Mem u Zin

Turtles Can Fly - Links to Download Completely

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:27:00 +0300

As we said something on this great film, but here is a synopsis about it.

The film is set in a Kurdish refugee camp on the Iraqi-Turkish border on the eve of the US invasion of Iraq. Thirteen-year-old Kak Satellite is known as "Satellite" for his installation of satellite dishes and antennas for local villagers looking for news of Saddam Hussein and the impending war. He is the dynamic leader of the children, organizing the dangerous but necessary sweeping and clearing of the minefields, and then arranges trade-ins for the unexploded mines.

Satellite falls for an unlikely orphan named Agrin, a sad-faced girl traveling with her disabled but smart brother Henkov, who appears to have the gift of clairvoyance. The siblings are taking care of a three-year-old, whose connection to the pair is discovered as harsh truths about these children are revealed.

Here is the complete links to Download the movie on the net directly:

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

Enjoy.

Turtles Can Fly by Bahman Ghobadi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:41:00 +0300

Bahman Ghobadi was born on February 1st, 1969 in Baneh, province of Kurdistan in Iran. He was the first son of the four born in his family. He got his B.A. in film Directing from the Iranian Broadcasting College.

He lived in Baneh up to age 12. Because of civil disputes, his whole family emigrated to Sanandaj (Center of Kurdistan Province in Iran).

He recieved his diploma in Sanandaj & he came to Tehran in 1992 for his advanced studies. Ghobadi started his artistic career in field of Industrial photography from 1998. He was never properly graduated because he believed every thing he had learned was all from his short films. All this experience helped him to expand his individualistic vision of the world that surrounded him.

He started filmmaking with 8mm. He made a few short documentaries as a starting point.
His short films, as of the mid 1990's, received many foreign & domestic awards. "Life in fog" opened a new opportunity in his career.

This film was accepted for many different International awards & became "The most famous documentary ever made in the history of Iranian cinema".

With the making of the full-length feature 'A Time For Drunken Horses (1999)' he became a recognized professional director all over. This is the first Kurdish full feature film in the history of the Iranian cinema, and Ghobadi is the first Kurdish director in the history Iranian cinema.

A Time For Drunken Horses

Ayoub is a young boy living in a village near the border of Iraq in Kurdistan Province. He works in the bazaar along with his little sister. When his father dies, he is obliged to protect his three sisters and sick brother, Madi.

Madi needs surgery, without which, he is expected to live a maximum of 7 to 8 months. Ayoub tries to smuggle merchandise by mule into Iraq in an attempt to raise money for Madi’s operation.

The owner of the mules refuses to pay Ayoub and his group after the job. Ayoub again looks for a job to pay for his brother's operation. He gets a second chance to smuggle goods using the mule his uncle lends him after breaking his arm.

Rojin, Ayoub's sister, marries a suitor living in a village on the border of Iraq on the condition that he smuggles Madi into Iraq for his operation. Despite Ayoub's objections the wedding takes place and they all move to the border village, including Madi.

The groom's mother prevents Madi from going with them and gives Ayoub a mule as a conciliatory gift. Ayoub and Madi along with the acquired mule return to their native village and sell it to get money for Madi's operation.

- Kurdish Director, Kurdish Filmmaker "Bahman Ghobadi" -

Another Film to this great man, Marooned in Iraq, in which "Mirza", a famous Kurdish musician, hears that his ex-wife Hanare is in trouble.
He accompanied by his two sons, embarks on an adventurous journey across the Iran-Iraq border to find her. They finally find her in a refugee camp, disfigured by the chemical attacks.

One of his best and well-known movies is "Turtles Can Fly".

The first film to be made in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein, the devastating Turtles Can Fly is set in a Kurdish refugee camp on the Iraqi-Turkish border just before the US invasion in spring 2003.

Director Bahman Ghobadi concentrates on a handful of orphaned children and their efforts to survive the appalling conditions: there's the entrepreneurial Satellite (Soran Ebrahim), the armless clairvoyant Henkov (Hirsh Feyssal), and his traumatised sister Agrin (Avaz Latif), who herself is responsible for a blind toddler.

Dedicated according to the Kurdish Ghobadi:

"To all the innocent children in the world - the casualties of the policies of dictators and fascists".

Turtles Can Fly vividly immerses the viewer in the nightmarish realities of daily existence in this makeshift community that's located within a forbidding natural landscape. There's no running water or electricity, the fear of gas attacks is palpable, and kids use their bare-hands to defuse land mines in the surrounding fields, which they then trade for machine guns at a market.

Turtles Can Fly is as bold a presentation of the Kurdish experience as has appeared on the big screen since the great Turkish Kurdish director Yilmaz Guney made Yol. And it has clearly touched a nerve among Iraq's Kurds.

A week after the film's premiere in Arbil, Gobadi still bore the bruises from what he described as "the astonishing reaction" of the audience. "They almost hugged me to death," he said. "I was telling a part of their pain and their memories. I take it as a compliment. If they had not believed what was in the film, they would not have reacted like that."

It is Gobadi's biggest production to date, involving thousands of Kurdish villagers as extras, as well as real US soldiers and helicopters. And he admits that without the help of the Kurdish Regional Government, led by Nechirvan Barzani, the film would never have been made. "We didn't have the money, or any sophisticated equipment, so their help made the difference."

Filming was tough, he says. "We endured hours of freezing weather, filming in the mud and the mountains. And believe me, what these children did in my film and put up with for my film, the Hollywood children could never do. The children were acting their lives. That's why they seem so real."

To read the best article describing the "Turtles Can Fly", click here.

Again Cholera

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:25:00 +0300

Sorry for not having any post lately, in fact I was so busy in a way couldn't find time to blog, but no need to worry, here I am, let's start again.

This month I am working outside Hawler city, during our 2 years of rotation we have to spend 3 months outside the city, this was my first month, I was working in Hareer, which is a small town belonging to Erbil Province.

During my work here, I've received many official papers from both the Ministry of Health and from the Directorate of Health in Hawler, notifying us about the Cholera Outbreak in the South Cities of Iraq, and to take all necessary measures to prevent it's occurance or to combat it.

This is not the first time, last year there were another outbreak in this country, but that time was in the north region, and in Kurdistan.

According to the Al-Jazeera English official website, a state of emergency has been declared in Iraq's Babil Province after six people died from cholera.

It's worth to mention majority of Iraqi people don't have pure water, and the route of spreading this disease is feco-oral.

To read more on BBC, click here, and on Al-Jazeera English, click here.

I think that's all for now.

Soran Mama Hama

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 8 Aug 2008 14:58:00 +0300

The original article written by late Soran Mama Hama can be read in Kurdish and English translation, thanks to Dr Kamal Mirawdeli from Kurdish Media.

In Kurdish, click here.

In English, click here.

In another step, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koїchiro Matsuura, condemned the murder of Soran Mama Hama, shot to death on 21 July in the suburbs of Kirkuk in Kurdistan.

“I condemn the murder of Soran Mama Hama,” said Mr Matsuura. “This crime, targeting a courageous journalist, illustrates yet again the danger media professionals working in Iraq are exposed to. In order for freedom of expression, cornerstone of democracy, to exist in the country, authorities must pay greater heed to the safety of journalists.”

