KURDISH DIVORCE - 20 min documentary |
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A film by
Kae Bahar & Claudio von Planta |
Contacts:
kae@jokafims.com +
claudio@vonplanta.net |
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TC |
Shot + Captions |
Audio SYNC, PTC, VO + IN VISION |
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Referendums
party in the street Caption:
KIRKUK 25th
September 2017 |
VO: This is a historic day
for us Kurds. After more than 100 years of conflicts we are finally
celebrating a referendum calling for separation from Iraq. VO: We expected hostility from neighbouring
countries but shockingly the UN, America and Europe also oppose this
democratic process and our call for independence. |
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Caption:
KAE BAHAR Kurdish
Filmmaker |
Kae PTC: How can anyone -
especially in the West, in Europe - deny you this right, to say to the Kurds,
you should not have a referendum to vote for your freedom. |
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GVs inside
polling stations |
VO: Fortunately our Kurdish
leaders learnt from past betrayals in international diplomacy. VO: They respected the will
of the people and had the courage to press ahead with the polls. |
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IV Murad (brother
of an ISIS victim) |
Murad SYNC: We will soon feel happier because
we will have our own nation state. It’s enough. Bye, bye Iraq |
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IV Mazeda
Omer (mother of
an ISIS victim) |
Kae SYNC: Did you believe we will make it to
this day? Mazeda Omer SYNC: Yes, this is a beautiful day I
have been waiting for to celebrate our freedom. It’s also for my killed son. |
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GVs inside
polling stations |
VO: Like her son, thousands
of Kurdish Peshmerga got killed in the war against ISIS. VO: No wonder we are excited
today because we hope to win peace with this referendum. |
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Kae PTC: The vote for an
independent Kurdistan. This is also for my parents who didn’t make it to see
this day. This is for our new generation to live in peace and prosperity.
This is for a new life. |
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Kae PTC: This vote is also for a
secular state to prevent Sharia law forced on us by the Shia government of
Baghdad. |
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GV of Kae
voting |
VO: At the age of 19 I had a
lucky escape from torture and Saddam’s regime. But living in exile for over
37 years in Europe I never lost hope to win back our homeland. |
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GV of Kae
breaking down in tears |
VO: This is a cry for joy
but also fear about what lies ahead. |
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GV of Kae
getting hugged |
Voter SYNC: Congratulations, congratulations,
congratulations! |
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VO: I believe, the lack of
international support for us Kurds is an open invitation for the government
in Baghdad to attack us. VO: This is why I decided to
travel South of Kirkuk to find out what happens at the new border with the
rest of Iraq. |
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Peshmerga
warning |
Peshmerga-1 SYNC: We need to take another route
because this one could be dangerous. Driver SYNC: Ok, sure. |
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Kae PTC: Our Peshmerga escort
decided to turn around because there might be roadside bombs waiting for us. So
they are going to take another route to take us to the frontline with the
Hashdi Shabi, Iraq’s Shia militias that are commanded directly by Iran. |
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GVs of
frontline panorama |
VO: This is the so called
disputed territory. Kurds claim it for historic reasons, not long ago it was
held by ISIS but now the government in Baghdad tries to impose their rule. |
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Kae PTC: This is a really
strategic point because I am standing with the Peshmerga of Kurdistan, a
triangle. Over there is ISIS and I can see the smoke because the battle is
going on and on this side is the Hashdi Shabi. |
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IV
Peshmerga-1 |
Kae SYNC: How does ISIS compare with Hashdi
Shabi? Peshmerga-2 SYNC: ISIS is much better than Hashdi
Shabi. Kae SYNC: ISIS is better? Peshmerga-2 SYNC: Yes of course. Personally I have
no trust in Hashdi Shabi. They are both terrible but Hashdi Shabi is worse. Kae SYNC: Ok Peshmerga-2 SYNC: Hashdi Shabi are our prime enemy. |
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Kae SYNC: Do you think we can live in peace
with the Iraqi Shia? Peshmerga-2 SYNC: No, never. Sheep and wolf won’t
drink from the same pot. |
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Peshmerga-2 SYNC: We are incompatible. Just like
