê mijarê vekin.`

Li ser pirsa em dikarin ji heyeta wezîr re çi bêjin, Serhan Cemîl got, `yek; di ser qetlîamê re salek derbas bû, hîn sûcdar nehatine girtin û di vî warî de hewldanek jî nîne. Du; hukûmeta herêmî û ya navendî alîkariya însanî nekirin.` Heyeta Vatîkanê li hemberî

Duyemîn Serokê Federasyona Komeleyên Êzdiyan da zanîn, ku bi salan olên Mezopotamyayê weke neyaran li hember hev hatine sorkirin û bi hewldanên PKKê û Serokê Gelê Kurd Abdullah Ocalan ev rewş hatiye guhertin. Di vî warî de Serhan Cemîl wiha got; `Hêdî hêdî dostaniyê şûna neyartiyê girt. Dostaniya bi riya birêz Ocalan pêk hat, niha dewam dike. Rêberekî wiha yê gel ji bo aştî û dostaniyê berê xwe da Romayê, ku Vatîkan jî di nav de ye. Mixabin ev yek hat astengkirin. Rêberekî wiha yê dixwaze aştî û yekîtiya nava olan misoger bike, bi biratî pirsgirêkan çareser bike, niha li Îmraliyê di nava tecrîdê ye.`
Nûnerê êzdiyan herwiha bahsa qedexekirina ROJ TV li Almanyayê jî kir û da zanîn, ku hemû ol tenê li vê televîzyonê dikarin xwe îfade bikin, ew hêviya gelê kurd e û daxwaza ji bo rakirina qedexeyê daxwaza alîkariyê kir.

Bi navê Civata Îslamiya Kurdistanê Mele Abdurahman Dilo jî piştî ku Vatîkan silav kir, ji bo pirsa kurd bi riya aştî û biratiyê çareser bibe, xwest, Vatîkan rolê bigre. Mele Abdurahman jî ji Vatîkanê xwest, ji bo rakirina tecrîda li ser Rêberê Gelê Kurd Abdullah Ocana û qedexeya li ser ROJ TV zextê li Tirkiyê û Almanyayê bike.
Bi navê Federasyona Eleweiyan Pîr Riza Yagmur jî da zanîn, ku li Tirkiyê dora 25 milyon elewî dijîn û ew ji mafên xwe bêpar in. Pîr Riza Yagmur bahsa qetlîamên li ser elewiyan kir û got, partiyên weke CHP û AKP li ser elewiyan lîstikan dilîzin. Yagmur diyar kir, li dibîstanên Tirkiyê zarokên bi zorê dersên îsalmê didin zarokên wan û destnîşan kir, ji ber zextan elewî jî koçberî Ewrûpayê bûne. Ji bo rewşa Rêberê Gelê Kurd Abdullah Ocalan û ROJ TV, Pîr Riza Yagmur jî xwest, Vatîkan rolê bigre.
Li ser daxwaza heyeta Kurd, heyeta Vatîkanê jî anî ziman, ku ew jî dixwazin têkilî berdewam bibin û li ser ola êzî û ya elewiyan agahiyên nivîskî xwest. (dergush)

Old photo on christians in Kurdistan

2008-11-05T08:59:00.001-08:00

Salroja ji dê bûna Hezretê Îsa Mesîh (s)

2008-11-05T08:56:00.001-08:00

Îro duşemê 25 Decemberê salroja ji dê bûna Hezretê Îsa Mesîh (s) e .

Hezretê Îsa Mesîh (s) Pêxemberê mezine Xwedê Teala li Beyt Lehm li serzemîna Filistînê ji dê bû . Hezretê Îsa Mesîh (s) ku ola pîroze Îslamê gelekê rêza wî digire , li ser fermana xwedê teala ji dayîkeke keçik û muqedes wek hezreta Meryem (s) hate dunê û paşê li nav lanika xwe da (hêlanek) dest bi axivtinê kir û mizgîniya pêxemberiya xwe da . Qurana Pîroz kitêba muqedese misilmanan bi awayekî rohn û eşkere behsa vê mo'cizeya Xwedê Teala dike .

Hezretê Îsa Mesîh (s) li dirêjiya jiyana xwe da hertim alîkariya mirovên jar û belengaz dikir û pê gotinên xwe ku ji kitêba esmaniye wî Encîl çavkanî digirt , her kes ber bi aliyê xwedê mezin û dilovan vedixwend .

Serokê Komara Îslamiya Îranê li peyamekê da salroja ji dê bûna Hezretê Mesîh(s) li xiristiyanên Îran û cihanê pîroz kir û hîvî kir ku saleke baş li pêşberî xiristiyanan be . Serokê Komara Îslamiya Îranê her wiha cî anîna destûrên pêxemberan sebebê çêtir bûna cihanê û misoger bûna axireta mirovaniyê zanî .

Li peyama Serokê Komara Îslamiya Îranê da hatiye gotin : çawa ku Hezretê Mesîh peyama aşitî , evîn û dostaniyê ji xelkê re anî û ew ber bi qenciyan vexwendin , peyrewên rastîne wî jî wisa ne û pê îmana li xwedê û axiretê li kiryarên qenc da pêşeng in .

Radiyoya Kurdiya Tehran; salroja ji d; b[na Hezretê Îsa Mesîh (s) li hemû xelkê cihanê bi taybet peyrewên wî hezretî û hemû xwedêperestan pîroz dike .

Serokwezîr pêşwaziya nunerên xiristiyanên asîrî kir

2008-11-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

NETKURD

MC
NETKURD
Aktuelbûn:09:59 - 5/11/2008

Di rûniştinê de Nêçîrvan Barzanî dilxweşîya xwe bi hatina şandeyê bo Herêma Kurdistanê nîşan da.

Duhî serokwezîrê Herêma Kurdistanê Nêçîrvan Barzanî bi amadebûna cîgirê serokwezîr Omer Fetah li avahiya serokatiya civata wezîran, pêşwazî li patrîkê Dêra Rojhilatê ya Aşûrî Mardenxayê Çarê, patrîkên Amerîkayê, Ewropayê, Suriyeyê, Rûsyayê, Iraqê û Herêma Kurdistanê kir.

Di rûniştinê de Nêçîrvan Barzanî dilxweşîya xwe bi hatina şandeyê bo Herêma Kurdistanê nîşan da, ew hatine da ji nêzik ve agahdarî rewşa mesihiyan bibe ku ji tirsa terorîstan reviyane Herêma Kurdistanê.

Serokwezîr Barzanî dilgiraniya hikûmeta Herêma Kurdistanê li hemberî tawana koçberkirina bi zorê û kuştina mesihiyên Mûsilê nîşan da û ew kiryar wek tawaneke dijî mirovatiyê bi nav kirin.

Serokwezîr tekîdî li ser helwesta dosteyatî, biratî, hevniştîmaniya gel û desthilata hikûmeta Herêma Kurdistanê bo mesihiyan kir û got:”Em wek hikûmeta Herêma Kurdistanê digel wê yekê ne û maf û erka me ye, ku we biparêzin. Ji bo parastina mafên hemû netewe û olan çi ji destên me tê, em dixin tevgerê.”

Di berdewamiya axaftina xwe de serokwezîr baweriya hikûmeta Herêma Kurdistanê bi bihevrejiyana biratî digel hemû pêkhatên cuda û misogerkirina maf û azadiyan diyar kir û dilgiraniya xwe jî bo derxistina madeya 50-ê di yasaya hilbijartinên parêzgehan de, nîşan da.

Mardenxayê Çarê jî ji ber girîngîdayîna wî bi mesihiyên Herêma Kurdistanê spasiya serokwezîr Barzanî kir, herweha ji bo hevkarî û piştevaniya madî û manewî bi malbatên koçberbûyî ji Mûsilê re, spasiya hikûmeta Herêma Kurdistanê kir.