Soran Mama Hama, 23, had been working for three years for Leven, independent bimonthly magazine published in the Kurd language. According to his colleagues, he received threats after writing articles critical of local officials. The journalist was shot in his home in Rasheed Awa, a suburb of Kirkuk, the evening of July 21 by four unidentified gunmen who fled by car.

According to the NGO Reporters withour Borders, 217 media professionals have been killed in Iraq since 2003; 13 of them were killed in Kirkuk.

To read the exact article, click here.

RIP kaka Soran...

Tell Me What Color Do You Like, Will Tell Your Personality

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:41:00 +0300

Psychiatrists now believe that color, which is a personal choice, will determine the personality of that person, for example:

Red:

From old times, red color was having a very respectful place, people were afraid from this color. It’s the color that resembles blood, struggle, aggression, hate, and fire.

Modern Turkish republic selected this color to be the dominant color in their flag, because of their long, tough, and bloody struggles.

People who loves this color, has strong personality, at the same time, they can’t be carelessness in their lives. They decide very rapidly over things and people and this will make them in trouble, specially regarding their friendships. But they are usually very cautious and smart.

As we said, they find difficulties in keeping friendships.

Purple:

People who loves this color, are usually tolerant, they are too kind with others, they do care and put consideration to others living around them.

And because they are usually smiling to others, and their kindness, people loving them.

We should also say that purple lovers usually can accept and take the difficulties in their lives with very big heart, means psychologically they are very stable.

Let’s not forget, purple color also representing love and sex.

Blue:

If you love this color, you can easily control your emotions and feelings. Because of calmness and tolerance, usually people showing respect to them, in turn, they love others respecting them.

They are shy, which make them lonely most of the times. Other people’s ignorance will tired them.

The most important characteristic of blue lovers, they try their best to be the on the top in every aspect of life.

I guess, that's all for now...

Take care.

Freedom of Expression in Kurdistan - Soran Mama Hama

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:19:00 +0300

- Late Soran Mama Hama, Symbol of Freedom -

Sadly, this is the price that free man should pay, this is the tax that you should pay when you try to raise your voice, when you report on the responsible people here in South Kurdistan, the most stable and secure portion of newly Iraq....

Soran Mama Hama, a young 23 years old journalist, wrote articles for one of the Kurdish language Sulaimaniyah based independent magazine here in Kurdistan "Livin" who have been assassinated by unknown armed men, in Kirkuk on 22nd of this month, after publishing some articles, which seems to be against some "gangsters" in this region...

Here is the link to the last published article to the late journalist Soran Mama Hama. click here.

It's in Kurdish and talking about the "Prostitution Phenomenon in Kirkuk city" and how many officials in the government involved, even he said that he has a list of these officials but for some "social aspects", we (Livin Magazin) are not going to publish it now....

Here is some reactions to his assassination:

Human rights and press freedom monitors are strongly condemning the murder of Iraqi-Kurdish journalist Soran Mama Hama.

In an interview with the Voice of America's Kurdish Service, Ahmed Mira, editor-in-chief of Livin paid tribute to the courageous young journalist:

"Without a doubt, Soran Mama Hama was of one of the most prominent and professional of journalists, with a great future in front of him."

Joel Campagna, Middle East Program Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said:

"We are extremely concerned about the death of Soran Mama Hama. It's a frightening attack on a journalist which, I think, will send a chilling message to all journalists unless those responsible for this terrible crime are identified and brought to justice."

His murder made an echo among Kurdish people and so many articles wrote on this occasion, but what I liked the most was this article:

""Kurdish reactions to Soran’s assassination""

Soran Mama Hama was assassinated by yesterday’s robbers and today’s murderers

By Kaywan Hawrami – Halabja, 27 July 2008
Translated by Dr Kamal Mirawdeli

For God’s sake, every day they give us a new model of evil deeds as present: robbery, working as mercenaries for enemies (jashayati), corruption, dictatorship, murder, mafia, etc. These all have been the models that [Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have been offering us. Once people were praying that we would get rid of these robbers, then they became jash (paid mercenaries) of [regional] countries and they are still doing this; then they became dictators and have smothered the country with their injustice; then dictatorship was not sufficient for them they became mafia groups.

For long time people were praying that they would give up robbery but God made them worse; they became jash of regional countries and sold our country and thus became dictators without spending much effort. However, jashayati came to an end, and then they offered new models to us all of which were utterly useless for this country. For some years now they have introduced a new model to us called the model of being-mafias.

This model is very old in Europe but it has recently reached Kurdistan and been applied by our officials. One of the tasks of these mafia groups is to persecute and martyr those journalists who say the truth. The first martyr was Dr Abdulsattar Tahir Sharif. The latest is Soran Mama Hama. Both of them were killed by these two parties. Both of them were critical of Kurdish power: Abdulsattar criticised and exposed their past, Soran exposed their present. That is why they killed both of them

But these mafias do not give a damn about the truth; they do not know how to look at the facts. They only know how to kill, how to steal the wealth and property of people, they have come to ruin the country and prevent anyone from saying anything. They want to rewrite Kurdish history with their filthy hands and inherit it to us. How idiotic, blind and ignorant they are.

The president of the region and his vassals think that by martyring Kaka Soran they can silence us! These mafias think that anyone saying the truth has crossed the red line! Again I repeat: how idiotic you are! I am afraid this all what you are capable of thinking and use this mentality for brutality. You do not know that by martyring Kaka Soran you have only sharpened the points of our pens. I am surprised by your ignorance!

When I heard the news of the assassination of Soran Mama Hama I immediately believed that it is your job because apart from ignorant people like you no one else [in Kurdish society] resorts to rusty bullets. You still have these rusty bullets in your pockets that the [Ba’thist] regime had offered to you so that you would complete the work that the regime had started. I see no difference between you and the previous Ba’th regime because both of you are inspired by a rotten mind, both of you are the product of a rotten culture and mentality of the Medieval ages, Both of you have been nurtured by the filthy milk of A’flaq {Ba’th], It is enough, From now on we will face each other: you with your rusty knives and we with the points of our pens. You with your weapons; and we with our consciences. Let us who will win the future!

RIP kaka Soran...

Solar and Lunar eclipses to be watched in Kurdistan next month

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:03:00 +0300

I was surfing the net, and found this news, that finally the Solar and Lunar eclipses will be watched in Kurdistan next month.

A partial solar eclipse will be watched in the Iraqi Kurdistan region on August 1 along with other countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, while a lunar eclipse will occur on August 16, a meteorologist said on Saturday.

Dara Hassan Faraj, the director of the Sulaimaniya Meteorological Department, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI):

"The solar eclipse will occur at 2:00 p.m. Baghdad local time and would continue for less than 15 minutes"

Faraj also expected the lunar eclipse to be watched by the Kurdish residents at 9:00 p.m.

Let's see what will happen next month....

Even Our Animals "Cont."

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:09:00 +0300

Roj Bash...

Finally I could manage to start publishing again, sorry for not publishing anything lately, but actually I was somehow busy with work.

