December-January Edition of The Middle East in London Hits Newsstands
5 December 2012
The magazine is a leading resource on Middle Eastern communities in London. It includes event, film and book reviews, as well as original articles on cultural, political, economic and other issues that affect these communities.
The term ‘Arab Spring’ glosses over and marginalises the diverse ethnic and religious groups living and mobilising in the region. In Iraq, for example, it has been the Kurds in the North who engaged in more widespread demonstrations in the spring of 2011. Without doubt, political protests, transitions and military conflicts have had a wider impact on ‘the Kurdish question’ and the dream of Kurdish autonomy. This is particularly obvious in the context of Syria as Robert Lowe’s Insight article reveals. The withdrawal of Syrian troops has allowed a peaceful ‘liberation’ of Kurdish areas and has led to the establishment of a ‘western Kurdistan’.
While the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq appears supportive of its Syrian Kurdish neighbours, Iraqi Kurds themselves continue to be increasingly focused on struggles over resources and land in the context of its precarious relationship with the Iraqi central government. Raad Alkadirri discusses the centrality of oil and economic considerations. Nelida Fuccaro’s contribution analyses the ongoing tensions over Kirkuk, and the way the city has become a significant symbol in novels and poetry.
Looking to London, there is no doubt that we live in a city that has been for many years a hub of the various Kurdish communities originating from Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Ozlem Caliskan writes about the important role women’s organisations play, not only in providing services but also providing safe spaces and places where cultures and identities can be maintained, constructed and celebrated. Shelagh Weir, on the other hand, introduces us to a different kind of London-based Kurdish organisation: Gulan promotes knowledge and appreciation of Kurdish art and culture. Its founder, Della Murad, comes from Halabja, and her own life story is a moving testimony to the spirit of survival and creativity that lies at the heart of the organisation.
Moving to Kurdish culture outside of London, Taylan Sahbaz provides us with an original angle to the issue of multiculturalism, by exploring the issue of Turkish writing by Kurdish poets. Yiannis Kanakis introduces us in an eloquent and moving manner to Kurdish women’s songs, and the significance of music in creating a Kurdish community of emotion. Finally, having read David Michelmore’s fascinating article on preparing Erbil citadel for world heritage nomination, I will definitely look at the citadel more closely during my next trip to the city that I nowadays associate more with a building boom and investment.
