by Michele Naar-Obed

CPTers began working in the Kurdish North of Iraq in 2006.  Since then, both Turkey and Iran have launched military attacks on northern border villages.  Car bombings have occurred in Suleimaniya, where the team is based, and the capital city Erbil.  Kirkuk, not part of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), is also a frequent target of bombings that seem to increase whenever the referendum to make it part of the KRG comes close to a vote.  The memories of genocidal attacks against the Kurds by Saddam's Ba'ath Party are still fresh in the Kurdish collective memory.

The Kurds of northern Iraq are visibly tired, distraught, and close to despair.  In addition to feeling victimized by the external perpetrators of violence, a large portion of the Kurdish population feels besieged by the systemic violence that comes out of the corruption and oppression by the tribal parties that hold the power and purse strings very tightly.  People who are not part of a tribe or pledged to a party, often lack access to economic, educational, and societal benefits.  Necessities such as water and electricity are abundant in neighborhoods occupied by the well-connected while other neighborhoods are sparsely supplied.  Those who expose or challenge the corruption of the parties risk imprisonment.

Kurdish Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that are not party-affiliated receive little financial support.  One independent women's rights group has been unable to work for almost a year for lack of funding.  The women fear the authorities will terminate their NGO status.  

Yet CPT continues to meet dedicated, resilient, and persistent Kurdish people who operate with not much more than their vision.  They want to challenge both the violence of foreign powers and the corruption in their society using the tools of nonviolence.  Many have asked CPT for training in human rights and nonviolent tactics.  Some have asked us to connect them to the broader world community of nonviolent activists.  Others have asked us to walk beside them and give them visibility as they attempt to implement their nonviolent campaigns.

At times we struggle to understand our role here.  Yet, every time we speak of closing up shop, Kurdish visionaries insist that we must stay, knowing that we offer no material or financial aid.  Perhaps it's best not to argue with visionaries.