Meanwhile, I found something on the BBC site, that proves something very important, and directly related to our old post, about renaming and changing the scientific animals in the North Kurdistan, Turkish Kurdistan, here is the news , this news last updated on Tuesday, 8 March, 2005:

Turkey renames 'divisive' animal

Turkey has said it is changing the names of three animals found on its territory to remove references to Kurdistan or Armenia.

The environment ministry says the Latin names of the red fox, the wild sheep and the roe deer will be altered.

The red fox for instance, known as Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica, will now be known as Vulpes Vulpes. Turkey has uneasy relations with neighbouring Armenia and opposes Kurdish separatists in Turkey.

The ministry said the old names were contrary to Turkish unity.

"Unfortunately there are many other species in Turkey which were named this way with ill intentions. This ill intent is so obvious that even species only found in our country were given names against Turkey's unity," a ministry statement quoted by Reuters news agency said.

Some Turkish officials say the names are being used to argue that Armenians or Kurds had lived in the areas where the animals were found.

Name Changes:

Red fox known as Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica becomes Vulpes Vulpes.

Wild sheep called Ovis Armeniana becomes Ovis Orientalis Anatolicus.

Roe deer known as Capreolus Capreolus Armenus becomes Capreolus Cuprelus Capreolus.

Turkey has tense ties with its eastern neighbour Armenia, which it does not officially recognise.

Armenians accuse Turkey of genocide, saying 1.5 million of their people died or were deported from their homelands under Turkish Ottoman rule.

Turkey denies the genocide and says the death count is inflated.

For the last two decades, Turkey has also been fighting Kurdish separatists, who have sought an independent state in Turkey's south-east.

Thanks for BBC for publishing such interesting news.

Al-Azhar University will open an Islamic Institute in Kurdistan

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:16:00 +0300

And finally they decided to open an Islamic Institute in the Kurdistan Region, it comes in PUK Media that:

The”Sawt al-Azhar” newspaper which is issued by al- Azhar University in Cairo, announced that, according to an agreement inked by the (KRG) Minister of Religious Affairs and the Azhar Representative Abdel Fatah Alam, an institute will be opened in Kurdistan region. It will be the first of its kind in Iraq.
The newspaper said that al-Azhar University will dispatch 3 specialists in religion and administration to Erbil in order to complete the preparations of opening the Institute.
Al-Azhar al-Shareef is the largest Islamic and Scientific Source in the world. More than one million students, among them 15 from Kurdistan region, study in the aforementioned university.

This is new for a hight Islamic source to announce such step, although they said that there was an Islamic Institute int the region in the early nineties, which last till the end of last decade, but later they closed, why, I don't know.

Let's see what will bring this step to our region and to our religions.

I Love You

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:15:00 +0300

I love this poem too much, let me share it with you.

I AM AFRAID

You say that you love rain,
but you open your umbrella
when it rains…

You say that you love the sun,
but you find a shadow spot
when the sun shines…

You say that you love the wind,
But you close your windows
when wind blows…

This is why I am afraid;
You say that you love me too…

by "William Shakespeare"

MBC Persia ..!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:47:00 +0300

I wrote these weeks ago, but couldn’t connect to the net to publish it, I saved in my computer and now I will try to publish it.

That day I was sitting and watching TV with some of my friends, we were watching a movie in famous channel MBC2 (MBC stands for Middle East Broadcasting Center, it’s based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates – UAE -) which broadcasts only Hollywood movies, but during the break time, they advertised for something, which took my attention.

They were advertising for a new channel, belonging to MBC Series, MBC-Persia, it was very unusual to see an Arab based satellite TV, launching another channel by Persian language, this is, to my knowledge, the very first step in this aspect.

On the other hand, it’s being almost 5 years, that Islamic Republic of Iran launched it’s own channel in Arabic language, directed to Arabic people and nation, to converse them and to make them up-to-date with Persian World in all aspects. Al-Alam News Network is a Tehran-based Arabic-language news channel. Established in 2003 and it broadcasts continuously. Al-Alam is an Arabic word which means, the World.

Even they said that Al-Alam Channel can be watched without having a Satellite Receiver, directly in some portions in Iraq, but I never experienced this here in Erbil. But I have a friend, he graduated in one of the colleges in Baghdad and he was there , in Baghdad, during "American invasion" to Iraq, I asked him this and he said yes, we were watching and following the news directly from Al-Alam channel without using any dish.

This strategy, broadcasting programs in different language other than your mother language, is very well know in the western world, and the best example is BBC.

When USA leaded Coalition force invaded Iraq, first of all, they launched an Arabic Satellite, Al-Hurra, specific to Iraq, to talk to them.

No body can deny the importance and effect of BBC-Arabic Radio and Montecarlio Radio, broadcasting since decades to the Arab World, at the same time, what these channels achieved is not easy to say.

Don’t Send Me Back To Iraqi Kurdistan ..!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:16:00 +0300

Well, I found this petition for someone, living currently in UK and seeking an Asylum, what's strange in this petition is that the owner who created and asked others to sign his petition is a Kurdish man, yes, a Kurdish man, not willing to return back to South Kurdistan, the Iraqi Kurdistan, because of the two main political parties, PUK and KDP and the way they deal with other than their own supporters and followers.

- His Picture -

He wrote in his petition:

"I am Sarwar Gareb, from Iraq who was a member of the Worker communist party of Iraq (WCPI) and who worked as a journalist in the media. Through my professional and political career I have supported women’s, children’s and the general worker’s rights. Due to these beliefs and actions, and in speaking out about these issues, I was been imprisoned and tortured by the two main political parties in Kurdistan, the PUK and KDP. In fear of my life I fled Kurdistan on 16.07.2000. "

In another part in his explanations to his case, he wrote:

"More importantly it also shows that the Home Office dealt with my case on what seems to be on a generic basis, i.e. that I was fleeing from Saddam, when actually I was fleeing from the PUK and KDP."

Wallahi, the title of his petition made me feel sorry more about ourselves, and think more...They should not force him to return to this hell !!

Wish you all success...

To read more about this petition and to sign his petition, click here.

Study: Rate and Indications of Caesarean Section (C/S) in Erbil Teaching Maternity Hospital - 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:22:00 +0300

This is descriptive study was conducted by a group of innovate student including my brother, at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB and GYN), Erbil Maternity and Paediatrics Teaching Hospital, from 21st of November to 27th of November 2007.

All cases of Cesarean Sections presenting during the study period were recorded in the department using data information sheet prepared for the purpose of this study.

All patients were interviewed post operatively in the wards. For each patient a data information sheet is filled which includes: name, age, parity, gestational age, educational level, type and cause of cesarean section.

Even my brother, Raman, published this study in his own blog, bug I thought it will be good to publish it here too.

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

Hawler Medical University

College of Medicine

4^th Year Medical Students' Community Medicine Research Projects

Rate and Indications of Caesarean Section in Erbil Maternity Hospital/2007

Conducted by

Muhammed Nizar Khidhir

Rawand Kamaran Hussein

Ibrahim Mussa Ma’roof

Wa’d Jarjis Abdullah

Rebaz Hamza Salih

Dilbrin Mula Muhammed

Raman Sabr Ma’roof

Supervised By

Dr. Lazha Talat

M.B.Ch.B.; M.P.H.