using a wrong part to fix a car, it won’t work. In the same way Hashdi Shabi
and us are not compatible. Kae SYNC: What are the differences? Peshmerga-2 SYNC: They are arrogant, feel superior
and are commanded by Iran. If they want war we will fight back. We will fight
to our last drop of blood to protect our land. |
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VO: I am really not looking
forward to the prospect of yet another war. To better assess this threat I
want to talk to the Hashdi Shabi directly. |
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IV
Hashdi-Shabi-1 |
Kae SYNC: Why are you fighting ISIS? They are
Arabs like you? Hashdi Shabi-1 SYNC: ISIS are not Muslims. Kae SYNC: I’m confused between ISIS and you
Shia militias. They say you are not Muslim. You are saying they are not
Muslim. So who is Muslim here? |
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IV
Hashdi-Shabi-2 |
Hashdi Shabi-2 SYNC: We don't harm people. We don't
drag people out of their houses. We don't take their daughters to sell them
on the streets or rape them. |
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Kae SYNC: Do you agree with the referendum
in Kurdistan? |
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Hashdi Shabi-2 SYNC: If Kurdistan becomes a separate
country - let them be. The Sunnis want a separate country - ok. The Shia also
want to separate, ok. So where is Iraq? |
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Kae SYNC: If you want to keep Iraq together
by force and try to force us to stay as part of Iraq that won't work. Hashdi Shabi-2 SYNC: I love you and want you in Iraq. Kae SYNC: My dear, if you truly love me,
please let me be. Let me decide for myself how I wish to live. Hashdi Shabi-2 SYNC: No you can’t. I tell you how Iraq
is kept together. Look around you. Iraq is kept together with the blood of
these guys and the blood of our martyrs and it will stay as one because we
are the children of Ali who will fight for it. |
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Kae SYNC: So if we separate from Iraq you
will fight us? Hashdi Shabi-2 SYNC: Yes we will fight. |
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GV of
Humvee + Hashdi Shabi flags |
VO: This is frightening but
I’m even more shocked to discover that these Iraqi militias are armed to
their teeth with the latest American weapons. |
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VO: Soon after the
referendum the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad started to threat with military
action against the Kurds. But fear is first hitting the already traumatised
refugee population. |
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GVs of
UNHCR Hassansham
Camp |
Kae PTC: These are all Sunni Arabs
internally displaced because of the war with ISIS. They are from Mosul. They
seeked safety here in Kurdistan. But soon after the referendum the Hashdi
Shabi and Iraq’s government warned them to get out of Kurdistan. |
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VO: I’m here to meet Dashni
Morad, a Kurdish artist and TV star. The war against ISIS turned her into a
humanitarian activist. |
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Dashni Morad SYNC: For 4 years I have been working in
the camps. We opened 4 libraries. I have been teaching English myself and now
I’m very disturbed and upset by what’s happening. So I hope today, those who
go back at least will have some aid. |
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Kae SYNC: These are people who escaped the
war with ISIS Dashni Morad SYNC: Yes, 5 camps and together 75’000
and here it’s 8’000 people. |
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Kae SYNC: Most of the governments in the
world they are saying, the Kurds by going to a referendum they are destabilizing
the region, they are provoking, they are calling for a new war. Is that what
we are doing? Dashni Morad SYNC: No, that’s not what we are doing.
We are fighting for our culture. We are fighting for our language. We are
fighting for the Kurdish spirit. We just want to be recognised. Our home
needs to be recognised. |
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Dashni Morad SYNC: We are the safe corner in this
hell, in the Middle East while it is on fire. We are the safe corner where
NGOs, where Embassies, where people around the world feel safe and work and
add from here to help the rest of the war torn region. So why would you
destabilize this. Why wouldn’t you recognise it as a home. |
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Dashni Morad SYNC: I’ve been a refugee when I was 5
years old. I ran behind helicopters to catch food and survive and I want to
make sure that there are no more refugees. But how can I do that under the
rule of Hashd, under the rule of ISIS, under the rule of a very aggressive
Iraqi government. |
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Dashni Morad SYNC: The world can not ignore us.
