Photos: Earth >> Middle East >> Iraq >> North >> Dahuk >> Zakho

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Everybody's welcome


Everybody's welcome
Photo Information
Copyright: Szymon Kochanski (trasher) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 13 W: 2 N: 48] (192)
Genre: Places
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2004-09-06
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon PowerShot A80
Exposure: f/4, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Borders, KURDS [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-24 17:14
Viewed: 4123
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
While crossing a border from Cizre (on a Turkish side) to Zakho (on a Iraqi side) you can see the sign saying "Welcome to Kurdistan of Iraq". Not many people know that the north of Iraq got out of Saddam's hand without much help of American soldiers. These were Kurdish units that fought Iraqi army.

It is said that Saddam used to treat Kurdish people living in the north of Iraq very bad. Some say that there are even video recordings of Saddam torturing civilians himself in the basement of his palace.

Now in the north of Iraq there is Kurdistan- a district with much autonomy, with their own army, police and local authorities. I was really impressed to see how organized they are. They feel proud to have a piece of "their" land and were glad to pose to a picture.

But what will happen next with Kurdistan? All of the surrounding countries are against its existence because they are afraid that one day Kurdish people will try to enlarge Kurdistan (Kurds live in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia). One day Americans will have to move their troopers out of Iraq. What will happen then to this new-born country?
cgrindahl, choucas, Geo, mezz, ngythanh, bpelvan, startacked, SchwebagMike, Ferrus, benkrut, digi-mom has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ngythanh: Iraqtrasher 1 10-04 09:19
To kemo: thanks a lottrasher 1 07-18 19:17
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • kemo Silver Star Critiquer [C: 21 W: 0 N: 1] (64)
  • [2005-07-06 14:34]
  • [+]

nice photo Szymon, thank you. and don't worry, when the Americans move their troopers out of Iraq, Kurds continue to live there as they have done for at least 4000 years...

Thanks for taking us that far, Szymon, but can you inform me how easy do you think if one wishes to repeat your path into Iraq — on both safety and immigration process?

Thanks again.

Thanh

Hello Szymon,
Good capture of a boder scene..:)) I do not know about the other countries whether they are afraid of or not but if the Kurdish people is clever enough they won't have any intension for enlargement towards Turkey.
The history has already shown that we, The Turks, never afraid of anything.
With my best regards
Bulent

Good note with this picture. I like the pose of that guy and the colors, making this picture a classic. Thanks! Gilbert

Very well taken, good composition and an interesting statement "Kurdistan of Iraq" ... that fits a lot with the note. This picture brings a political question to life. Congratulations!

Congratiulations! Excellent shot!

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