Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Iraqi Kurdish men, one holding the Kurdish flag (back), ride their horses during a commemoration marking the 23th anniversary of the uprising against the regime of toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, in Erbil on March 11, 2014. (AFP Photo/Safin Hamed)

Erbil Festival attracts unprecedented turnout

by Mohamed Zangeneh | Mar 14, 2014 | Lifestyle & Culture

Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdstan Region, continues to celebrate the eighth Freedom and Nowruz Festival this week, highlighting Arab and Kurdish local cultural traditions. Also known as the Erbil Festival, the event is organized by Erbil’s...

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A view of the Kurdish town of Halabja, 160 miles (260 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, on February 1, 2014. (REUTERS/Yahya Ahmad)

Iraq: Kurdistan president repeats call for Halabja to become province

by Mohamed Zangeneh | Mar 8, 2014 | Middle East

Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—The president of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, has called on the regional parliament to “quickly take the administrative steps to raise the administrative status of Halabja and turn it into a province without waiting for action from the...

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Ukrainian dancers of the National Ballet of Kiev perform during the Erbil Festival on February 18, 2014. (AFP/ SAFIN HAMED)

Kiev Ballet celebrates Erbil as Arab Tourism Capital

by Mohamed Zangeneh | Feb 23, 2014 | Lifestyle & Culture

Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—As part of a series of cultural and artistic exhibitions planned this year, the world-famous Kiev Ballet performed in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, to celebrate the city being chosen as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2014. The...

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Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani smiles during an interview with Reuters in Arbil, about 350 km (220 miles) north of Baghdad June 2, 2013. (REUTERS/Azad Lashkari.)

Kurdistan parties gear up for government formation

by Mohamed Zangeneh | Feb 15, 2014 | Middle East

Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Kurdistan region government parties moved closer to forming a new cabinet this week following high-level meetings between Kurdish political leaders. Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, representing the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP),...

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An Iraqi Kurd woman casts her vote into a ballot box during regional parliamentary elections at a polling station in Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region, about 350 km (217 miles) north of Baghdad, September 21, 2013. (Reuters)

Kurdistan’s “Islamic” parties seek to downplay Islam

by Mohamed Zangeneh | Jan 31, 2014 | Middle East

Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Kurdistan’s two main Islamist parties—the Kurdistan Islamic Group and Kurdistan Islamic Union—are witnessing separate internal attempts to drop the term “Islamic” from their names in order to broaden their public appeal. Nazim Abdulla, a senior...