2007-1428-2707

Acknowledgment:

Any accomplishment requires the effort of many people and this work is no different. We thank our supervisor (Dr. Lazha Talat) for her patience and support in accomplishing this research.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to anyone who had role in completing this research.

ABSTRACT

A descriptive study was conducted in Erbil Maternity and paediatric hospital from the (21^St of Nov. 2007 to 27^th of Nov. 2007). All cases of cesarean deliveries that were done during this period were reviewed. This study aimed to identify the rate and indications for cesarean section in Erbil maternity and paediatric hospital. The total live births in this period were (423); among those, (325) were delivered vaginally and (98) delivered by cesarean section.

The patients have been divided into two groups:

Group 1

Including cases that were referred to the hospital for elective cesarean sections (12).

Group 2

Emergency cesarean section had been conducted from the labour ward (86).

Contents

Titles	Pages
Definition……………………………………………………………	1
History………………………………………………………………	1-2
Types of uterine incisions…………………………………………..	3
Elective Cesarean Section…………………………………………..	4
Emergency Cesarean Section……………………………………….	4
Incidence…………………………………………………………….	5
Indications…………………………………………………………..	5
Risks and complications……………………………………………	6-7
Vaginal birth after delivery…………………………………………	8
Patients and methods……………………………………………….	9
Sheet of data collection……………………………………………..	10
Results……………………………………………………………...	11-19
Discussion…………………………………………………………..	20-21
Conclusion and Recommendation………………………………….	22
References…………………………………………………………..	23

List of tables

Titles	Pages
Table 1: Total number of deliveries……………………………………..	13
Table 2: Indications of cesarean sections in Erbil Maternity Hospital......	14
Table 3: Indications of caesarean sections regarding the numbers of previous cesarean sections……………………………………………….	15

List of figures

Titles	Pages
Figure 1: Maternal Diseases as indication of Caesarean sections………..	16
Figure 2: Distribution of Caesarean sections according to educational level………………………………………………………………………	17
Figure 3: Distribution of Caesarean sections among different age groups	18
Figure 4: Caesarean section according to gestational age………………..	19

I- Introduction

I.I Definition

Caesarean section is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mother’s abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterectomy) to deliver one or more babies. It is usually performed when a vaginal delivery would put the baby’s or mother’s life or health at risk.¹⁴

I.II History

The earliest attested usages of the made up language in an obstetric context date from the first century. There are three theories about the origin of the name:

1. In the English language, the name for the procedure is said to derive from a Roman legal code called "Lex Caesarea", which allegedly contained a law prescribing that the baby be cut out of its mother's womb in case she dies before giving birth.⁴ (The Merriam-Webster dictionary is unable to trace any such law; but "Lex Caesarea" might mean simply "imperial law" rather than a specific statute of Julius Caesar.)

2. The derivation of the name is also often attributed to an ancient story, told in the first century A.D. by Pliny the Elder, which claims that Caesar's ancestor was delivered thus.⁵ Whether or not the story is true, it may have been widely enough believed to give its name to the operation. (The reverse view, that the name "Caesar" was derived from the operation, is clearly indefensible, see below.)

3. An alternative etymology has been proposed, suggesting that the procedure's name derives from the Latin verb caedere (supine stem caesum), "to cut," in which case the term "Caesarean section" is a tautology. Proponents of this view consider the traditional derivation to be a false etymology, though the supposed link with Julius Caesar has clearly influenced the spelling. The merits of this view must be considered separately from the corollary believed by some, that Caesar himself derived his name from the operation. This is certainly false: the cognomen "Caesar" had been used in the Julii family for centuries before Julius Caesar's birth, and the Historia Augusta cites three possible sources for the name Caesar, none of which have to do with Caesarean sections or the root word caedere.

The link with Julius Caesar, or with Roman emperors generally, exists in other languages as well. For example, the modern German & Dutch terms are respectively Kaiserschnitt & keizersnede (literally: "Emperor's section").

Caesarean section to deliver the baby of a mother who has died has been documented in ancient Egypt, Asia and Europe.

Pliny the Elder theorized that Julius Caesar's namesake came from an ancestor who was born by Caesarian section, but the truth of this is debated. The Ancient Roman c-section was first performed to remove a baby from the womb of a mother who died during childbirth. Caesar's mother, Aurelia, lived through childbirth and successfully gave birth to her son, ruling out the possibility that the Roman Dictator and General was a c-section baby. (In fact, she died 45 years later.) It should be noted that Maimonides, the famous rabbi, philosopher, and doctor, says that it was known in ancient Rome how to perform a c-section without killing the mother, but that the medical knowledge of his day was lacking and it was not performed. Thus it would seem that, according to what Maimonides knew, c-sections were not performed solely on dying women, but also on mothers who would live after the birth of their child.

The Catalan saint, Raymond Nonnatus (1204-1240), received his surname — from the Latin non natus ("not born") — because he was born by C-section. His mother died while giving birth to him.⁷

In 1316 the future Robert II of Scotland was delivered by caesarean section — his mother, Marjorie Bruce, died. This may have been the inspiration for Macduff in Shakespeare's play Macbeth".

The first caesarean carried out on a live woman is thought to be that of the wife of Jacob Nufer, a sixteenth century Swiss pig-farmer. She was in obstructed labour and her life was saved by the procedure.¹

I.III Types of Uterine incision²

v Classical: vertical incision into the upper portion of uterine muscle, which allows a larger space to deliver the baby. However, it is rarely performed today as it is more prone to complications.

v Low transverse or Kehr incision:

· It is most common.

· Incision made transversely in the lower uterine segment.

· The uterus is least likely to rupture in subsequent pregnancies.

· Trial of labour acceptable after low transverse Caesarean section.

· Majority of the scar separations are ''windows'' or incomplete.

v Low vertical: Incision made vertically in the lower uterine segment.

I.IV Elective caesarean sections

Caesarean sections are in some cases performed for reasons other than medical necessity. Reasons for elective caesareans vary, with a key distinction being between hospital or doctor-centric reasons and mother-centric reasons. Critics of doctor-ordered caesareans worry that caesareans are in some cases performed because they are profitable for the hospital, because a quick caesarean is more convenient for an obstetrician than a lengthy vaginal birth, or because it is easier to perform surgery at a scheduled time than to respond to nature's schedule and deliver a baby at 3 a.m:⁸ for unknown reasons, naturally-occurring labour seems to occur most often between midnight and dawn. Another contributing factor for doctor-ordered procedures may be fear of medical malpractice lawsuits. For example, the failure to perform a caesarean section has been a central point in numerous lawsuits against obstetricians over incidents of cerebral palsy.

I.V Emergency caesarean section

An emergency caesarean section is a caesarean performed once the labour has commenced.

