,

İsmail Beşikçi, the ‘Socrates of our time’

Title: İsmail Beşikçi
Subtitle: The Socrates of Our Time

ISBN/EAN: 9789083452647

Author:Gurbuz, Îbrahîm

Publicaties: Shanidar Publisher, Kurdistan Chronicle

NUR-code:  630

Perhaps no non-Kurdish intellectual holds as profound a place in the Kurdish consciousness as İsmail Beşikçi. This deep admiration is well-founded, allowing Ibrahim Gürbüz, the author of the current book, to aptly refer to Beşikçi as the ‘Socrates of our time.’ For decades, Beşikçi stood as the sole Turkish academic voice championing the existence of the Kurdish nation in Northern Kurdistan. He boldly challenged the Kemalist political, academic, cultural, security, and military establishments of Turkey, confronting their denial of the Kurdish reality. Beşikçi confronted the systematic and institutional racism and fascism in Turkey a stance that even many Kurds hesitated to adopt.

His unwavering commitment led to personal sacrifices: the loss of comfort, economic stability, dismissal from his academic position, and being branded a persona non grata within Turkish academia. He was perceived as a dangerous gadfly, challenging the entrenched notions of Turkish identity and citizenship, and as an apostate Turk who debunked the racist myths propagated by the Turkish state to justify its cultural and linguistic suppression of Kurdishness. Above all, until the early 2000s, İsmail Beşikçi was renowned as the Turkish sociologist and scholar who spent most of his adult life in prison to defend Kurdish existence, defying both state policies and the Turkish nationalist consensus that viewed such advocacy as infidelity and abomination.

Dr. Kamal Solemanî

 

,

Crimes Against the Kurds (Book 1)

Crimes against the Kurds, Genocide in Iraq: The Anfal Campaign against the Kurds (Book 1)

ISBN/EAN: 9789083452616
Title: Crimes Against the Kurds (Book 1)
Subtitle: Genocide in Iraq: The Anfal Campaign Against the Kurds
Editor: Shanidar Publisher Group
Contributor: Kurdistan Chronicle
Publisher: Shanidar Publisher
Bibliographic Imprint: Shanidar Publisher
NUR Code: 689
NUR Description: War and Peace
Series: The Anfal Campaign
Series Number: 1
Edition: 1
Illustrations: Kurdistan Chronicle
Pages: 84
Language: English
Format: Paperback / Softback
Publication Date: 2025

Crimes Against the Kurds
Genocide in Iraq – The Anfal Campaign Against the Kurds (Book 1)

by Miran Abraham

The Eight-Year War Between Iran and Iraq: The Suffering of the Kurds: From 1980 to 1988, Iran and Iraq waged the longest conventional war of the 20th century—a brutal conflict that reshaped the region through relentless violence and widespread destruction. Cities and villages were obliterated, chemical weapons poisoned the air, and countless lives were forever scarred. Yet, while the war remains a defining chapter for those who endured it, it is a conflict that is often misunderstood or overlooked in much of the world, especially in the West.

Among the countless victims of this devastating war, the Kurds suffered disproportionately. Their lands, situated along the contested border between Iraq and Iran, became a deadly battleground. For centuries, the Kurds have been viewed with suspicion and hostility by neighbouring powers, regarded as perpetual enemies. During the war, this historical mistrust culminated in unimaginable atrocities.

Over a thousand Kurdish villages were reduced to rubble, and more than half a million Kurds lost their lives. Fertile plains and rolling hills, once the lifeblood of Kurdish communities, were scarred by craters and stained with blood. The air, which once carried the melodies of Kurdish songs and the whispers of nature, now reverberated with the sounds of explosions, the screams of the wounded, and the laments of those mourning their loved ones.

In scenes reminiscent of a dystopian nightmare, chemical weapons cast a toxic shadow over the landscape. Clouds of poison drifted silently, leaving behind trails of death and unspeakable suffering. Men, women, and children, their skin blistered and eyes burning, collapsed in convulsions, gasping for breath. Survivors of these attacks, marked by both physical scars and psychological torment, carried the weight of these horrors for the rest of their lives.

Yet even amid such devastation, the Kurdish spirit remained unbroken. Families sought refuge in makeshift shelters, clinging to unity as their only solace. Elders, the keepers of Kurdish culture and memory, recounted tales of a life before the war, nurturing resilience and identity in the younger generation. Despite centuries of oppression, the Kurds persevered, their fight for survival and recognition undeterred by the atrocities they faced.