Millions of people have set for Kurdistan, a place where there is a home for
Kurds, for Arab, for Turk, for Christians, for Ezidis, for Kakai, for
everyone. It’s not just about the Kurds. |
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Dashni Morad SYNC: But for the world to turn their
backs against us they will be inviting indeed a group like Hashd, which is no
different than ISIS, to come here and commit another genocide. And it’s on
it’s way while we are here distributing and I’m terrified but I can not move
back. I can not miss the boat again, as a woman, as an artist. |
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GV of Wall
separating Tuz |
VO: To find out more about
life under Hashdi Shabi rule I travel to the town of Tuz on the border
between Iraq and Kurdistan. I discover a frontline in the heart of the city. |
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IV
Peshmerga-3 |
Kae SYNC: On the other side are the Hashdi
Shabi? Peshmerga-3 SYNC: Yes, they have snipers shooting at
people randomly. They also have a machine gun. |
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IV
Peshmerga-4 |
Peshmerga-4 SYNC: There are signs of bullets on the
wall when we fired back. You see the machinegun on top of the building
covered with a black fabric? |
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Peshmerga-4 SYNC: They killed many people, many got
injured. They intimidate people. They burn down cars, they loot. As long as
Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs are pointing guns at each other, that’s how it will
be. Separation. |
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GV of town
hall + Mayor |
VO: To find more facts
behind this separation I visit the town mayor who is in the middle of crisis
management. As I arrive he introduces me to Ahmad Rashid, a young Kurd who
got married a week ago. |
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IV Ahmad
Rashid |
Ahmad Rashid SYNC: I went to the registry office to
change my status to married. I tried for a month now. They beat me up because
they saw the ink. Hashdi Shabi said you are a Kurd and started to beat me up.
See here, they gunbutted me here. They bunched me in my mouth. I can hardly
walk because they also kicked my leg. Kae SYNC: On the knee? |
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Ahmad Rashid SYNC: They kicked here hard. |
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IV Mahir
Rashid |
Mahir Rashid SYNC: They burnt down 65 shops. It’s
documented here in the Mayor’s office. They burnt them because they were
owned by Kurds. Kae SYNC: Have they killed anyone? Mahir Rashid SYNC: Yes, Dr. Abdulkhalaq, a Kurd. They
beheaded him in the hospital. They killed 2 brothers outside the hospital and
yesterday they shot dead someone else. |
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GV of town GV setup
shots of Arab family |
VO: At the mayor’s office
I’m told that the Kurds are not the only victims of Hashdi Shabi aggression.
Anyone who is not part of them could be a target. This
Sunni Arab family had to escape their village to seek sanctuary in the
Kurdish controlled side of the divided town. |
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IV Halima
Hussein |
Halima Hussein SYNC: This is my son’s picture. He was in
his last year of school and missed his exams. I managed to postpone his exams
once but he didn't come back. He was a very clever boy and loved his school.
He was 18 years old. He was so much looking forward to finish school and go
to university. |
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Halima Hussein SYNC: Three and a half month ago we got raided.
They jumped over the wall. We were shocked seeing people in balaclava. They
kidnapped my husband. My son was in the next room. They also took him away. |
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Kae SYNC: Who did it? Halima Hussein SYNC: It was a sectarian act by the Hashdi Shabi.
I went to the court to ask for an investigation. The anti-terrorist police
showed me 300 files, all kidnapping cases of Sunni Arabs from the past two
years. |
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Kae SYNC: You used to live on the Arab side.
Now you are on the Kurdish side. Why? Halima Hussein SYNC: Because it's safe. The Kurdish areas are
safe. The Kurds don't hurt you. They are not sectarian like the Shia. |
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Halima Hussein SYNC: I want to know the fate of my son. Is he
alive or dead? Where is he? We ask about them. They say, we don’t know. They
just don’t want to know. So what
happened to them? |
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Kae PTC: One day it’s ISIS now
it’s Hashdi Shabi but the victims are just innocent people. There must be an
end to this. I’m
really glad I went and voted for an independent Kurdistan. I have faith in
our country and hopefully we will be able to get it right and to contribute
to sort out this mess in the region. And
yet, Europe and the United States they dare to say to the Kurds, don’t go for
a referendum. They are indirectly supporting this looting and kidnapping and
killing - young lads like this. They are standing in the way of creating
democracy here in the Middle East. |
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GVs of
horses |
VO: Since the invasion of
2003 America lost over 4500 soldiers in Iraq but none here in the Kurdistan
region because the Kurds were always their most reliable allies. |
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IV of
horseman |
Horseman SYNC: We Kurds are sad and frustrated
about America because whilst their soldiers were getting killed by ISIS,
Shia, Sunni Arabs and others in Iraq we Kurds embraced them and welcomed them
with roses. |
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We Kurds
believed Americans were our best allies. |
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But it is
incredible how today our people are calling for freedom and they oppose it.
