Islamic Group Kurdistan

Islamic Group of Kurdistan/Irak (Arabic: كؤمةلَي ئيسلامي لة كوردستان/ عيراق Kurdish: "Komele Islami le Kurdistan/Iraq") is an Islamic movement emerged in Iraqi Kurdistan. It practices the method of “ Sunnah and Jamaa’h” Established by Ali Bapir in May 2001. Bapir is a former member of the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan. The group reportedly receives funding from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. It has been linked to the terrorist group Ansar al-Islam, but released a statement on 11 October 2004 in Islamic Group of Kurdistan denying that any such links existed. Bapir was interviewed [http://www.komall.org Komele Islami] in January 2003. He said: " Our policy is that we enter into fraternity and cooperation with all Islamic groups. We seek such fraternal relations with Islamic parties and organizations, Islamist figures, and groups that follow a Salafi tradition or a Sufi or a scientific tradition. In the [http://www.komall.org Komele Islami] , we believe that the group must be open-minded and seek fraternity with all those who call or act for Islam. If we see a mistake, we will try to correct it through dialogue and by creating a fraternal atmosphere." The group did not join the Kurdish coalition in the 2005 Iraqi election running independently. It received over 60,000 votes (about 0.7%) and two seats in the transitional National Assembly of Iraq. After the elections, the party agreed to join the Kurdish alliance's National Assembly caucus.

Online

* [http://www.komall.org komall]
* [http://www.komalnews.net komalnews]
* [http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=10687 Interview with Kurdistan Islamic Group Head Ali Babir]
* [http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=152&id=1010 Profile of leader Ali Bapir]