Who is Komal?
Islamic group in Kurdistan/Iraq (Komal) is an Islamic movement emerged in Iraqi Kurdistan. It practices the method of “ Qur'an and Sunnah" (Sunnah is the speachs and acts of Prophet Muhammad).
Short History
The Islamic new revival in Kurdistan goes back to 1950s when the preach of Muslim Brotherhood reached Kurdistan. The Islamic movement went slowly because of the great influence of national and Marxist thought, but also steady. In 1978 , i.e. in the Ba'th period, an Islamic organized underground activity started. In 1984 Islamic Relation Movement was formed to undertake aemed struggle againt Ba'th regime, its first was Sheikh Muhammad Barzinji. In 1987 a public uprising flare up in Halabja and Shehrazur plain against destruction of villages by Iraqi army. Sheik Uthman Abdul Aziz, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kurdistan, played a notable role in the uprising. Then he and many of Muslims in Halabja left Iraq to Iran where there was the leader of the League of Muslim Scholars of Kurdistan, sheik Muhammad Barzinji, the recent leader of Komal. The latter suggested union between the too forces and submitted the leadership to sheik Uthman and hence the Islamic movement in Kurdistan/ Iraq was born as a jihadi movement struggling against the Iraqi government. In 1992, a wing of Muslim Brotherhood, led by sheik Siddiq Abdul – Aziz declared itself as the Islamic Renaissance Movement(Nahdah). After many efforts for uniting the Islamic Movement and Renaissance Movement the Islamic Union Movement in Kurdistan/Iraq (IUMK) was born in August 1999. According to the union agreement, a conference had to be held in a year after. During this year it was clear that IUMK couldn’t survive and become a dead party in its present situation. Then the reformists in the wings in IUMK, namely the wing of Ali Bapir, the recent head of Komal, and the one of Renaissance Movement created an alliance (plus some other persons) to the coming conference. The conference was held finally in august 2000, though attempting to prevent that. Those who did not want the Movement to be reformed did not accept the result although they promised to do so. It was a great crisis and the IUMK was semi – dead. The alliance paid many concessions so as to go out of the crisis but whenever a concession was paid the other part demanded another one. The crisis lasted for several months and it was obvious that even if a compromise is made the IUMK will be worse than it ever was, thus the two wings decided to build a new movement and it was in 31th may 2001 when the Islamic Group (Komal) has been declared as a new movement based in new principles: 1-The (shura) will govern the Group not despotism or arbitrary rule. 2-Put an end to the family rule. 3-No one is allowed to use Komal for personal benefit. 4-Each member should be active and no party idleness is allowed. 5-No wings are allowed. Komal is one body. Komal was first composed of sheik Ali Bapir wing and the major part of Renaissance wing, but the wise policy of Komal attracted the third group, i.e. the neutrals with their sheik Muhammad Barzinji and many peshmargas (= armed members) as well. Komal was not provoked by the acts of the other part and kept the peace in the region. In the cotext of Amercan war in Iraq (2003) some of Komal's headquarters has been bombed though Komal declared that it will not fight the Americans, 43 were killed in one night. In July 2003 the leader of Komal Sheikh Ali Bapir, while was in Sulaimania City, was invited to Dukan town for a meeting with the Americans but it was trap and he was captured with his followers. He stayed in custody for 22 months, but when he was released Komal had participated in Kurdistan and Iraq elections and was unexpectedly successful. It had 2 members in Iraq National Assembly and 6 in that of Kurdistan. Komal participates now in Kurdistan Regional Government and holds the Ministry of Environment and has 1 member in Iraqi National Assembly and 6 in the parliament of Kurdistan.
Aims of Komal:
Komal's aims can be summarized into 2 main goals: 1-Guiding society to the Islamic life reflected in the life of its individuals as well as the public fields like politics, economy, social relations...etc. 2-Struggling for the rights of Kurdish people including self determination for Kurdistan.
Hierarchy of Komal:
Komal has a leader (spiritual one): Sheik Muhammad Barzinji, and a head called “ameer” i.e. commander : sheik Ali Bapir (born 1961). Ameer is an Islamic concept which does not necessarily has a military sense. It is used here in the general one. Then there is the Political Bureau, a small group elected from a greater group called the Shura Council. The four parts compose the leadership. Then there are a number of bureaus like Relations Bureau, Information Bureau, Organization Bureau, Women Affairs Bureau, Students …etc. Under the Organization Bureau come the centers, each one in a city or a town.
Media of Komal:
Komal has its weekly newspaper, in Kurdish, named Komal (= the Group), a half-monthly students’ newspaper; Warcharkhan (=the turning point), a women magazine: Saya. Komal's websites are:
General site: www.komalnews.net
Website of "Komal" newspaper: www.komall.org
Website of Kurdistan Students Orgnization: www.zankokurd.org
Website of Kurdistan Women Organization: www.saya-is.org
Website of sheikh Ali-Bapir: www.alibapir.com
Payam Satellite Channel
Komal has eight local TV – stations, five radio stations.
Addresses:
Sheikh Muhammad Barzinji Office - Sulaimania 00964-7703604349
Sheikh Ali Bapir Office - Erbil 00964-7704499040
Political Bureau - Sulaimania 00964-7701535779 - 00964-7702179091
Relations Bureau -Sulaimania 0964-7701530188 mohamadhakem@maktoob.com
London Office - 00447749192270
Tehran Office - 00989123549161 (bilalsleman@maktoob.com )
Baghdad Office - 00964-7701375752 - 00964-7701281808
Information Bureau - 00964-7701412543 - 00964-7701565037
komalnews@yahoo.com hawzheenk@yahoo.com