The Iran–Iraq War, with its unprecedented destruction and staggering human cost, stands as a powerful testament to the horrors of conflict. For the Kurds, it represents a chapter of profound suffering, yet also of unyielding resilience and hope. Their story, deeply intertwined with the history of the region, is one that demands recognition beyond its borders—a reminder of the enduring impact of war on those who are too often forgotten.

Through the lens of Kurdish suffering, this narrative serves not only as a record of loss but also as a call for justice, understanding, and an end to the cycles of violence that have defined the region for far too long.

,

Crimes Against the Kurds (Book 2)

Crimes against the Kurds, Genocide in Iraq: The Anfal Campaign Against the Kurds – The Documents (Book 2)

ISBN/EAN: 978-90-834526-2-3
Title: Crimes Against the Kurds (Book 2)
Subtitle: Genocide in Iraq: The Anfal Campaign Against the Kurds – The Documents
Editor: Shanidar Publisher Group
Contributor: Kurdistan Chronicle
Publisher: Shanidar
NUR Code: 689
NUR Description: War and Peace
Series: The Anfal Campaign
Series Number: 2
Edition: 1
Illustrations: Kurdistan Chronicle
Pages: 220
Language: English
Format: Paperback / Softback
Publication Date: 2025

Crimes Against the Kurds
Genocide in Iraq: The Anfal Campaign Against the Kurds – The Documents (Book 2)

This series, to be published by Shanidar with the support of Kurdistan Chronicle, presents a harrowing, meticulously detailed account of the atrocities committed against the Kurdish population during the Anfal Campaign orchestrated by Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime in the late 1980s. This book provides a vivid portrayal of the genocide, emphasizing the systematic and brutal efforts to annihilate Kurdish identity and existence.
The Anfal Campaign, named after a Quranic term meaning “spoils of war,” saw the Iraqi military execute a coordinated and ruthless attack on Kurdish regions. Serene Kurdish villages, once filled with life and culture, were transformed into scenes of devastation. Military convoys, tanks, and soldiers invaded these villages, while helicopters and jets dropped bombs, setting homes ablaze and causing widespread panic and destruction. Chemical weapons, including mustard gas and nerve agents, were deployed, adding an insidious layer of horror to the genocide. Entire families were found lifeless, their bodies bearing the brutal marks of chemical attacks.
The collaboration of Jash forces, Kurdish collaborators armed and incentivized by the regime, exacerbated the tragedy. These forces guided Iraqi troops to hidden villages and mountain refuges, betraying their own people and leading to further chaos and death. The campaign resulted in the obliteration of approximately 5,200 Kurdish villages, leaving behind a landscape of charred rubble and scorched earth.
The book delves into the background and context of the Kurdish struggle for autonomy, highlighting the socio-political dynamics that led to the Anfal Campaign. It provides a vivid visualization of the scenes, describing the vibrant Kurdish regions before the campaign and the subsequent horrors inflicted upon them. The psychological and socio-economic impact on the Kurdish population is explored, revealing the deep scars left by the genocide.
Despite the initial muted international response, the book documents how global attention eventually turned towards the plight of the Kurds. Efforts to document and acknowledge the genocide gained momentum, leading to significant legal and symbolic victories. The recognition of the Anfal Campaign as genocide by a court in The Hague in 2005 and the conviction of key figures of Saddam Hussein’s regime, including Ali Hassan al-Majid, “Chemical Ali,” in 2007, are notable milestones in the pursuit of justice.
The book emphasizes the importance of remembrance and the enduring resilience of the Kurdish people. Memorials and commemorations serve as solemn tributes to the victims, ensuring that the atrocities are not forgotten. The Anfal Campaign stands as a critical reminder of the devastating impact of state-sponsored violence and the urgent need for international vigilance to prevent such genocides in the future.
Overall, “Crimes Against the Kurds: Genocide in Iraq – The Anfal Campaign against the Kurds” is a poignant and powerful testament to the suffering and resilience of the Kurdish people. It underscores the need for justice, recognition, and a collective moral stance against oppression and violence.