I.VI Incidence

The World Health Organization estimates the rate of caesarean sections at between 10% and 15% of all births in developed countries. In 2004, the caesarean rate was about 20% in the United Kingdom. In 2005 the caesarean rate was 30.2% in the United States.⁹ During 2001–2002; the Canadian caesarean section rate was 22.5%.¹⁰ In the United States the caesarean rate has risen 46% since 1996.⁹

Studies have shown that continuity of care with a known care provider may significantly decrease the rate of caesarean delivery¹¹ but that there is also research that appears to show that there is no significant difference in caesarean rates when comparing midwife continuity care to conventional fragmented care.¹²

I.VII Indications

Caesarean section is recommended when vaginal delivery might pose a risk to the mother or baby. Reasons for caesarean delivery include:

v Prolonged labour or a failure to progress (dystocia)².

v Fetal distress.^{1, 2}

v Malpresentations.^{1, 2}

v Placental problems (placenta praevia^{1, 2}, placental abruption or placenta accreta).

v Previous Caesarean section.^{1, 2}

v Catastrophes such as cord prolapse.^{1, 2}

v Maternal diseases¹

A. Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus.

B. Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia.

C. Heart diseases.

D. Obstructive tumor.

I.VIII Risksand complications of Caesarean section

When c-sections are done, most women and babies do well. But c-section is a major operation with risks from the surgery itself and from anesthesia.

The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 1 in 3 babies in the United States are delivered by c-section.³ Over the past few years, the rate of cesarean birth has increased rapidly. Some health care providers believe that many c-sections are medically unnecessary. When a woman has a cesarean, the benefits of the procedure should outweigh the risks.

The Risk of Late Preterm Birth
C-sections may contribute to the growing number of babies who are born “late preterm,” between 34 and 36 weeks gestation. While babies born at this time are usually considered healthy, they are more likely to have medical problems than babies born a few weeks later at full term.³

A baby’s lungs and brain mature late in pregnancy. Compared to a full-term baby, an infant born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation is more likely to have problems with:

Breathing
Feeding
Maintaining his or her temperature
Jaundice

Other Risks for the Baby

Anesthesia: Some babies are affected by the drugs given to the mother for anesthesia during surgery. These medications make the woman numb so she can’t feel pain. But they may cause the baby to be inactive or sluggish. ^{2, 3}

Breathing problems: Even if they are full-term, babies born by c-section are more likely to have breathing problems than are babies who are delivered vaginally. ³
Breastfeeding
Women who have c-sections are less likely to breastfeed than women who have vaginal deliveries. This may be because they are uncomfortable from the surgery or have less time with the baby in the hospital.
Fetal lacerations

Risks for the Mother
A few women have one or more of these complications after a c-section:

Increased bleeding, which may require a blood transfusion. ^{2, 3}
Infections to uterus, urinary tract, or pulmonary system.²

Ø Use of antibiotics at the time of operation reduces risk

Ø Risk increases if the patient had laboured

Reactions to medications, including the drugs used for anesthesia
Injuries to the bladder, bowel, ureters, vessels, nerves and cervix. ²
Blood clots in the legs, pelvic organs or lungs.³
Post operative ileus or bowel obstruction.²

If a woman who has had a caesarean section becomes pregnant again, she is at increased risk of:

Placenta praevia: The placenta implants very low in the uterus. It covers all or part of the internal opening of the cervix (the birth canal).
Placenta accreta: The placenta implants too deeply and too firmly into the uterine wall.

Both of these conditions can lead to severe bleeding during labor and delivery, endangering mother and baby. The risk increases with the number of pregnancies.³

I.IX Vaginal birth after caesarean section

Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) is not uncommon today. The medical practice until the late 1970s was "once a caesarean, always a caesarean" but a consumer-driven movement supporting VBAC changed the medical practice. Rates of VBAC in the 80s and early 90s soared, but more recently the rates of VBAC have dramatically dropped due to medico-legal restrictions.

In the past, caesarean sections used a vertical incision which cut the uterine muscle fibres in an up and down direction (a classical caesarean). Modern caesareans typically involve a horizontal incision along the muscle fibres in the lower portion of the uterus (hence the term lower uterine segment caesarean section, LUSCS/LSCS). The uterus then better maintains its integrity and can tolerate the strong contractions of future childbirth. Cosmetically the scar for modern caesareans is below the "bikini line."

Obstetricians and other caregivers differ on the relative merits of vaginal and caesarean section following a caesarean delivery; some still recommend a caesarean routinely, others do not. What should be emphasized in modern obstetric care is that the decision should be a mutual decision between the obstetrician and the mother/birth partner after assessing the risks and benefits of each type of delivery.

Twenty years of medical research on VBAC support a woman's choice to have a vaginal birth after caesarean. Because the consequences of caesareans include a higher chance of re-hospitalization after birth, infertility, and uterine rupture in the next birth, preventing the first caesarean remains the priority. For women with one or more previous caesareans, as an alternative to major abdominal surgery, some claim that VBAC remains a safer option.¹³

II- Patients and methods

A descriptive study was conducted at the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Erbil maternity and pediatrics hospital, Iraq, from 21^st of November to 27^th of November 2007.

All cases of cesarean sections presenting during the study period were recorded in the department using data information sheet prepared for the purpose of this study.

All patients were interviewed post operatively in the wards.

For each patient a data information sheet is filled which includes: name, age, parity, gestational age, educational level, type and cause of cesarean section.

Rate and indications of C/S in maternal Teaching Hospital/ Erbil

No.:

city

Name:		Educational Level:
Age:			Illiterate:
LMP:			Elementary:
Parity (G.P.A.):			Mid and High School:
G.A.:			College:
Type of C/S:	Elective			Emergency
Causes of C/S:
Previous C/S:
Non progressive labour
Malpresentation:
	Breech		Shoulder	Face	Footling
Fetal distress:
Ante partum haemorrhage:
	Placenta praevia			Placenta abruption
Cord Prolapse:
Maternal Diseases:
	D.M.
	Pre-Eclampsia
	Elcampsia
	Heart disease
	Obstructing tumor
Fetal Diseases:
	Preterm baby			Post-term baby
	Congenital anomalies

III- RESULTS

Table 1; shows the total number of deliveries were (423), of these, 325 (76.83%) of cases were delivered by vaginal deliveries and the rest 98 (23.17%) cases by cesarean sections, and of these 12 {12.24%} were delivered by elective cesarean section and 86 {87.75%} were delivered by emergency cesarean section.

Table 2; shows the indications of cesarean sections in Erbil Maternity Hospital. The most common indications were a history of previous cesarean section (52/98) 52.05%, and non-progressive labour (44/98) 44.89%, the other indications were as follows; mal-presentation (17/98) 17.34%, maternal diseases (14/98) 14.28%, antepartum haemorrhage (7/98) 7.14%, and congenital anomalies (4/98) 4.08%.

Note: 33.67% of patients had only one indication, but 45.91% had two indications, and the rest had three and more indications.

Table 3; shows indication for caesarean sections regarding the numbers of previous cesarean sections, women with one previous caesarean sections (33) 64.5%, while previous two caesarean sections (12) 23.5% and more than two previous cesarean sections (6) 12%.

Figure 1; shows Maternal Diseases as indication of cesarean sections .The most common maternal disease was pre-eclampsia (50%), the others were Eclampsia (28.57%) diabetes mellitus (14.28%), Heart diseases (7.14%).

