In less than a week I will be in Kurdistan, in the northern region of Iraq.
Kurdistan is a disputed region covering parts of Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Armenia. Over the past century it has seen numerous conficts with violent struggles between internal and external poitical parties. The area is predominately muslim, they speak various dialects with the second most common being refered to as Kurdish, and have large oil deposits which contribute to many of the disagreements over borders.
In recent years the Iraqi part of Kurdistan has become almost entirely autonomous with its own government, military and visas. While this is what most Kurds have fought for there is still much dissent within the country over corruption and misuse of power by the two major political parties (the KPD and PUK). The KRG (Kurdish Regional Government) offers some support for the Kurdish areas outside of Iraq and nearly all Kurds recognise and support the PKK, (the Kurdish malitia in Turkey). Despite the bombing that still occurs on its mountainous borders, Iraqi Kurdistan is considered a relatively safe and stable area of Iraq and welcomes refugees from less stable areas such as Syria.
Since 2006 CPT (Christian Peacemaker Teams) has been working in Kurdistan, basing itself in Suleimani. They attempt to journey alongside the local people and other NGOs, reporting on human rights abuses, listening to stories and supporting locals in non-violent activities and movements towards peace in the region.
As my delegation draws closer and I prepare for my time there I flit through different feelings. One is disbelief and anticipation. I was 8 when the twin towers fell, I have spent most of my life hearing about Iraq from the news, my parents and speakers at many many different anti war rallies. To be actually going there for myself seems too strange, like reading a book then waking up to find that it is actually your life. It has always been a distant part of my life and as I think about it I suprise myself by how many stories some to mind of the place.
I have been reading information about CPT's work and trying to understand what they actually do in Kurdistan through many documents of orientation material. It is a big task and I can't wrap my head around it enough to form a succinct statement. However living in the Catholic Worker has definately taught me that sometimes the best work isn't possible to categorise. Once the two weeks are over I will write something, trying my best to sum up the work we did. But for how your will have to satisfy yourself with updates, and your own research :-)
Thank-you for the prayers and I hope this also gives your a chance to talk to other people about CPT, spread the word :-)
Love Rebekah
Kurdistan is a disputed region covering parts of Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Armenia. Over the past century it has seen numerous conficts with violent struggles between internal and external poitical parties. The area is predominately muslim, they speak various dialects with the second most common being refered to as Kurdish, and have large oil deposits which contribute to many of the disagreements over borders.
In recent years the Iraqi part of Kurdistan has become almost entirely autonomous with its own government, military and visas. While this is what most Kurds have fought for there is still much dissent within the country over corruption and misuse of power by the two major political parties (the KPD and PUK). The KRG (Kurdish Regional Government) offers some support for the Kurdish areas outside of Iraq and nearly all Kurds recognise and support the PKK, (the Kurdish malitia in Turkey). Despite the bombing that still occurs on its mountainous borders, Iraqi Kurdistan is considered a relatively safe and stable area of Iraq and welcomes refugees from less stable areas such as Syria.
Since 2006 CPT (Christian Peacemaker Teams) has been working in Kurdistan, basing itself in Suleimani. They attempt to journey alongside the local people and other NGOs, reporting on human rights abuses, listening to stories and supporting locals in non-violent activities and movements towards peace in the region.
As my delegation draws closer and I prepare for my time there I flit through different feelings. One is disbelief and anticipation. I was 8 when the twin towers fell, I have spent most of my life hearing about Iraq from the news, my parents and speakers at many many different anti war rallies. To be actually going there for myself seems too strange, like reading a book then waking up to find that it is actually your life. It has always been a distant part of my life and as I think about it I suprise myself by how many stories some to mind of the place.
I have been reading information about CPT's work and trying to understand what they actually do in Kurdistan through many documents of orientation material. It is a big task and I can't wrap my head around it enough to form a succinct statement. However living in the Catholic Worker has definately taught me that sometimes the best work isn't possible to categorise. Once the two weeks are over I will write something, trying my best to sum up the work we did. But for how your will have to satisfy yourself with updates, and your own research :-)
Thank-you for the prayers and I hope this also gives your a chance to talk to other people about CPT, spread the word :-)
Love Rebekah
For more information on CPT: www.cpt.org