,

Crimes Against the Kurds (Book 3)

Crimes Against the Kurds (Book 3)

  • Legal qualification of operation al-Anfal
  • Legal qualifications of the actions taken against the Yazidis

Professor PAN Dr. Ireneusz C. Kamiński
Department of Public International Law
Institute of Law Studies
Polish Academy of Sciences

ISBN/EAN: 9789083452630
Title: Crimes Against the Kurds (Book 3)
Subtitle: Legal qualification of operation al-Anfal, Legal qualifications of the actions taken against the Yazidis

Author: Professor PAN Dr. Ireneusz C. Kamiński

Editor: Shanidar Publisher Group
Contributor: Kurdistan Chronicle
Publisher: Shanidar Publisher
Bibliographic Imprint: Shanidar Publisher
NUR Code: 689
NUR Description: War and Peace
Series: The Anfal Campaign
Series Number: 3
Edition: 1
Illustrations: Kurdistan Chronicle
Pages: 84
Language: English
Format: Paperback / Softback
Publication Date: 2025

Auteur author: Ireneusz Cezary Kamiński
Born: December 10, 1963 | Nationality: Polish

Ireneusz Cezary Kamiński is a distinguished lawyer and sociologist, holding degrees from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Silesia in Katowice, the Faculty of Philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, and the European Academy of Legal Theory in Brussels. He is currently a professor at the Institute of Legal Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, where he chairs the Department of International Public Law. He also serves as a lecturer at the Jagiellonian University in the Department of Comparative Studies of Civilizations.

Over the course of his career, Professor Kamiński has received numerous awards for his contributions to scientific research, including recognition from the Foundation for Polish Science, the Foundation of European Law, and the Rector of the Jagiellonian University. He served on the Council of the National Science Center from 2012 to 2016 and was an ad hoc judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from 2014 to 2016.

Prof. Kamiński is the author of eight books and nearly 200 scientific publications, and his work has appeared in prominent newspapers such as Rzeczpospolita, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, Gazeta Wyborcza, and Dziennik Polski.

He specializes in human rights law, with a particular focus on the European Convention on Human Rights. His other areas of research include public international law, comparative law (with an emphasis on legal cultures), and legal theory.

An expert on freedom of expression and media freedom for the Council of Europe, Prof. Kamiński has collaborated with numerous national and international non-governmental organizations dedicated to human rights protection, including the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Article XIX, Amnesty International, the Justice Initiative, and the Open Society Institute.

Prof. Kamiński is the editor-in-chief of Kwartalnik o Prawach Człowieka and serves on the editorial board of the European Judiciary Review. He is also a regular reviewer for several domestic and international academic journals.

In his legal practice, he has represented clients in numerous proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Notably, he represented the families of the victims of the Katyn massacre.

,

Yazidis before the Arrival of ISIS

ISBN/EAN: 978-90-834526-0-9
Title: Yazidis Before the Arrival of ISIS
Author: Aso Haji
Contributor: Kurdistan Chronicle
Translator: Chiman Salih
Publisher: Shanidar
Bibliographic Imprint: Shanidar
NUR Code: 719
NUR Description: Other Religions
Edition: 1
Illustrations: Kurdistan Chronicle
Pages: 122
Language: English
Format: Hardback
Publication Date: September 1, 2024

Unveiling the Yazidis: A Chronicle of History and Heritage

By Aso Haji

Before ISIS cast a shadow over the Yazidis, this ancient community was largely unknown to the world. The tragic events of August 2, 2014, however, brought their plight into sharp focus. That day, ISIS terrorists captured Shengal, leading to a genocide that targeted Yazidi girls and women for their ethnicity and faith, actions twistedly justified by misinterpretations of religious texts. This horror was the latest in a long history of persecution; Yazidis have endured seventy-four episodes of ethnic cleansing, or Decrees (Farman), at the hands of followers of various religions over centuries.

Despite these grim episodes, the Yazidis’ story is also one of resilience and rich cultural heritage. The Yazidi religion, one of the world’s oldest, traces its roots back to the Sumerian era. Central to their faith is the Lalish Temple, believed to be the site of the universe’s creation. Yazidi mythology and religious practices, particularly those centered on Lalish, offer a profound glimpse into their spiritual world.

This book explores the evolution of Yazidism through three historical stages: its origins in nature worship, its transition to monotheism influenced by the Prophet Abraham, and its current form shaped by the reforms of Sheikh Adi. Rich in mythology, the Yazidi faith venerates not only a singular God but also seven angels, each overseeing different aspects of existence.

The book delves into the significance of Lalish, a sacred sanctuary for Yazidis, where ancient rituals and ceremonies like the Dance of Creation and the Qantar are performed. These practices not only preserve their heritage but also reinforce the spiritual bonds within the community.

“Yazidis Before the Arrival of ISIS” is a comprehensive account that goes beyond the narrative of suffering to celebrate the enduring spirit and cultural richness of the Yazidi people, offering readers an in-depth understanding of a resilient community.