Figure 2; shows the distribution of cesarean sections according to educational level, 34 (34.69%) of the cases were illiterate, while 65 of the cases were educated, among educated cases; 44 (44.89%) of the cases were at elementary level, 11 (11.22%) of the cases were at mid and high school level and the rest of the cases 9 (9.18%) were at college.

Figure 3; shows the distribution of cesarean sections among different age groups; the incidence of cesarean section was most common among 25-29 and 30-34 years, 28 (28.57%) in each age group. While 36 (36.72%) cases were among 20-24 and >=35 age group, 18 (18.36%) cases in each. In those who were <=19 years, 6 (6.12%) cases were present.

Figure 4; shows cesarean section according to gestational age, 54 (55.1%) of the cases were above 40 weeks, 37 (37.75%) of the cases were within 37-39 weeks, and 7 (7.14%) of the cases were below 36 weeks.

III.I

Table 1: Total number of deliveries

Total No. of deliveries	Vaginal delivery	No. of Cesarean Section = 98 cases
Total No. of deliveries	Vaginal delivery	Elective	%	Emergency	%
423	325	12	12.24	86	87.76

III.II

Table 2: Indications of cesarean sections in Erbil Maternity Hospital

Indications	NO.	%
Previous cesarean section	51	52.04
Non-progressive labour	45	45.9
Mal-presentation	17	17.34
Maternal diseases	14	14.28
Fetal distress	7	7.14
Antepartum haemorrhage	7	7.14
Preterm baby	7	7.14
Congenital anomalies	4	4.08

Note: (24.98%) of patients had only one indication, but (50%) had two indications, and the rest (25.02%) had three and more indications.

III.III

Table 3: Indication of caesarean sections regarding the numbers of previous cesarean sections

Previous cesarean sections	No.	Percentage
One	33	64.5
Two	12	23.5
More	6	12
Total	51	100

III.IV

Figure 1: Maternal Diseases as indication of cesarean sections

III.V

Figure 2: Distribution of cesarean sections according to educational level

III.VI

Figure 3: Distribution of cesarean sections among different age groups.

Figure 4: Cesarean section according to gestational age.

IV- Discussion

In our study which was done in Erbil maternity hospital during 21^st Nov. 2007 to 27^th Nov. 2007 for determining the rate and indications of Caesarean section, we have found the rate of Caesarean section to the total number of deliveries was 98/423 (23.17%), and it was lower than the vaginal delivery 325/432 (76.83%) as vaginal delivery is preferable way of delivery and it’s associated with low morbidity and mortality rate.

The rate of cesarean delivery was 23.17% and this was in agreement with the study done in Erbil Maternity Hospital at 2002 by Dr. Shahla Hamza Ahmed, in which the rate was (24.7%)⁶.

The emergency cesarean sections in our study were higher than elective cesarean sections, which was 86/98 and 12/98 respectively, as most of the cases arrived late to hospital and they were not in appointment with doctors, this may be associated with educational level of the patients as our study revealed that the rate of caesarean section was common among those who were illiterate and at elementary level.

Among the cases, those who admitted to hospital for operation, 24.98% of cases have one indication, 50% of cases have tow indications, and 25.02% of cases have 3 and more indications.

In our study the most common indication for Caesarean section was previous Caesarean section (52.04%); (64.5%) included in within this list those who had only one previous Caesarean section, (23.5%) those who had two and (12%) those who had more than two, although we mentioned that medical researches on VBAC support a woman's choice to have a vaginal birth after caesarean, obstetricians and other caregivers have different opinions about VBAC, some still recommend a caesarean routinely, others do not, but in our community most with a previous Caesarean section had undergone another Caesarean section.

The second most common indication was non progressive laobur 45.9%; some of the cases tried vaginal delivery and waited but not adequately as it is obvious that the normal duration of first stage in primigravida and multigravida 12, 8 hours respectively. Some factors influenced this e.g. if a case is presented in afternoon the obstetrician may decide to do the operation instead of doing it later, because the obstetrician usually attends the clinic at this time.

The 3^rd most common indication in our study was malpresentation, such as breech, face...etc which was 17 (17.34%).

The other indications of cesarean section were;

§ Maternal diseases 14 (14.28%) and among the diseases pre-eclampsia was the most common one, the other diseases were eclampsia, D.M. (which is usually associated with macrosomic baby), and heart diseases.

§ Fetal distress, ante partum hemorrhage, preterm baby each one 7 (7.14%) and congenital anomalies 4 (4.08%).

V- Conclusion and Recommendation:

We concluded in our study:

1. The rate of vaginal delivery was higher than cesarean section, and the rate of caesarean section in our study as compared to World Health Organization's estimation of rate caesarean section in developed countries is higher.

2. Emergency cesarean sections were higher than elective cesarean section.

3. The most common cause of cesarean section was previous cesarean section.

Some Recommendations:

1. All patients admitted to hospital should be observed closely for progression of labour and recognition of any cause that require operative delivery and use of CTG "cardiotocography" in labour room is strongly recommended.

2. Training and assessment of skills and close supervision of primary health providers.

3. Health education in people in rural areas and improvement in governmental assistance so that ante natal and delivery services will be affordable to all pregnant women of society.

4. Education and promotion of family planning which provide basic ante natal and delivery health services and it also could decreases maternal mortality and morbidity.

5. Building new hospitals and health centers.

6. Training and education for midwives, to know whether it's mandatory to perform caesarean section.

References

1. Stuart Campbell, Christoph Lees. Obstetrics by ten teachers. 17^thedition. London. Arnold. 2000

2. Arthur T. Evans. Manual of obstetric. 7^th edition. USA. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.2007

3. Official website of the National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov/

4. England, Pam and Rob Horowitz, Birthing From Within, p. 149

5. Pliny the Elder, Historia naturalis 7.47

6. Dr. Shahla???????????????????????????????????????????

7. St. Raymond Nonnatus. Catholic Online. Retrieved on 2006-07-26.

8. Mackenzie IZ, Cooke I, Annan B. Indications for caesarean section in a consultant unit over the decades. J Obstet Gynecol 2003;23:233-8

9. ^a ^b Preliminary Births for 2005: Infant and Maternal Health. National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved on 2006-11-23.

10. "Canada's caesarean section rate highest ever", CTV, April 21, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-07-26.

11. Homer Caroline et al. (2001). "Collaboration in maternity care: a randomized controlled trial comparing community-based continuity of care with standard hospital care." J British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2001 vol. 108 p16-22.

12. Hodnett, E. D. (2000). "Continuity of caregivers for care during pregnancy and childbirth" (PDF, fee may be required). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000062

13. Vernon, D (2005). Having a Great Birth in Australia. Canberra, Australia: Australian College of Midwives

14. Official website of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital http://www.smh.com.au/

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May God bless you ...

Yilmaz Güney

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:48:00 +0300

Yilmaz Güney was and still one of the greatest and most important personal in the history of Kurdish nation. He is truly Kurdish Che Guevara.