Mardenxayê Çarê qala serdana xwe ya bo malbatên koçberbûyî yên mesihî yên li Herêma Kurdistanê kir û amaje bi wê yekê kir, di pişta wan kiryaran de ji bo armancên siyasî destên dijminan hene.

Mardenxayê Çarê ew îdîa jî red kir, ku ji bo kiryarên li dijî mesihiyan hinek alî, kurdan tawanbar dikin.

Her di rûniştinê de vekirina Kinîseya Rojhilatê ya Aşûrî li Hewlêrê hate gotûbêjkirin û piştgiriya hikûmeta Herêma Kurdistanê bo bicihanîna pêwîstî û hêsankarîyan hate diyarkirin.

Pictures of christians in Kurdistan

2008-11-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

Kurdistan: First ever Kurdish Christian Rap

2008-11-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Head of the Assyrian party of Kurdistan: Kurds will grant the autonomy to Christians

2008-11-03T04:04:00.001-08:00

On November 3 the head of Assyrian party Beyt Of nakhreyn and the leader of Christian fraction in the parliament of Kurdistan Romio Of hakkyari stated in the interview for newspaper Hewler post, that in the new constitution Of Kurdistan region will be fixed the right of Christians to the autonomy. He stated that is very contented by position Masoud Barzani at the encounter with Bush regarding the rights of Christians.

At present Kurdistan renders aid to those Christians, who escaped from Mosul under the threat of murder. It notes that its party required autonomy for the Christians since 1970. Accordingly by its given, in Kurdistan it is at present more than 10 thousand Christians, who recently escaped from other regions of Iraq. “Without the aid of Kurds we cannot ensure our rights” - it noted. “If the rights of Christians to the autonomy will be fixed, then the entire world, including America, will respect Kurdistan” - Assyrian leader noted.

In Hewler arrived the Assyrian patriarch

2008-10-28T03:48:00.000-07:00

On October 27 into Hewler (southern Kurdistan - iraq) from Austria it arrived the head of Assyrian church, patriarch Benjamin [Denkh].

Purpose of its visit - clarification of the situation with the Christians, who escaped from Mosul as a result anti-Christian disorders. He also wants to show information and material support Christian refugees. [Partriarkha] met minister in the affairs of the religion of the regional government of Kurdistan Mohammed [Shavkali]; in the course of encounter the patriarch thanked the government of Kurdistan for the fact that it accepted Christians.

In the course of its trip he wants to visit the places of the accumulation of refugees, and also Assyrian settlements in the province Of Dokhuk in south Kurdistan.

Kurds and the Christians

2008-10-27T03:58:00.000-07:00

From Kurdistan.Ru

Kurds and the Christians

On October 25 [Dzhokhar] Of [kirmandzh], adviser of the Secretary General of PSK on questions of culture is completely obvious that Christianity existed to the appearance of Islam, and it is largest in the world religion, that has followers in all countries and in our Kurdistan including. For the course of the entire history of Kurdistan the Christians sent their religious rites without any limitations, and here never there existed real problems by believer- Moslems and by Christians and by other religions, by such as [ezidy].

Furthermore, frequently in the history in the hard times we stretched to each other the hand of aid. For example those Jews, who were located in Kurdistan in the epoch of monarchy, they lived in the world and without any discrimination not only in the large cities, but also in the distant villages. This was partly because the Kurds highly place humanity, and themselves they were also deprived of their rights and were suppressed, and, correspondingly, they do not make possible for themselves to accomplish injustices in the attitude of other nations, religions and sects.
If sometimes someone entered otherwise, this was its personal behavior and it has nothing general with the Kurdish national point sight.
Recently Iraqi Christians suffer from the pursuits, the threats and the expulsions, and unfortunately, some Iraqi Arab parties could make Kurds the coachboxes of release for their crimes, charging them with the pursuit of Christians, especially in Mosul and Kirkuk. These charges are unjustified and sharply they contradict with reality.
We, Kurds, government and people, opened our hearts and our doors for the Christian refugees, who tested the threat of death.
Those, who charge Kurds, they intentionally ignore the statements of terrorists themselves, who constantly speak, that they want [dzhizi] (tax, which according to the shariat they must pay to Moslems heterodox - ed.) from [nemusulman]
If impartial side interrogates our Christian brothers and the sisters, who searched for protection in Kurdistan, escaping from the violence, then for it will become obvious, to which degree [Kurdistanskiy] region is safe and is ready to accept all people of any nationalities, and to what extent their rights are reliably protected.

Kurds supporting the Christians in Mosul

2008-10-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

Kurdên Swêdê zilma li ser xiristiyanên Mûsilê rûreşkir

Daxuyanî

Komîteya Hevkarî ya Hêzên Siyasî yên Kurd û Kurdistanî li Swêdê ku ji 27 partî û rêxistinên siyasî yên ji herçar beşên Kurdistanê pêk hatiye, kuştin û derxistina Mesîhîyan bi zorê (Kildanî, Suryanî û Aşûrî) ji bajarê Mûsilê û ji hemî deverên din yên Îraqê, bi tundî riswa û şermezar dike û em li hember vê tawana mezin nerazîbûna xwe diyar dikin.

Berî çend rojan, di nav heftiyekê de, piştî terorkirina hejmarek birayên me Mesîhî yên bajarê Mûsilê, pirtir ji hezar malbatên Kildanî, Suryanî û Aşûrî ji cihê bav û bapîrên xwe bajarê Mûsilê (Ninneva) hatin derbederkirin. Niha ew belav bûne li deverên aram li bajarên biçûk, wek El-qûş, Bertîle, Betnaya, Tilkêf, Tillisqof, Bextîda, Qereqoş û gelek cîhên din. Herweha hinek ji wan, berê xwe dane Herêma Kurdistanê jî wek bajarê Dihok, Zaxo û Hewlêr.

Li Mûsilê gelek avahiyên hevwelatiyên sivîl ên bêguneh, ji layê terorîst û hevkarên wan ve hatine şewitandin û wêrankirin. Di rastiyê de, bergîrîkirin û parastina birayên mesîhî yên bajarê Mûsilê erkê ser milê Hikûmeta Federal ya Îraqê ye; diviya Hikûmeta Îraqê bi lezûbez bihata hawara birayên mesîhi yên Mûsilê û bajêr ji teror û terorîstan paqij kiriba, da ku birayên mesîhî bikarîbûna vegerin ser mal û milkên xwe û jiyaneke rehet û di tenahiyê de bijîn.

Komîteya Hevkarî pişitgiriya xwe bi temamî ji bo maf û daxwazên rewa yên gelê Kildanî, Suryanî û Aşûrî diyar dike.

Di heman demê de, Komîteya Hevkarî helwesta Serokayetiya Herêmê, ya Parlaman û Hikûmeta Kurdistanê, bi qedrekî bilind dinirxîne ku bi awayekî lezgîn çûne hawara birayên xwe yên Mesîhî û hemî harîkariyên pêwîst pêşkêşî wan kirine û nerazîbûna xwe jî li hemberî vê tawanê diyar kirine.

Komîteya Hevkarî ya Hêzên Siyasî yên Kurd û Kurdistanî li Swêdê
Stockholm

21.10.2008

The Tower of Babel (in Kurdish Kurmanji)

2008-10-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

Piştî tofana Nuh, mirov ji zarokên Nuh dîsa li ser dinyayê zêde bûn.

Di wê demê de zimanê hemû mirovên dinyayê yek bû û peyivîna wan jî yek bû. Çaxê ku wan ber bi Rojhilat ve koç kir, li herêma Şînarê deştek dîtin û li wir cîwar bûn.

