Iraq: Information on an Islamist group operating in northern Iraq called Jamat-e-Yakgirtui; information on the extent of the control the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) have over northern Iraqi territory, including information on the governing political party of Arbil, and whether the party issues identity documents to its members
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 7 January 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRQ40366.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iraq: Information on an Islamist group operating in northern Iraq called Jamat-e-Yakgirtui; information on the extent of the control the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) have over northern Iraqi territory, including information on the governing political party of Arbil, and whether the party issues identity documents to its members, 7 January 2003, IRQ40366.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4db118.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on an Islamist group operating in northern Iraq called Jamat-e-Yakgirtui could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Various news articles have reported that most of northern Iraq has been under the control of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP, or PDK) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) (BBC Monitoring 11 Nov. 2002; Belfast News Letter 13 Mar. 2002; The Scotsman 10 Apr. 2002; AFP 1 Dec. 2002; ibid. 9 Oct. 2002; ibid. 12 Sept. 2002; ibid. 20 Aug. 2002). These two political parties have been in control of the area since the end of the 1991 Gulf war (AFP 9 Oct. 2002; ibid. 12 Sept. 2002; ibid. 20 Aug. 2002), at which time northern Iraq was declared "a haven for the Kurdish minority" by the United States (US), Britain and France (Belfast News Letter 13 Mar. 2002). The area continues to be protected by US and British warplanes that patrol the area to prevent Iraq from entering (The Scotsman10 Apr. 2002; AFP 20 Aug. 2002; ibid. 19 Feb. 2001).
The PUK controls the eastern sector of Kurdistan, while the KDP controls the area of northern Iraq that borders Turkey (AFP 20 Aug. 2002). The province of Arbil is under KDP control (AFP 2 Nov. 2002; ibid. 19 Feb. 2001).
Information on whether the KDP issues any kind of identity documents could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 December 2002. Lydia Georgi. "Iraqi Dissidents Seek Show of Unity in Preparation for Post-Saddam." (NEXIS)
_____. 2 November 2002. "Iraqi Kurds March Again to Press for News of Missing." (NEXIS)
_____. 9 October 2002. "Turkey Says Iraqi Kurdish Plans for Federal Constitution 'Unacceptable.'" (NEXIS)
_____. 12 September 2002. "Iraqi Kurdish Group Pledges to Work for Reconciliation with Rivals." (NEXIS)
_____. 20 August 2002. "Major Iraqi Opposition Groups." (NEXIS)
_____. 19 February 2001. "Iraqi Governor Assassinated, Kurdish Leader Says." (NEXIS)
BBC Monitoring. 11 November 2002. "Analysis: Iraqi Media Overview." (BBC Monitoring 11 Nov. 2002/NEXIS)
Belfast News Letter. 13 March 2002. "Saddam Defies US Threats of Attack on Iraq." (NEXIS)
The Scotsman. 10 April 2002. James Dorsey. "Kurds in First Skirmish of Iraq Conflict." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
The Canadian High Commission in Damascus, Syria, which is also responsible for Iraq, did not respond to a letter requesting information within time constraints.
Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook. 2002. 15th ed.
Europa World Year Book 2002
IRB Databases
Laizer, Sheri. 1996. Martyrs, Traitors & Patriots: Kurdistan After the Gulf War. London: Zed Books Ltd.
McDowall, David. 1996. A Modern History of the Kurds. London: I.B. Tautris.
Middle East International (Summer 2001 to Winter 2002)
Middle East Report (1 June 2001 to 8 Nov. 2002)
NEXIS
Political Parties of the World 2002
Shaikh, Farzana, ed. 1992. Islam and Islamic Groups. Essex: Longman Group UK Limited.
Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Kurdistan Democratic Party, United States representative in Washington.
World News Connection
Internet sites, including:
BBC
Iraq Daily (Searchable archives are available for the past seven days only)
Kurdish Worldwide Resources
Kurdistan Observer
Middle East Review of International Affairs
Radio Free Europe (Iraq Report June 2001 to Dec. 2002)
The Terrorism Research Centre
WorldNews.com
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