Yılmaz Güney was a Kurdish film director, scenarist, novelist and actor. Almost all of his works are devoted to the plight of the Kurdish people.

Born in April first, 1937 to a Kurdish family in a village near the southern city of Adana, Turkey, his father was a Kurd from Siverek, Turkey and his mother was a Kurd from Varto, Turkey.

Güney studied law and economics at the universities in Ankara and Istanbul, but by the age of 21 he found himself actively involved in film-making.

The most popular name to emerge from the Young Turkish Cinema was that of Yılmaz Güney. Güney was a gruff-looking young actor who earned the moniker "Cirkin Kral" in Turkish, which means "the Ugly King" in English.

After apprenticing as a screenwriter for and assistant to Atıf Yılmaz, Güney soon began appearing in as many as 20 films a year and became Turkey's most popular actor.

In 1960 there were a coup in Turkey, as it's usual in Turkish history, which brought some political reform to Turkey, but not regarding Turkey, they restricted Kurdish people more than before, as the result Güney was imprisoned in 1961 for 18 months for publishing a "Communist" novel.

The country's political situation and Güney's relationship with the authorities only became more tense in the ensuing years. Not content with his star status atop the Turkish film industry, Güney began directing his own pictures in 1965 and, by 1968, had formed his own production company, Güney Filmcilik.

Over the next few years, the titles of his films mirrored the feelings of the Kurdish people: Umut which means Hope in 1970, Agit in 1972, Aci in 1971 and Umutsuzlar in 1971.

After 1972, however, Güney would spend most of his life in prison. Arrested for harboring anarchist students, Güney was jailed during preproduction on Zavallilar in 1975, and before completing Endise (1974), which was finished in 1974 by Güney's assistant, Şerif Gören. This was a cherished role that Gören would repeat over the next dozen years, directing several scripts that Güney wrote laboriously while behind bars.

Released from prison in 1974 as part of a general amnesty, Güney was re-arrested that same year for murdering a judge. During this stretch of incarceration, his most successful screenplays were Sürü (The Herd) (1978) and Düsman (1979), both directed by Zeki Ökten.

In an interview with journalist Chris Kutschera, Guney said:

"The Herd, in fact, is the history of the Kurdish people, but I could not even use the Kurdish language in this film; if we had used the Kurdish language, all those who took part in this film would have been sent to jail..."

After escaping from prison in 1981 and fleeing to France, Güney won the Palme d'Or at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival for his film Yol, whose director in the field was once again Şerif Gören. It was not until 1983 that Güney resumed directing, telling a brutal tale of imprisoned children in his final film, Duvar, the Wall in 1983, made in France with the cooperation of the French government.

Güney remains a highly controversial figure in Turkish and Kurdish political and art circles. His works are still highly regarded by cinema critics.

Read my previous post about this great man:

Yilmaz Guney talking about being Kurd

More coming about this great man.

I miss my MOM so badly... :((

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:32:00 +0300

This week was my last week in Pediatric Surgery department of Rapareen Hospital here in Hawler, it was so busy and tired week, even I couldn't return back to home to see my mom, that's why I miss her so badly.

This evening I called her and told that I really miss you my dear mom, she said "Offffff", she is a heroine, a mom that every body will wish to have such mom.

Will return back home to see her tomorrow, God Willing...

May God bless you my dear mom...

"Bazar", Hotels and Parks in Hawler

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:44:00 +0300

"Bazar" is an eastern term used to refer to Market, nations from Pakistan, India to the Arabian countries, passing through Persia and Kurdistan are suing this term very widely.

The bazaar in Kurdistan contains a broad range of hand-made materials produced by the regional natives, which shows the Kurdish Folklore, in addition to the typical foods, along side the foreign products.

Generally speaking, Markets are very interested in Hawler city. At the city center, near the Hawler Castle, there is a place called "Qaysari", this is a great place for shopping, it contains about thousand shops selling different kinds of goods, from whatever you want; shoes, clothes for different ages and sexes, fabrics, make-up, foods; local and foreign foods, even folkloric manufactures and gold sellers.

Of course this is not only Markets here in Hawler, we have too many other markets, like: Iskan St. Markets which will be open till 1:00 am, Tayrawa Shopping centers, Koran Shopping centers, beside so many supermarkets and malls which have been opened since 2003, including: Kok Supermarket, New City Shopping Center, Modern City Mall, Naza Mall, and many others, to name but few.

Muthafariya Markets, they are located in the Muthafariya Qr., opposite to the Governorate Building, the majority of the shops in this market are specialized in selling computers and IT technologies, including spare parts and accessories. Beside a leading Model Cloth Shops "Al-Sultan Market", they are really leading in this field, but their goods are very expensive.

The most crowded St. at night will be Iskan St with all the markets on both sides of the street, it's a short street, but very popular and crowded, the shops and markets will be open till late night, 1:00 am.

Iskan Street located in Iskan Qr. and connects the 30m St. to the 60m Street, everything available there, from clothes to foods.

There is also a very nice small garden, nearly in the middle of the St., "Brusik Garden", having two sides, one for families.

This is a picture of Khanzad Hotel, Five Stared Hotel, Situated on Erbil - Salahaddin Highway, composed of 6 Stories, 96 Rooms, Modern Luxury Hotel; Constructed Parallel to Khanzad Mountain; Wide Attached Areas Surrounded by Forests; Offering Various Services to Tourists. Watching over Rural Areas, Valleys & Mountains; About 15 km off Erbil City Center.

The Khanzad Hotel is built atop a hill some five kilometers from Shaqlawa. Its location is symbolic of its aspiration to represent the highest standards of service and hotelerie in the Kurdistan Region.

Build just before 2003 and once the American "invaded" Iraq become the official place for them, and by this the owner made a huge benefits.

This is a simple picture of "Martyr Sami Abdur-Rahman Park", made by the KRG, at first named "Hawler Park" but after the deadly explosions which targeted both Headquarters of the PUK and PDK, they changed the name to this name.

The park is situated on 60-m St, opposite to Kurdistan Parliament Building. It is beautiful, integrated and of tourist peculiarity.

I've heard too many times, that it's a largest park in all over the middle east, but I never read about it, so I don't know it's or not, but to be honest, it's very big, in a way you may be miss in it if you don't know it well.

It includes a swimming pool, statues, restaurants, and they added car parking garage lately.

Beside that recently the made a very big hall just between the Garage and the main Park, for the international shows, for example the last international book show and the Italian show, held there.

I have too many recent pictures of this great place, will upload them soon, so check it up... :)

Museum and Archaeological Sites in Hawler

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:39:00 +0300

The history of Hawler dates back to over 6,000 years BC, which is the oldest continuously inhabiting city in the world, by this, Hawler will be a very great place which contains many archaeological materials which will be very important, not only for the Kurdish or Iraqi people, but for he Humanity as a whole.

This is Erbil Civilization Museum, the museum is on Kirkuk Road between the 30m street and the 60m street, just opposite to the Kurdistan International Bank, near Sheraton Hotel.

It is rich in various antiquities, statues, remains of Erbil & surrounding areas ancient civilization.