Wan ji hev re got: «Werin, em ji xwe re bajarekî û birceke ku serê wê bigihîje ezmên ava bikin, da ku em nav û dengê xwe derxin; nebe ku em li ser rûyê hemû erdê belav bibin. Werin, em kelpîçan çêkin û em wan baş biqelînin.»

Wan kelpîç çêkirin, ew baş qelandin û dest bi avakirinê kirin (di şûna keviran de kelpîçên wan û di şûna xercê de, zifta wan hebû).

Xwedê bi nêta wan dizanî û li wî bajarî û li wê birca ku mirovan çêdikirin, nêrî û got: «Ew hemû yek nîjad in û zimanê wan hemûyan yek e. Wan dest bi vê yekê kiriye û êdî tu ti
ştê ku bixwazin bikin ji wan re namîne zehmet. Werin, em dakevin jêr û zimanê wan tevlihev bikin, da ku ew zimanê hev fêm nekin.»

Xwedê weha kir, zimanê mirovan tevlihev kir û wan zimanê hev fêm nekir. Devjeniyeke dijwar ket nav wan û wan zû dev ji avakirina bajêr berda û li ba hev neman. Bi wî awayî Xwedê mirov li ser rûyê hemû erdê belav kirin. Ji ber vê yekê ji bajêr re ‹Babîl› hat gotin, çimkî Xudan zimanê hemû mirovan li wir tevlihev kir û bû ‹bil bila› wan.

The Kurdistan Regional Presidency, Assembly and Government Urge Protection of Christians

2008-10-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Baghdad, Iraq Thursday 16 Oct 2008 Yesterday in Baghdad, the President of
the Kurdistan Regional Government Massoud Barzani and the President of Iraq
Jalal Talabani met with representatives of the Christian groups. During the
summit President Barzani emphasized his concerns over the continuous reports
of deportations and coercion against the country´s Christian citizens –
calling the deeds inhumane acts. President Barzani explained as far as the
Kurdistan Region´s duties are concerned the general and firm policy
regarding the Christian groups is to ensure and protect their well-being and
rights as equal citizens. 



Reports of deportations and discrimination against the Christian citizens in
the town of Mosul has impelled the Kurdistan Region´s Presidency, Assembly
and Government to strongly oppose the recent deteriorating developments and
urge all its institutions and departments to be of assistance for the
victimized families. On several occasions statements have been released
urging the Iraqi Government to carry out its duties and protect the rights
of the Christian groups. The Kurdistan Presidency as well as Assembly and
Government has taken stance against the abolishment of Article 50 of the
Provincial Election Law that ensures the full rights of minority groups.
This week the President of the Kurdistan National Assembly announced it has
ear-marked 100 million Iraqi dinars intended for the internally displaced
Christians inflicted by recent developments in Mosul.

Travel guide to Tur Abdin (Merdin) in Kurdistan

2008-10-12T14:05:00.001-07:00

The Tur Abdin, a beautiful tract of high, rolling limestone plateau neatly sandwiched between the swift-flowing waters of the mighty Tigris to the north and the burning flatlands of Mesopotamia to the south, is the spiritual heartland of an ancient Christian church, the Syrian Orthodox.

n A.D. 451, a period when the Byzantine Christian world was racked by theological dispute, the church's followers were declared heretics at the Council of Chalcedon. Their crime? To believe that Christ had a single, divine nature rather than accept the Byzantine orthodoxy that Jesus was human and divine in equal measure. Persecuted by the Byzantine authorities, many fled their original centers in Edessa (Urfa) and Nisbis (Nusaybin) and retreated into the highlands of the Tur Abdin. Monasteries sprang up everywhere on the plateau, over 300 in total, self-sufficient communities which nurtured the rich earth of the Tur Abdin and the spiritual well-being of monks and nearby villagers alike -- hence the term "Mountain of the Servants of God." They also managed to keep alive their language -- Aramaic, a Semitic language spoken by Jesus himself.

Remarkably, although drastically reduced in numbers by the vicissitudes of history, with both the Crusaders and the Mongols taking their toll in the Middle Ages, there were still over 600,000 Suriyani, as followers of this faith are know in Turkey today, left in the region at the onset of the 20th century. Unfortunately, during the ethno-religious conflicts which tore apart the ailing Ottoman Empire in World War I, the community was decimated. Matters worsened for the survivors in the 1980s and 1990s, when they were caught in the crossfire between Turkish security forces and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), who were infiltrating over the nearby Syrian border. Fortunately order has now been restored to this fascinating corner of Turkey and at least some Suriyani, many of whom fled to Europe in the troubles, are beginning to return to their ancestral villages in the Tur Abdin. The remnants of this once vibrant community are justly proud of their unique heritage, and money is beginning to pour in to help restore some of the surviving monasteries and churches, many of whose origins can be traced back to the fifth century.

In comparison to the millions of tourists who visit Turkey each year, only a handful makes it to the Tur Abdin. Of those who do, the vast majority make a bee-line for the showpiece of the Syrian Orthodox Church, the so-called Saffron Monastery (Deir-az-Zaferan), once the seat of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch -- and geographically speaking not actually part of the Tur Abdin proper. Fewer make it out to another famous monastery, St. Gabriel (Mor Gabriel), an important spiritual center, which retains (as does Deir-az-Zaferan) a bishop. But the real jewel in the crown of the Tur Abdin's monastery churches is the Church of the Virgin Mary (Yoldath Aloho in Suriyani, El Hadra in Arabic, Meryem Ana Kilisesi in Turkish) in the village of Hah (Anıtlı in Turkish). This exquisite structure, dating back to the seventh century, is the most aesthetically pleasing of all the churches in the region, but sees far less visitors than it deserves because of its relatively remote location some 35 kilometers southeast of the town of Midyat -- itself a stronghold of the surviving Suriyani community on the plateau.

So what makes the Church of the Virgin Mary so special? First of all is its design, with a transverse nave enclosed at either end by apse-like recesses roofed by half-domes. The true or sanctuary apse, set as always in the eastern wall of the church, boasts a half-dome graced with a raised relief Maltese-style cross. Above the center of the nave your eyes are drawn up to a graceful dome, rising from an octagonal base on hidden squinches, and at either side of the apse are two side altars. The most impressive single feature of this beautifully restored church, though, is the band of relief carving which runs horizontally around the interior and across the various arches -- plus the wonderfully worked capitals. The style of the carving is late Roman, with lively garlands of acanthus leaf and twisted-braid enlivening the plain, honey-colored stone walls. From the outside, what stands out is the turret encasing the dome, a double tier (one of them not added until the 20th century) of blind arches surmounted by a pyramidal roof. The graceful bell tower, with its ribbed-dome cap, is a 19th century addition.

Visitors are always treated to a story connected with the church by the caretaker, Aziz, or one of his associates. Twelve kings from the East were following the star to Bethlehem where, they had been foretold, a new king was to be born. When they arrived in Hah, its own king (Hah was then a rich and powerful place) said it was unnecessary for all 12 of them to go to Bethlehem. So nine stayed in Hah, three continued. They presented their gifts to the Virgin Mary who, embarrassed she had nothing to reciprocate their kindness, tore off a piece of the infant Jesus' swaddling clothes and gave them that. On their return to Hah the three kings decided to share their holy gift with their companions, but despite their best efforts they could not rip the piece of cloth into pieces. Instead, they hit on the idea of burning the cloth and dividing the ashes between themselves. Incredibly, the burned remains turned into 12 golden coins, each with Mary and Jesus on one side and the name of the respective king on the other. Awed by this miracle, the kings decided to build a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Hah.

