Clouds of sectarian violence could be anticipated between Muslims and Yazidis in Kurdistan Region.

The killing of young girl Du’a Khalil Aswad has ignited sparks in the Province. It’s bad enough that this woman’s male family members murdered her. But not only that, a mob of men viewed this whole event as if it were entertainment. They filmed it with camera phones and jeered and encouraged it. And they did nothing to stop it.

Now, in retaliation to the event, women in huge numbers could be seen flocking the streets in Kurdistan Region hence, the government has called for the murderers to be brought to justice.

In a statement, the protesters said,

We do strongly condemn the killing of women under the pretext of honor and the killing and mutilating of the body of Du’a on April 7, 2007.

Taking revenge on women under the pretext of honor is a terrorist act, read a banner carried by the demonstrators.

The protesters have urged the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to take strict measures against the perpetrators.

Kurdistan Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, Kamal Kirkuki stated that,

This crime has touched off a desperate attempt to disrupt the peaceful coexistence between Muslim and Yazidi Kurds, and the majority of those who carried out this crime are now under arrest and will be tried according to law.

The incident is the second in a series of sectarian incidents between the Yazidis and Muslims in the area. Last year, a group of Muslim tribesmen attacked several Yazidi buildings in Shekhan, a district east of Mosul, because of honor issues sparked over the fate of a Muslim girl.

In the meantime, Kurdish authorities have vowed to follow up on the issue by establishing an investigative committee.

There are frequent reports of ‘honour crimes’ in Iraq - in particular in the predominantly Kurdish north of the country. Most victims of ‘honour crimes’ are women and girls who are considered by their male relatives and others to have shamed the women’s families by immoral behavior. While the Kurdish authorities introduced legal reforms to address ‘honour killings’ they have, however, failed to investigate and prosecute those responsible for such crimes.

The Kurdistan government, who originally did nothing in reaction to this event, have now stated - after their dirty little secrets were exposed to the world via the internet - that these men will be punished. Hmm... we’ll see!

These people- who jeered and encouraged the incident- see themselves as getting rid of another sinning person but how can one pass judgment like that when committing a crime themselves. I say to these people you are a joke; your beliefs are a joke.

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