That is very painful. |
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We were
hoping America, Great Britain and European countries will be on our side and
support us and get the first 'yes' from them. |
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But that
didn't happen. Instead they abandoned us and their betrayal encourages our
neighbours to attack us like hungry wolves. |
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To
put the Kurdish sense of betrayal into a wider context I’m meeting Mithal
Al-Alusi, a member of the Iraqi parliament from a prominent Sunni Arab
family. Between
1976 and 2003 Al-Alusi lived in exile. He was sentenced to death in absentia
during Saddam’s regime. In
2003 he returned to Baghdad, keen to help rebuilding the post Saddam Iraq
with his sons. But Al-Alusi’s liberal views got him into the firing line of
religious extremists. They killed 2 of his sons in 2005. I
want to know how Al-Alusi is assessing the idea of preserving Iraq’s unity. |
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GVs of
Mithal Al-Alusi |
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09:36:19:20 |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: Unity is an American concept but it
doesn't reflect the reality of Iraq on the ground. |
09:36:49:11 |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: At the time of Saddam it was united
by force. |
09:36:55:02 |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: Now we have an Islamic regime in
power in Baghdad, not a democratic system. |
09:37:07:24 |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: Therefore the Iraqi people don't
trust the political system. |
09:37:15:16 |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: Proof to that, we have 3 million
internally displaced people within Iraq and we have more than 3 million
refugees abroad escaping from this so-called united Iraq. |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: America failed to create a wise
system in Iraq. |
09:37:52:18 |
Kae Question |
Kae SYNC: If we don't have an united Iraq,
what is the solution? |
09:38:14:01 |
Alusi |
Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: The solution is to respect the
principles of democracy. The solution is to stick to reality and not allow
the expansion of Iranian power in Iraq. |
09:39:42:07 |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: and separate ourselves from radical
Islamic religion because there is no space for an Islamic state in the Middle
East. It would be a state of war and disaster. Nothing else. |
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Kae
Question |
Kae SYNC: What do you think about creating an
independent state of Kurdistan? |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC:I believe this will be the
alternative country to Iraq that we were dreaming about. |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: The Kurdish independence will also
accommodate a mass exodus of Arabs seeking safety here because they lost it
in the rest of Iraq. |
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Mithal Al-Alusi SYNC: If America doesn't want to admit
the failure of Baghdad they should at least respect the success of the Kurds
in governing themselves in their region. |
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GVs from
the town of Tuz |
VO: I’m glad to find Iraqi
Arabs like Al-Alusi who have the courage to look at reality with untinted
glasses. Recording
such unflinching testimonies will hopefully help me with my mission to inform
the wider international community about the impossible call to preserve the
so-called united Iraq, a call that could only lead to more bloodshed. |
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GVs at Tuz
border post Caption:
TUZ CHECK POINT 40km
South of Kirkuk IV
Commander Barzan |
Peshmerga-5 SYNC: Iraq has been in war since it’s
creation. None of the ethnic groups ever had peace. Everyone has lost family
members. |
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Peshmerga-5 SYNC: We wanted to build a democratic
Iraq. But unfortunately the Iraqi Arabs started to reject our ideas and bit
by bit excluded us from sharing power. They want to force their rule on
Kurdistan. |
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GVs of
passing truck at border |
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Kae PTC: this is the border
between Kurdistan and Iraq. On the
ground they are two separate countries. After years of conflicts I really
hope we will all learn lessons from history and have a peaceful divorce. |
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END |
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