|
We are slowly rebuilding what ISIS destroyed in Iraq
|
|
- Refresher: Islamist militant jihadist group ISIS ruled over some parts of Iraq and Syria from (around) 2013 and 2019. Kurdish forces eventually drove most of them out.
Last week, Iraq celebrated the unveiling of three, fully restored monumental sculptures in Hatra (290km northwest of Baghdad).
Why this matters: In 2015, ISIS destroyed so, so much in Iraq – from Assyrian artifacts in Mosul to ruins at Nimrud and Hatra in Iraq. Last week's news is another step towards at least some kind of healing; I mean, look at how happy people are at the ceremony.
What's the meaning of Hatra?
The ancient city was the capital of the first Arab Kingdom and one of the leading trade and religious centres of the Parthian empire in the first and second centuries BCE. It is the best-preserved and most-informative example of a Parthian city. And in 1985, Hatra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
How much did ISIS destroy in Hatra?
"IS destroyed everything that was important in this city," senior antiquities official Ali Obeid Sholgham told AFP. Provincial antiquities chief Khair al-Din Ahmed Nasser said works of art were "ripped out and shattered -- we found fragments all over the site". "We recovered some pieces. Others which were missing we replaced with the same type of stone."
Who's doing all this restoring?
Iraq and Italy are collaborating. Look up the International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies and the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas.
Zoom out: Don't forget the consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The country's ancient heritage was looted and many of its sites destroyed.
|
|
|
We finally made abortion legal in Colombia
|
|
|
Colombia's constitutional court ruled that no one will be prosecuted for having an abortion within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Why this matters: This is a maaassive step for Latin America, a Catholic region and one with deeply conservative values. Since 2006, abortions have been allowed in Colombia in cases of rape, when the woman's life is at risk, or if the pregnancy is not viable.
Wait. Before women were prosecuted for having had abortions?
Yes. Even now, there are people in prison serving long sentences, many of whom say that they suffered miscarriages. But with so few reproductive rights in some countries, people who need medical help are instead abandoned by the state. Some 90% of abortions in Colombia are carried out in secret, and that puts the health and life of everybody at risk.
Any objections?
Oh, yes. Of course. Archbishop José Luis Rueda said the Catholic Church would "continue to proclaim, defend and promote human life from gestation until natural death".
Zoom out: Latin America and abortion have become 'best friends' in recent years. Remember the similar ruling by Mexico's Supreme Court in September and the legalisation of abortion up to the 14th week in Argentina? Yes, that happened. Brazil, are you reading this? (Central America, you too.)
Anything else?
Yes. Following its 5-4 ruling, the court also urged the Congress and the government to come up with legislation which will protect the rights of pregnant people, including providing family planning services, eliminating obstacles to abortion care and helping with adoptions.
|
|
|
We are technically 'celebrating' 46 years of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic – a state you probably haven't heard much about
|
|
- Refresher: Western Sahara is a hot topic in northern Africa. Spain once colonized it, Morocco wants to rule there today. But the people coming from and living in Western Sahara are still seeking self-determination and independence.
Because news on Western Sahara gets lost a lot of times, I wanted to take this issue as an opportunity to give you a bit of an update. I partnered up with German journalist Julian Hilgers (his Twitter) from 55 Countries podcast (it's in German), who interviewed Sidi Omar, the United Nations representative of the Polisario.
Here's an excerpt:
The Polisario proclaimed the state of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic on the 27th February 1976. Today, 46 years later, this state still lacks majority international recognition. What are the main reasons for that?
The main reason is the ongoing illegal occupation by Morocco of parts of the Saharawi Republic. When Spain was leaving its former colony, Frente Polisario declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which was immediately recognized by a number of states. While the Sahrawi Republic is not member of the United Nations, it is a full and founding member of the African Union.
How is the situation right now for the Sahrawi people, especially in the part occupied by Morocco?
Many Sahrawis were forced to flee. They were persecuted by Moroccan forces and even bombed by internationally banned bombs such as Napalm. A bunch of the Sahrawis fled their country and settled in Algeria in refugee camps, one of the long running refugee camps in the world. Less than half the population stayed on in the occupied territories of Sahrawi Republic. Those who live there do live under continued repression by the Moroccan authorities. International organizations, such as International Human Rights Watch have reported on this situation. Western Sahara currently is the biggest prison on earth because it's sealed off and international observers and media are not allowed to enter the country. But thanks to the modern technologies, we're able to have a glimpse of what's happening in those occupied territories.
And what about the living conditions in the refugee camps in Algeria?
In the refugee camps, thanks to the generosity of Algeria and help aid from the international community, they managed to settle and build some vital institutions, schools and hospitals. The institutions of the Sahrawi Republic are fully fledged and functioning. Those people who have visited those camps will tell you that they are one of the most organized and self-run, self-managed camps in the world.
You can read and listen to the entire interview on this newsletter's Patreon page here.
|
|
|
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING
|
|
|
First, the bad news
Brazil: (I wanted to talk about this in detail but for this week, I'll start here) At least 217 people died during an intense rainstorm in Petrópolis. A lot of people are still missing.
Dominican Republic: The country begins building a border wall with Haiti. The president says the wall will reduce irregular migration and the smuggling of goods and weapons.
The neutral
Colombia: The country's economy has grown the most in 115 years.
Chile: The country has officially started their talks about a new constitution.
And now, the good news
Afghanistan: Women are going back to (public) universities. The Taliban insist they will allow girls and women to be educated this time around (not like 1996–2001) – but only in separate classes and according to an Islamic curriculum.
Turkey: Roger Waters, the solo artist and former Pink Floyd singer-songwriter (and several other artists like Noel Gallagher) are trying to get Kurdish singer-songwriter Nûdem Durak a new trial in prison in Turkey. Her only 'crime': Singing songs in both Turkish and Kurdish. Because of that, she was accused and later convicted of being a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK for short, without a fair trial.
- Sham's commentary: Roger Waters is the reason this is news. You know, news are super counter-intuitive sometimes. Just because something horrible is happening, it doesn't mean you'll end up knowing about it. Take Syria for example. How much do you read about what's happening in Syria these days? Researcher Karim Shaar looked at Google Trends, and: People are losing interest.
|
|
Police in Chicago, United States offered a 15-year-old Black teen McDonald's in exchange for a confession to a crime someone else committed.
Isn't that bribery?
This whole thing just read like that scene from The Wire. You know which one.
|
|
That's it from me for this week. If you want to stay connected on social media, follow me on Twitter or on Instagram.
Bye,
Sham
|
|
|
|
