Prospects for Independence in Iraqi Kurdistan

The press has been awash with talk of Iraq collapsing under the current crisis and breaking along sectarian lines. Whether this is likely or not, one real possibility that is emerging is of the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq declaring full autonomy with recently extended borders incorporating the entire area inhabited by the Kurds in Iraq. President Barzani has told the BBC that a referendum on independence, which is the nation's goal, is being planned for the next few months. However, it is uncertain how well an independent Kurdistan would fare. Iraqi Kurdistan is surrounded by potentially hostile neighbours none of which would risk the instability this would cause among their own Kurdish populations. There are also uncertainties about how an independent state could progress, not just diplomatically, but economically too. On the other hand, maybe an opportunity like this will not present itself to the Kurds again. I hope to discuss some of these potential problems here.

Translation: A standardised language is the soul of a country

Disclaimer

This article does not in any way represent my own opinion. I have chosen it because it discusses something that interests me and I wanted to practice translating a long text from Sorani Kurdish to English. I also think that this article can give an insight into one of the views held on the matter of standardising the Kurdish language, however, I personally suggest you take most of what is said here with a large dose of salt. The writer of the original text claims to use a scientific method when dealing with the issue of a standardised language, but his arguments are riddled with flaws, inaccuracies and bias. I find myself on quite the opposite end of the argument and regard his suggestions here as even somewhat dangerous. That said, please do read it and maybe learn something about what is quite a big issue in Kurdish culture at the moment. In time maybe I will write my own response to it.

Translation: Helgurd Sekran National Park to be added to the Iraqi map.

By : Ramal Qesreyi
Translation : Alex Berry