It holds a great archaeological library that is of benefit for historians and archaeologists. You can see obviously how neglected from the first sight, unfortunately this is a case in all the great buildings in our area.

This is Khanzad Castle lies on Erbil-Shaqlawa road and is one of the archaeological sites in the city of Erbil. It dates back to Soran Principality period when Princes ruled (Sulaiman Beg and Princess Khanzad) in Soran district whose capital was Rawandooz then.

In the media rule of Abbasids, there had been a small emirate in the mountainous area, to the east of Erbil City. It was established by the princes of Zarzariya Tribe. Its castle "Deween Castle" was considered to be the greatest and most famous in the region. The emirate was the main center for political entities in the area. The castle is located on the top of a mountain, looking down upon a great river. The princes of this emirate are believed to be the affiliates of "Shadi Bin Marwan", who was the chief of Rawand Tribe, who were residing the village close to Deween Castle. He was one of the grandfathers of Salahaddin Al-Ayyoubi.

Some Resorts in Hawler

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:22:00 +0300

Hawler is well known for resorts, like Permam (Salahaddin), Shaqlawa, Jundyan, Haji Omaran , Choman, Rawanduz, Gully Ali Beg, and to mention but few.

This is an old picture of Bekhal Resort, which located about 140 km away from Erbil governorate center, east of Gully Ali Beg, 10 km off Rawandooz district. The maximum temperature is 32 degrees Celsius in summer.

The resort is accessible via Gally Ali Beg road or Rawandooz district. It has a huge cataract with pure water falling down the mountain. There are several folk restaurants and other entertaining places.

From early spring to late autumn, tourists head for the resort.

It's being awhile I didn't go to these resorts. I should revise myself.

Gully Ali Beg Resort which is about 130 km off Erbil governorate center. It is one of the attractive and beautiful resorts in Kurdistan Region. It extends for 12 km between Korak and Bradost Mountains, forming a magnificent landscape.

The Gully is round 800 m above sea level, with maximum temperature 35 degrees Celsius in summer and 10 degrees below freezing in winter. In the gulley two rivers meet-one springs from Alana Valley, Khalifan sub-district; the other from Rawandooz district and Bekhal Resort. At the gulley entrance, both meet Seedakan River to form the Great Zab.

In addition to the major waterfall, there are several cascades. The resort is featured by its mountainous terrain and various trees. It is a gorgeous place for recreational picnics; it has a number of restaurants and other entertaining spots. In spring and summer, tourists head for the resort where there are private places for families.

The Iraqi Government used this picture on one of the monetary units, from old days till now.

Jundyan Resort which is about 147 km off Erbil city centre, 5 km from Soran district. It lies at the bottom of Hndreen Mountain; with maximum temperature 32 degrees Celsius in summer. Jundyan resort is famed for its magic sweet water spring flowing out of Hndreen Mountain bottom.

It is surrounded by varied trees. The Regional Government took care of this resort, including a restaurant, and other recreational and private places for tourist families.

The Choly Minaret

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:11:00 +0300

As we said previously that Hawler is well-known for having a Castle in the center of the city and secondly, for having a Minaret known as The Choly Minaret, which located in the west region of Hawler city.

They Choly Minaret which is 36 m high, was built between 1190-1232 (630 – 586 according to Islamic Calendar) during the reign of Muzaffar Al-Din Abu Sa’eed Al-Kawkaboori, the king of Erbil.

The minaret is composed of a high octagonal base and a tall cylindrical shaft, with a balcony located between the base and the shaft.

It’s built of baked bricks, the base is decorated with two tiers of niches with pointed arches, two on each of the eight faces that are inscribed in rectangular frames.

The balcony parapet is carved with twenty-four small niches, the access door to the minaret steps is on the eastern side of the octagonal base and leads top to the balcony. From there a small door gives access to steps inside the cylindrical shaft that led to the second balcony now collapsed.

The shaft tapers inward and is decorated with several bands of interlocking diagonal Hazar-Baf motifs that are separated with thin bands. Peculiarly splendid "Kufi", which is a type of Arabic handwritings, calligraphy can be seen, the names of Muhammad and Mas'oudi Muhammadi the builders of the Minaret were inscribed.

I have these two old photos of The Choly Minaret, but have some other new pictures, and will try to upload them soon.

Kurdistan Region as a Model for Religious Coexistence and Tolerance

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:07:00 +0300

Kurdish people are well-known for their tolerance and their respect to the other religions other than they believe in. I've heard more than one time that in Akre and Amedi towns, which located on the Iraq - Turkey border and belongs to the Duhok Province, the Church is just beside the Mosque.

This is not only a talk, let's bring some proofs, on 3rd of March 2008, the news comes from PUK Media that Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani met a high ranking delegation from International Peace Messengers Union in Salah El-Din resort, Irbil Province, on the behalf that the Union has chosen Kurdistan Region as a model for religious and ethnic coexistence. The Union also introduced to President Barzani a certification for his role in achieving peace and joint coexistence.

President Barzani appreciated this step, and emphasized his support for the goals of the Union.

Here I am going to upload 3 pictures that proves that Kurdistan is a Model for Religious Coexistence and Tolerance.

This is a very nice shot, for the largest and the most well-decorated Mosque here in Kurdistan, Jaleel Khayat and his sons Mosque, located on the 60m St., just on the other side of Shorsh Overpass.

They spent more than 7 years to build this Mosque.

St. Joseph Church, this church is located on Erbi-Ainkawa main road. Ainkawa is a town near Hawler city, most of it's population are Christian, and after 1991 became a local site for all foreign NGO in the region.

St. Joseph Church is one of the eminent churches in Ainkawa subdistrict. Its total area is 10000 M2 of which the premises take up 950 M2.

In 1978, it was built according to the ancient Babylonian design.

Al-Sawwaf Mosque, one of the largest mosque here in Hawler, if not in the Kurdistan all it's located on the Thirty Meters St., next to the Kurdistan Region Bank, Hareem Bank.

It constructed in the year 2003 according to Islamic architecture. It combines between modernism an heritage.

It has very beautiful and amazing look, actually the process of building starts during 90ies of the past century, on a relatively large area. They said that the fund for building this mosque comes from an old Saudian Muslim widow, may Allah bless her.

Hawler in 90ies

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:03:00 +0300

It's not rare to see snowing in Hawler, but it's not common too, this is very nice shoot showing Hawler Castle covered with snow.

The last 2 pictures, is more modern, they may return to late 90ies.

Some other pictures of Hawler

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:57:00 +0300

Hawler at night, showing the Gov. Building just beside the Castle.

Hawler in 80ies and 90ies

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:53:00 +0300

You can see how life changing, these pictures taken during last decades of last century.

Look, you can't find any buildings around "Delalxana". Beside, the Ibin Mustawfi's Stature yet not placed on the main gate to the Castle.

Usual appearance of Hawler Castle in the Spring time.

Some Old Pictures of Hawler 3

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:49:00 +0300

Selected Views of Hawler Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Harman Tola) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:43:00 +0300

Some other unique pictures, selected views to the Hawler Castle...

The usual and traditional balcony of the Hawler Castle.

An aerial view of Hawler Castle, locating in the middle of the old city.