If you can the spare the time it's worth exploring the village, set on a low eminence to the north of the church. It's hard to imagine now, but in the Middle Ages there were some 12,000 houses and 44 churches here. At the far side of the hill, little remains of the second century church of Mor Bacchus bar a crypt entered by a one-meter-high door. More rewarding is Mor Sovo, a sixth century church sacked by Tamerlane. But to really see what life is like for the remaining 16 Suriyani families in the village, head up to the crest of the hill. Here the well-built stone houses form a kind of fortification, each joined to the other and looking in onto a courtyard area. In 1915, according to local lore, 5,000 Suriyani villagers held out against a besieging Ottoman force for many months.

The scenery en route back to Midyat is biblical, with swathes of limestone outcrop and scrub oak battling it out with carefully tilled olive groves, vineyards and, more prosaically, one of the chief cash crops of the Tur Abdin -- lentils. It's worth making a very short detour to the fortified hilltop village of İzbırak (Zaz). Virtually empty, this once-wealthy village is now home to a venerable monk called Jacob. Sixty-six years old, he sports the black cap embroidered with 13 crosses (12 of them to signify the apostles, one for Christ himself) typical of Syrian Orthodox monks. He is usually (if he's not too busy in the fields) pleased to show visitors the basilica-style church of Mor Dimet and an underground chamber he claims was a sun-worshippers' temple in the years before the Suriyani converted to Christianity (starting, according to them, with St. Peter in the first century). He doesn't speak English, but having spent four years in exile in Scandinavia in the 1990s, his Swedish is pretty good!

Midyat, the town at the heart of the Tur Abdin (and almost certainly the place you'll hire a taxi to take you to Hah) has a church which provides a marked contrast to Hah's. A nave-style structure, architecturally undistinguished and much rebuilt over the centuries, it nonetheless gives visitors a great insight into how the faith continues into the 21st century. A visitors' room, reached from a courtyard dominated by a spreading walnut tree, has portraits of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch, now resident in Damascus, and a framed print of strange characters purporting to show how Aramaic derived from Assyrian cuneiform script. Suriyani kids play in the courtyard, speaking Aramaic/Syriac amongst themselves as well as Turkish, and well-attended services are held most Sundays here in Mor (St.) Barsaumo (there are six other working Syrian Orthodox churches in the town). The altar curtain, with its wonderfully naive scenes of the crucifixion, was made by an elderly Suriyani woman in Mardin, the cartoon-like angels on the plaster walls were drawn by the caretaker, Ayhan. Blue robes hang on racks on either side of the altar, all ready for the boys' and girls' choirs to wear when the next service comes around. The Suriyani community in this beautiful but seldom visited region may be down but they're not yet out. It is, though, ironic that in their Tur Abdin heartland only hundreds survive whilst in distant India more than 3 million profess a faith born here, on the northern borders of Mesopotamia, in the early centuries of Christianity.

Travel Tips

How to get here

Regular flights link Mardin with İstanbul and Ankara, as do intercity buses. From Mardin it's an hour's drive across the Tur Abdin to Midyat and another half-hour's drive onto Hah. Hiring a taxi and driver for the day is the best option -- either from Mardin or Midyat.

Where to stay

Mardin: Erdoba Konakları; Tel.: (482) 212 7677, www.erdoba.com.tr

Midyat: Konuk Evi; Tel.: (482) 462 1354

Mizgînî - Încîl (Bible)

2008-10-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

Încîl / Peymana Nû navê pirtûkên pîroz ên xristiyanan yê herî girîng e. 'Încîl' ji qurmê (ra, kok) peyva EUANGELION a bi zimanê yewnanî tê. Mana wê 'Mizgînî' ye. Încîl ji gelek pirtûkên cur bi cur pêk tê.

biguherîne Kitêbên Peymana Nû

1. Mizgîniya Îsa Mesîh li gor Metta

2. Mizgîniya Îsa Mesîh li gor Marqos

3. Mizgîniya Îsa Mesîh li gor Lûqa

4. Mizgîniya Îsa Mesîh li gor Yûhenna

5. Karên Şandiyan

6. Nameya Pawlos a ji Romayiyan re

7. Nameya Pawlos a pêşî ji Korîntiyan re

8. Nameya Pawlos a diduyan ji Korîntiyan re

9. Nameya Pawlos a ji Galatiyan re

10. Nameya Pawlos a ji Efesiyan re

11. Nameya Pawlos a ji Filîpiyan re

12. Nameya Pawlos a ji Kolosiyan re

13. Nameya Pawlos a pêşî ji Selanîkiyan re

14. Nameya Pawlos a diduyan ji Selanîkiyan re

15. Nameya Pawlos a pêşî ji Tîmotêyos re

16. Nameya Pawlos a diduyan ji Tîmotêyos re

17. Nameya Pawlos a ji Tîtos re

18. Nameya Pawlos a ji Filêmon re

19. Nameya ji Îbraniyan re

20. Nameya Aqûb

21. Nameya Petrûs a pêşî

22. Nameya Petrûs a diduyan

23. Nameya Yûhenna ya pêşî

24. Nameya Yûhenna ya diduyan

25. Nameya Yûhenna ya sisiyan

26. Nameya Cihûda

27. Peyxama Yûhenna

biguherîne Încîl bi kurdî

Wergereke peymana kevin û peymana nû ji aliyê weşanxaneya GBV-DILLENBURG li Eschenburg, Almanya hat pêk anîn. Wergêr Mehmet Sait Alpaslan (Seîdê Dêwreş) û Resul Yildirim (Resûlê Qereqoçanî) bûn. Pirtûk di tebaxa 2004'an de derket û ji 1340 rûpel pêk te.

Încîl, yanî Mizgînî (Peymana Nû) di sala 2005'an de bi zimanê Kurmancî ji aliyê "Kitab-ı Mukkades Şirketi" ve li Stembolê hatiye derxistin. Wergêr Felat Dilgêş bû.

biguherîne Grêdanên derve

* Mizgînî (Încîl bi Kurmancî)
* Încîl bi soranî
* http://kitabimukaddes.com

Peaceful Christian city in Kurdistan - Ainkawa

2008-09-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

Ainkawa mayor about the Assyrians in Ainkawa, a Christian Assyrian town with 20.000 inhabitants in Hewler, southern Kurdistan.

Ainkawa in Kurdistan is a role model for the rest of Iraq says the mayor and president of the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) Massoud Barzani.

"Assyrians and Kurds together without no problems"

"KRG cares about Ainkawa and Barzani respects Christians"

Kurdish government about Assyrian-Kurdish brotherhood

Kurdistani Jesus & Mother Mary carpets

2008-09-29T04:01:00.000-07:00

Kurdish Christian website

2008-09-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Visit Mizgin.tk

Clip from Mizgin.tk

A Kurdish poem about God

Churches in Ainkawa

2008-09-25T06:26:00.001-07:00

Saint Elias Church in Ainkawa

St. George church in Ainkawa

St. Joeseph church in Ainkawa

Churches in south Kurdistan (iraq)

2008-09-25T06:23:00.001-07:00

The following churches are from Ainkawa (Hewler)

Iraq gets its first Christian militia - with a little help from the peshmerga

2008-09-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

Daily star

Karim Talbi

Agence France Presse

TEL ASQUF, Iraq: With Kalashnikovs slung over their shoulders, members of Iraq's first Christian militia enforce one simple rule on the border of this little village: "Anyone not from Tel Asquf is banned." This village in northern Iraq's flashpoint Nineveh Province, frequently targeted by Sunni and Shiite fighters, has now taken security into its own hands with armed patrols and checkpoints at the village's four entrances.

The village borders are marked with a sand barrier built by residents in a bid to stop car bombs breaching the perimeter as they did in 2007 when two such attacks within six months rocked the village and spurred the local authorities into action.

