Kurdistan

One of the members of Kak Ashur’s family told us, “In the past, the Turkish governments bombarded the mountains outside of the village. But now they are bombing near the village, causing great fear and traumatizing the people who live here. During the bombardments children cry and even the animals are scared.”

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) calls for an immediate end to all U.S. and Iranian military escalations and a deepened commitment to diplomacy in the region. The world has watched as the governments of the United States and The Islamic Republic of Iran teeter on the brink of war as their armed forces launched drone strikes and ballistic missiles at various targets within the borders of Iraq. 

Zeitun was 18-years-old when an Iranian artillery bombardment ended her life. “She would have been graduating from a high school science program this year,” Zeitun’s father, Kak Qadr, told CPT.

Iraq, including Iraqi Kurdistan is a violent and hostile environment for the LGBTQ+ community. This oppressive reality is documented by IraQueer in its 2017 report “Fighting for the right to live: the state of LGBTQ  human rights in Iraq,” IraQueer, a registered human rights organization focusing on the LGBTQ+ community in Iraq/Kurdistan region, estimated that over 220 members of the community were killed in 2017.

The farming communities of Nahla Valley exist in an idyllic setting. A gorgeous mountain river runs through the valley, winding through rice paddies, orchards and sesame fields. As autumn unfolds you see families in the field harvesting crops daily, using combine harvesters, tractors, and animals. Scarecrows dot the landscape and dogs wander up the dirt roads. Homes are bustling with activity and guests are served fresh yogurt and bread, homemade butter and fig jam with tea. Generations of farming families have lived peacefully on this land.