"The terrorists want to kill us because we are Christian. If we don't defend ourselves, who will?" asked militia group leader Abu Nataq.

Associated with the "Crusader" invaders and regarded as well-off, Iraqi Christians are often victims of sectarian violence, killings and kidnappings at the hands of both Sunni and Shiite Islamists, as well as criminal gangs.

Iraq's Christians, with the Chaldean rite by far the largest community, were said to number as many as 800,000 before the 2003 US-led invasion, but this number is believed to have halved as people fled the brutal sectarian violence.

Neighborhood militias have become popular in Iraq, particularly with the rise of the Awakening groups - former Sunni insurgents who switched sides after being paid by US forces to battle Al-Qaeda.

But Iraq's Christian population, concentrated in Nineveh and its capital city Mosul, had not until now organized its own fighting force.

"We used to pay 'jezya' [protection money] and they would leave us alone," Nataq said in reference to a tax levied on the Christian community by Al-Qaeda in exchange for peace.

The term harks back to the seventh century, a period of great expansion in Islam when Christians and Jews were forced to pay additional taxes to the majority Muslims.

But Tel Asquf's villagers rebelled against the payments and called on the help of the Kurdish forces of Irbil, the nearby capital of Iraq's Kurdish region, after judging that its own provincial capital, Mosul, had too large a Sunni Arab population.

"I prefer the help of Kurdistan, of the peshmerga," Nataq said. The Kurdish fighters now controlled the roads leading to the village and claimed large swathes of the region, much to the fury of Mosul's Arab population, he added.

The peshmerga provide Kalashnikov rifles and radios to the 200 Christian militiamen who receive around $200 dollars a month from the Irbil administration to protect the 8,000 inhabitants of the village.

Since the arrangement was introduced around 10 months ago, the Christian militiamen have never had to use their weapons, "because the peshmerga form the first line of defense," Nataq said.

Christian fighters are stationed at the village's entry points and mobile teams patrol inside the inner cordon, especially around the Chaldean Catholic Church of St. George, which, like many of Iraq's churches, has paid a heavy price in this blood-soaked land.

On January 6, a series of bombs at outside churches and a monastery in Mosul, in an apparently coordinated attack that wounded four people and damaged buildings, as Christians celebrated Epiphany. In March, the body of Iraq's kidnapped Chaldean archbishop, Paulos Faraj Rahho, was found near Mosul, prompting the condemnation of Pope Benedict XVI and US President George W. Bush.

Along with thousands of other Christians, the archbishop used to pay the jezya but decided to stop. Some believe that this was the reason for his kidnapping and murder.

Hani Petrus, 45, fled to Tel Asquf seeking refuge from the bloodshed, like dozens of other Christians from Baghdad, Samarra and Basra.

"I am a school headmaster but I used to work in a petrol station in Mosul. The terrorists used to come and serve themselves petrol for free and take money from the cash register: $200 to $300 each time," he said.

"In Mosul, my children were not able to play in the street. I didn't want to let my 12-year-old daughter go to school. I was so worried about her," he said, adding that his family was one of four families into one house.

"We are virtually living on top of one another and everything is expensive because the shopkeepers know that we cannot make the trip into Mosul," he said.

Salem Samoon Jbo, 46, used to sell liquor in Basra but fled north, first to Baghdad and then Tel Asquf, after Shiite extremists ordered him to close the store in 2006. They had learned that he was working for the US forces. Now he stands guard outside one of the entrances to the St. George Church. He works seven days - alternating two hours on duty and two hours off - then takes two weeks off.

"There isn't any other work here. There is nothing else to do. I don't like guns but I have no other choice," he said. "In any case, it is better than the work in Basra. There, I worked for the Americans and was a target for the Shiite militias. I worked as a bomb-disposal expert."

Kurdistani priests

2008-09-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Kurdish Holy Bible

2008-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

In 1857, the Bible was translated into Kurdish for the first time. It was translated from Greek into Kurdish Kirmanji and printed in the Armenian alphabet in Istanbul by Armenian missionaries and saints.

The second edition of the second translated book titled Alpha Be Jeya Kirmaniji and Armenian is in the Kirmanji dialect, in the Armenian alphabet, and again was published and printed in Istanbul with the assistance of Armenian authors and saints. The book is in both Kurdish and Armenian.

The Holy Bible in Kurdish : Kitêba Pîroz.
The Bible is holy and nothing other than holy.

Amîn!

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. – 1 John 4:19-20

Do not be a liar! Love your fellow Kurdish brother and sister.
Moslem, Christian, Jew, Yezidi...
We are KURDS from Kurdistan
Kurdistan where the apostles and Bible figures in the past have walked.

May HE bless all
day walked

Kurdistans Christian Neighbour

2008-08-07T04:24:00.000-07:00

Greece and Kurdistan

Blood brothers

What Jesus said of himself

2008-08-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

Jesus said unto him, I am the way the truth and the life. no man commeth to the Father but by me. John 14:6

Jesus said unto him... he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. John 14:9

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matthew 7:24,25

God save Kurdistan

Turkey's unsafe Christians

2008-08-03T09:44:00.001-07:00

A group of young Turkish men are on trial accused of the murders of three Christian missionaries.
In certain areas of the country there is distrust and and anger between Muslim and Christian communities.

Greek Kurdish Song

2008-08-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

This song is written and performed by Kurdish singer, Diyar and Greek singer, Sofia Papazoglou...

"Elefteria was a Greek woman that set herself aflame to make the international community aware of the drama of the Kurdish people. The fact that we Greeks have always sympathized and identified with the the Kurds was never a mystery to me, but by getting closer to the 'Kurdish soul' through this opportunity, I realized the bond between the two peoples (Greek and Kurd) is a much deeper and more complicated affinity, with its roots not only deep into the past, but also into a future that needs to be realized." - Sofia Papazoglou

Long Live Greece. Long Live Kurdistan.
Love Live Peace, Brotherhood and Unity for the Kurdish and Greek people and for the world!

Assyrians in Kurdistan

2008-07-27T18:07:00.000-07:00

Assyrian children playing in the cemetery of Ankawa near Arbil where more than 3,500 Christian families have fled to from Baghdad, based to Kurdish statistics. According to sources to Zinda in Arbil, a $3 million building project is underway for the Patriarchate of the Assyrian Church of the East in the same area, a gift of the Kurdish Regional Government to His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV. (AFP/Safin Hamed)

Kars - the Armenian church of twelve apostles (10th century)

2008-07-27T17:46:00.001-07:00

Kars - the Armenian church of twelve apostles (10th century)

Church in Mardin

2008-07-27T17:44:00.001-07:00

Mardin - Deyrul Zafaran (Saffron Monastery, Syriac orthodox monastery, 4th century)

The Roots of Peaceful Coexistence Between Muslims and Christians

2008-07-27T17:42:00.001-07:00

Hana Shabo Patros, Head of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) in Enkawa/Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan on the Roots of Peaceful Coexistence Between Muslims and Christians - 2007

Kurdish Iraqi Interior Minister Karim Sinjari - Moslems and Christians in Iraq

2008-07-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

Abdul Karim Sultan Sinjari, Minister for the Interior of Kurdistan on Christians and Moslems living together in Kurdistan - an exclusive interview by WSN TV - 2007

Mayor Solaka on a Christian City in Iraq

2008-07-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

Fahmi M. Solaka, Mayor of Enkawa/Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan on a Christian City in Iraq – an Exclusive Interview by WSN TV - 2007

Mon. Rofayl Benyman on Christians in Iraq and Kurdistan

2008-07-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Rofayl Benyman, Chaldean/Catholic Auxiliary Bishop and Monsignor in Ankawa/Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan on Christians in Iraq and Kurdistan – an Exclusive Interview from WSN TV - 2007

Twin Crucifixes in Kurdistan

2008-07-27T17:33:00.001-07:00

Mangesh, Kurdistan, Iraq

Cross in (iraqi) south Kurdistan

2008-07-27T17:30:00.001-07:00

Kurdish Bible

2008-07-27T17:26:00.001-07:00

Çend gotinên Îsa Mesîh ên bi nav û deng

2008-07-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

«Hûn dizanin ku serekên miletan serdestiyê li wan dikin û giregirên wan jî hukumdariya xwe li ser wan dikin. Lê di nav we de wê ne weha be. Di nav we de, kî ku bixwaze bibe yê mezin, divê bibe xizmetkarê we. Û di nav we de kî ku bixwaze bibe yê pêşî, divê bibe xulamê we. Çawa ku Kurê Mirov (= Îsa) jî nehatiye ku jê re xizmet bê kirin, lê hatiye ku xizmetê bike û di ber gelekan de canê xwe berdêl bide.» (Metta 20:25-28)

«Werin ba min, ey hemû yên westayî û bargiran, ezê rihetiyê bidim we. Nîrê min deynin ser stûyê xwe û ji min hîn bibin, çimkî ez nerm û ji dil nefsbiçûk im û hûnê rihetiyê ji bo canê xwe bibînin. Çimkî nîrê min hêsanî û barê min sivik e.» (Metta 11:28)

«Nanê jiyanê ez im. Yê ku bê ba min, qet birçî nabe û yê ku baweriyê bi min bîne, tu caran tî nabe.» (Yûhenna 6:35)

«Ez ronahiya dinyayê me; yê ku li pey min bê, tu caran di tariyê de rêve naçe, lê wê bibe xweyî ronahiya jiyanê.» (Yûhenna 8:12)

«Ez şivanê qenc im. Şivanê qenc ji bo miyan canê xwe dide.» (Yûhenna 10:11)

«Vejîn û jiyan ez im. Yê ku bawerî bi min anîbe, miribe jî ewê bijî. Û her kesê ku dijî û baweriyê bi min tîne, qet namire.» (Yûhenna 11:25-26)

God's Powerful Savior - Readings from the Gospel of Luke in Kurdish

2008-07-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Pressures to annex northern Christian villages to Kurdistan

2008-07-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

AsiaNews Article

Pressures to annex northern Christian villages to Kurdistan
Reports, unconfirmed by political authorities, suggest Kurdish officials are getting Christian refugees in the Nineveh Plain to sign up for annexation to Kurdistan in exchange of monthly help. The initiative falls within a scheme never abandoned by the Erbil government to create a Christian safe heaven under its administration. However, the plan is raising concerns among the local population.

Mosul (AsiaNews) – People claiming to represent the Kurdish government are making the rounds of Christian villages in the Nineveh Plain, telling residents to sign forms approving the annexation of the territory to the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. The ultimate goal is to create a predominantly Christian area under Kurdish administration, this according to reports published on Ankawa.com. The Webzine’s correspondent tried to collect more information about what so far have been sketchy accounts by local residents that have gone unconfirmed by political or religious leaders. But should it prove correct, the initiative is in line with a plan to create a safe haven for Iraqi Christians.

In an interview with AsiaNews about such reports, Mgr George Casmoussa, Syro-Catholic bishop of Mosul, capital of Nineveh province and one of the most dangerous cities in the country, chose not comment on “issues of a political nature” but stressed that “Christians only want to be free to live in their land, to remain in their country and exercise the rights that the national constitution guarantees for all Iraqi citizens.”

“Kurdisation” of the Nineveh Plain

According to Ankawa.com reports, officials from Kurdistan’s Christian affairs office, a satellite division of the Finance Ministry under the controversial Sarkis Aghajan, are getting internal refugees to sign forms in favour of the annexation of the northern section of the Nineveh Plain to Kurdistan in order to receive their monthly humanitarian assistance, reassuring them that it is all legal, respectful of democratic principles and in line with Art. 140 of the constitution which calls for a referendum to decide the “return” of Kirkuk and historically Kurdish provinces to the jurisdiction of the Kurdish government in Erbil.

Some Christian migrants have complained however of “verbal pressure” exerted by Kurds against them. Mr Jevara, who arrived from Baghdad, said he was told that although signing was not compulsory those who did not would not get any assistance.

Others denounced the fact that Minister Aghajan’s economic largesse towards Christian villages was a trap to carry out the “Kurdisation” of the Nineveh Plain.

For some time politicised Christians in the United States and Europe—from those in the US Diaspora with influence in the Patriarchate in Baghdad to Evangelical Christians and Minister Aghajan—have been using the tragic religious persecution in Iraq to push for the creation of an “Assyrian” enclave on the Plain.

Whether at home or abroad few Catholics back this project. For many, it is a “diabolic and dangerous” plan that can only “sow divisions” among Christians. Chaldean priests and lay people in Europe want their Church to “take a clear stance” and for the Holy See to “make its voice heard” on the matter

The head of a local popular committee, Jamil Zeto, refused to answer Ankawa.com when it asked him to comment on the matter.

In a recent meeting in Alkosh the Kurdish Democratic Party denied claims that there was a campaign to put pressure on them or force people to sign. It did however reiterate its desire to see the creation of an autonomous zone within Kurdistan where everyone could live in peace.

Kurds provide safe haven for Christians

2008-07-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

- WWW.KRG.COM ARTICLE -

By Kenneth R. Timmerman

The Kurdish regional government in Northern Iraq is providing a safe haven to several thousand Iraqi Christians who have fled persecution in other parts of the country, government officials and local pastors told Newsmax.

Unlike refugee camps set up for some 100,000 Shia Muslims fleeing attacks from Sunnis, which are closely monitored by Kurdish security forces, Christians have been encouraged to live anywhere.

“Christians in Iraq need special attention, because they’ve been suffering because they are Christians,” Deputy Prime Minister Omar Fattah told Newsmax in an exclusive interview in Erbil. “Maybe we give some instructions to others where they can go, but to Christians, never, because we are not afraid they will be terrorists.”

Some have been given government land and building materials to construct a house. Others have rented homes from friends, or are being put up in temporary shelters thanks to local churches and international donors.

“Those people are our citizens, and when they are coming to Kurdistan they are most welcome, and we will provide them with all possible assistance,” the Kurdish deputy premier said.

Since U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime in April 2003, around 2,000 Christian families have moved into Ainkawa, a historic Christian town on the outskirts of the Kurdish capital, Erbil.

“Most people came when the terrorists told them they must pay the jizya or they will be killed,” Ainkawa mayor, Fahmi Mehti Soltaqi, told Newsmax, referring to a "protection tax" levied on non-Muslims according to Shari'a law.

Scores of refugees interviewed by Newsmax here and in Amman, Jordan, told harrowing stories of receiving death threats from al-Qaida thugs delivered to their homes in Baghdad.

The terrorists told them that as Christians, they had no right to remain in a Muslim land without submitting to Muslim rule. To escape the jizya, some Christian refugees said they were told they must marry one of their daughters to a Muslim. Instead, when they could, they fled.

Tragedy lurks just beneath the surface, even in this peaceful part of Iraq.

Mayor Soltaqi’s new office assistant, Eghraa Ramzi, is an example. She fled with her daughter from her home in the Karrada district of Baghdad in June 2007, after Islamic terrorists said they would kill them if they didn’t pay the jizya. Now she handles computer services for the municipality.

Rita Yuel is another. If you met her on the street, you would think she was just an attractive 23-year-old university student. But when you talk to her and learn her story, unmistakeable sadness emerges.

Rita used to live in Daura, a Christian neighborhood of Baghdad, until the Muslim terrorists drove her and her sisters and others to flee in August 2006. “The terrorists were torturing people in the house next door,” she said.

Her father stayed behind to work and guard the house. Last April, he promised to join his family in the north for the Easter holidays, but he never arrived.

Rita and her mother learned later that he and two other Christians had been abducted at gunpoint by masked men at a roadside teahouse on the outskirts of Baiji, midway between Baghdad and the north. “He was kidnapped one year and eight days ago, and we don’t know where he is or if he is still alive. We hope that he will return,” she said.
The governor of Irbil Province, Nawzad Hadi Mawlood, recalls the heady days just after the liberation of Iraq in 2003, when Iraqis from all ethnic backgrounds were suddenly free from decades of darkness.

“The terrorists destroyed the dream of the Iraqi people,” Governor Mawlood told Newsmax. “Christians had no militia to protect themselves. They were easy targets,” he explained. “Today, for them, Kurdistan is an option.”

His government has opened special schools to meet the needs of Christian refugees who speak Arabic and not Kurdish, the official language here. “We have done everything we can to integrate Christians into Kurdish society,” he said.

“We are not going to refuse them. They are Iraqi. We know what they are running from.”

On Sundays, the many Christian churches in Ainkawa — some of them dating from the 9th century — are packed with worshippers. Families walk the streets without fear. Restaurants and shops are open. Even more importantly, it is the only place in Iraq where Muslims can adopt the Christian faith without fear, pastors and government officials tell Newsmax.

“All Iraq should be like Ainkawa,” said William Warda, the president of the Hammurabi Organization for Human Rights, an Iraqi group advocating for Christian political rights. But even in this safe haven, once darkness falls, metal barriers block the streets, guards with AK-47s emerge to protect the churches, and Kurdish security police control traffic trying to enter the area.

Asked about this, Deputy Prime Minister Fattah was resigned. “We are afraid of the terrorists, too.”

Terrorist groups are constantly probing the layered security of the Kurdish region to find weak points, he explained. “If they see a church in a Christian area, they see that it is a peaceful area and perhaps they will attack.”

One former Royal Marine, Dan F., who manages a local security company that caters to expatriates visiting or working in the area, lives in a heavily guarded compound in Ainkawa.

Jersey barriers, gates, barbed wire, and armed guards posted at regular intervals impede access to his compound. And yet, despite the precautions, Dan wears a Glock 9 millimeter at all times and refuses to walk the streets. "If you want to walk around, wait a few weeks then go home, and you’ll have a 100 percent chance of nothing happening to you,” he says.

For all the problems and the tenuous security situation, no one here in the Kurdish north has any regrets about the U.S.-led invasion. “I’ve never been to paradise,” said Fattah, “but the difference between today and Saddam’s time is heaven and hell.”

Fattah’s only fear is that American troops will leave too early, before the work is done. “Mr. Bush has not only helped Iraq, he has helped the American people as well,” he said. “He took the fight against terrorism from inside America, to outside the country. If he hadn’t done that, terrorist attacks would have continued inside America.”

U.S. troops must stay in Iraq until they reach the goal of helping Iraqis achieve a democratic federal state. “We believe Iraq can become a base for democracy in the region,” he said.

In Washington and in much of the U.S. media, such dreams are derided as the fantasies of neo-conservatives.

But here on the ground in Kurdistan, which even today commemorates the 21st anniversary of a chemical weapons attack by Saddam Hussein that massacred thousands of Kurds, this hope remains alive.
--
Kenneth R. Timmerman was nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize along with John Bolton for his work on Iran. He is Executive Director of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran, and author of Countdown to Crisis: the Coming Nuclear Showdown with Iran (Crown Forum: 2005).

Church in Kurdistan

2008-07-20T02:37:00.001-07:00

Christian shop in Kurdistan

2008-07-20T02:32:00.000-07:00

Christian Kurd and his Church

2008-07-20T02:04:00.000-07:00

I found a interesting story about a Kurd, born and raised as a Moslem, on this blog Leading From The Sandbox.

I recommend everyone that follows this blog to read that post, I was very impressed by the Kurdish refugee John´s story about how he fleed and started his own Church.

Christian villages re-built by Kurdistan Gov.

2008-05-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

Interview about Christianity in Zaxo, southern Kurdistan

2008-03-29T10:13:00.001-07:00

We have interviewed Lawin Zaxoyan for this blog, fermo!

Q: Please tell us about the Christian community in Zaxo(Zakho)!

Zaxo a city in bahdinan region Southern Kurdistan. A ancient city with a history of Jewish and Christian background. Today for instance the city still has a small Christian community. A community who does play a big role in the society. The larges Christian minority in Zaxo today are Armenians and Chaldeans. Before the 1915 genocide and the deportation of Armenians during the Ottoman empire the city did have a very small Armenian community living. The small Armenian community in Zaxo was growing with other Armenian survivors from the Ottoman empire that settled also in Zaxo. The others continued to move on to Christian villages near Zaxo and other cities out of Kurdistan to cities like Bagdad and Basra.

Assyrian and Chaldean are also part of the christian comminutiy in Zaxo but after many Armenians from the Ottoman empire who settled in Zaxo Armenians became the largest Christian community.

Q: How is the relations between the Assyrians, Armenians and Kurds in Zaxo(Zakho)?

Today Kurdish Muslims are the largest community in Zaxo. The relationship with the Christians has always been good. Muslim and Christian have been living peacefully side by side in the city.

Q: Can Christians in Zaxo(Zakho) practise their religion openly?

Of course a Christian in Zaxo can openly practice their religion. You have plenty of churches where they could go and pray peacefully.

Q: How many churches are there in Zaxo(Zakho) approximately?

We have four churches in Zaxo. The biggest church in Zaxo is a Armenian Apostolic Orthodox church its located in the middle of the city, two Catholic Chaldean Churches the last one a Assyrian church.

Îsa li ser Avê Rêve Diçe

2008-03-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

Îsa li ser Avê Rêve Diçe

²² Gava ku Îsa elalet verêdikir, wî zû pêstûrî li şagirtên xwe kir ku ew li qeyikê siwar bibin û ji beriya wî derbasî aliyê din ê golê, Beytsaydayê bibin. ²³ Piştî ku wî elalet verêkir, hingê bi serê xwe hilkişiya çiyê, da ku dua bike. Dema ku bû êvar, ew li wir bi tenê bû. ²⁴ Di wê navê de qeyik ji bejê gelek dûr ketibû û ber pêlan diket, çimkî ba ji hember wan ve dihat.

²⁵ Nêzîkî berbanga sibehê, Îsa li ser golê rêve çû û nêzîkî şagirtan bû. ²⁶ Gava wan dît ku ew li ser golê rêve diçe, bizdiyan û ji tirsan kirin qîrîn û gotin: «Ev xeyalet e!» ²⁷ Lê Îsa di cih de bi wan re peyivî û got: «Bi zirav bin! Ez im. Netirsin!» ²⁸ Petrûs lê vegerand û got: «Ya Xudan, eger tu bî, emir bide ku ez li ser avê bêm ba te.» ²⁹ Wî got: «Were!» Hingê Petrûs jî ji qeyikê peya bû, li ser avê rêve çû û ber bi Îsa ve hat. ³⁰ Lê çaxê dît ku bager xurt e, tirsiya û xewirî* nav avê, qîriya û got: «Ya Xudan, min xilas bike!» ³¹ Îsa di cih de destê xwe dirêj kir, ew girt û jê re got: «Ey kêmîmano! Tu çima dudilî bûyî?» ³² Dema ku ew hilkişiyan qeyikê, ba rawesta. ³³ Hingê yên ku di qeyikê de bûn, perizîn* wî û gotin: «Bi rastî tu Kurê* Xwedê yî.»

Jesus and Mother Mary in Kurdistan

2008-03-21T17:09:00.001-07:00

Jesus and Mother Mary in Kurdistan

Kurds in Nashville

2008-03-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

Kurds demonstrating against the Turkish aggression against southern Kurdistan in Nashville outside a Church.

Arcange Comprend Moi Au Nom Du Pre

2008-03-21T17:03:00.001-07:00

KRG condemns killing of Archbishop of Mosul, Faraj Raho

2008-03-21T17:00:00.001-07:00

KRG.org, 14:49:46 15 Mar. 2008
Source - KRG.org

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) strongly condemns the killing of Archbishop Faraj Raho, the head of the Chaldean Church in Mosul.

On the evening of 29 February 2008, Monsignor Raho and three of his assistants were kidnapped at gunpoint after celebrating mass at Mosul's Church of the Holy Spirit. At that time, the three men accompanying the Archbishop were shot and killed. Yesterday, after a period of two weeks, the body of Monsignor Raho was found.

The KRG strongly condemns this inhumane and cowardly act and reiterates that terrorists cannot impede the peaceful coexistence of different ethnic and religious groups in Iraq. Through their violent acts, the terrorists achieve only shame and condemnation.

The KRG urges the people and administration of Mosul to work together in order to achieve security and stability. It is willing and ready to assist the city administration in defeating the terrorists and restore stability.

The KRG expresses its sincere condolences to the Chaldean community and the family and friends of Archbishop Raho and his three assistants.

-REST IN PEACE-

Christian in Kurdistan

2008-02-24T15:58:00.001-08:00

Mêwa Rastîn

2008-02-23T08:31:00.001-08:00

Mêwa Rastîn

15 ¹ «Ez mêwa rastîn im, Bavê min jî rezvan e. ² Ew her şivika min a ku fêkî nade dibire; her şivika ku fêkî dide jî, ji bo ku bêtir fêkî bide dikezixîne û paqij dike. ³ Bi gotina ku min ji we re got, ji xwe hûn paqij in. ⁴ Bi min re bimînin, ez jî bi we re. Çawa ku şivik bi mêwê ve nemîne ji ber xwe nikare fêkî bide, hûn jî wusa bi min re nemînin hûn nikarin fêkî bidin.

⁵ «Ez mêw im, hûn jî şivik in. Yê ku bi min re dimîne û ez bi wî re dimînim, ew gelek fêkî dide. Çimkî bêyî min hûn nikarin tu tiştî bikin. ⁶ Eger yek bi min re nemîne, wê wek şivika mêwê bê avêtin derve û hişk bibe. Hingê ew tên civandin, tên avêtin nav êgir û dişewitin. ⁷ Eger hûn bi min re bimînin û gotinên min di dilê we de bimînin, hûn her çi dixwazin bixwazin, wê ji we re bê dayîn. ⁸ Bavê min bi vê yekê, bi zêde fêkî dayîna we bi rûmet dibe û bi vî awayî hûnê bibin şagirtên min.

⁹ «Wek ku Bav ji min hez dike, ez jî wusa ji we hez dikim. Di hezkirina min de bimînin. ¹⁰ Eger hûn emrên min bînin cih, hûnê di hezkirina min de bimînin; çawa ku min emrên Bav anîn cih û ez di hezkirina wî de dimînim. ¹¹ Min ev tişt ji we re gotin, da ku şabûna min bi we re be û şabûna we temam bibe. ¹² Emrê min ev e: Ji hevdû hez bikin, wek ku min ji we hez kir. ¹³ Tu hezkirin ne di ser wê hezkirinê re ye ku mirovek di ber dostên xwe de canê xwe bide. ¹⁴ Eger hûn tiştên ku min li we emir kirin bînin cih, hûn dostên min in. ¹⁵ Êdî ez ji we re nabêjim ‹xulam›; çimkî xulam nizane ku axayê wî çi dike. Ez ji we re dibêjim ‹dostên min›; çimkî her tiştên ku min ji Bavê xwe bihîstin, min bi we dan zanîn. ¹⁶ Ne we ez hilbijartim, lê min hûn hilbijartin û kifş kirin, da ku hûn herin fêkî bidin û fêkiyê we bimîne. Hingê hûn bi navê min çi ji Bav bixwazin ewê bide we. ¹⁷ Emrê min ji bo we ev e: Ji hevdû hez bikin.

Choir of Mor Yacoub of Nisibin (Northern Kurdistan) – Sweden

2008-02-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

Click and listen (*.RAM files)

Ho Ro'em
(Church Hymn)

Mothe Beth Nahreen
Lyrics: Melphono Naoum Fayiq
Music:

Oh Hakimo
(Church Hymn)

Trelan oo Athreidan
Lyrics:
Music:
Listen to All the Songs

Churches and monasteries in Kurdistan

2008-02-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

Dayro D'Kurkme (Dair Al-Za'faran) monastery in Mardin - northern Kurdistan

(from bethsuryoyo.com)

The bell tower of Mor Yacoub (St. Jacob) church in Qamishly, west Kurdistan.

(from bethsuryoyo.com)

The altar of the Dayro D'Kurkme (Deir Al-Za'faran) monastery in Mardin, northern Kurdistan.

(from bethsuryoyo.com)

The Syriac Orthodox Church Choir in Qamishly, west Kurdistan.

(from bethsuryoyo.com)

The Syriac Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Qamishly, west Kurdistan.

(from bethsuryoyo.com)

Christianity in Amêd (Diyarbakir), northern Kurdistan

2008-02-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

Pictures from Bethsuryoyo.com

Church in Adiyaman, northern Kurdistan

2008-02-23T08:06:00.001-08:00

Pictures from bethsuryoyo.com

Cristiani Del Kurdistan

2008-02-23T07:58:00.001-08:00

Kurdish Library House - SARA
Title	Cristiani Del Kurdistan
Author	Galletti, Mirella
Info	Assiri, Caldei, Siro-Cattolici e Siro-Ortodossi
Price	48 EUR	BUY!

Avaible at Sara Disbribution

Sarkis Aghajan Mamendu

2008-02-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

Sarkis Aghajan Mamendu was appointed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG’s) Minister for Finance and the Economy in May 2006.
He had previously held the post of Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the Erbil and Dohuk administration of the KRG.

Mr. Aghajan, born in 1962 in Diyana, Erbil Province, is an Assyrian and a leading member of the Iraqi Christian community. The Assyrian people in the Kurdistan Region and other parts of Iraq are believed to have descended from the ancient Assyrians of Mesopotamia, who ruled over a vast empire across the Middle East.

Mr. Aghajan is known throughout the Kurdistan Region and in Iraq for his commitment to the ancient Assyrian community, through his efforts to rebuild villages and churches destroyed by the previous Iraqi regime and to promote and protect Christian rights.

In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI awarded Mr. Aghajan the Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great for his work with the Assyrian Christian community in Iraq.

Mr. Aghajan sees foreign direct investment and the development of a banking and insurance system as key to the continuing growth and expansion of the Kurdistan Region’s economy. He sits on the KRG’s supreme council for strategic economic development, which is headed by the Prime Minister.

A Kurdish Christmas

2008-02-12T08:16:00.000-08:00

Movie about a Kurdish Christian

2008-02-11T07:14:00.000-08:00

This movie is about a Kurd from Istanbul that converts to Christianity after he met Jesus Christ.
The movie is in Turkish but with English subtitles

Church on Kurdish island

2008-02-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

The beautiful Church, Akh Tamara from 10th century on an island on the Kurdish Lake Wan

saradistribution.com

Garden of Eden in Kurdistan

2008-02-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

According to the Old Testament the Kurdish Wan Lake is The lake in the Garden of Eden

(from saradistribution.com)