APPG on Kurdistan Region and Sheikh Mahmoud Foundation holds a reception to mark 100 years of UK – Kurdistan relations in the House of Commons
News : 5/16/2023
Over the course
of three days, the UK parliament’s APPG on Kurdistan Region, in collaboration
with Sheikh Mahmoud Foundation and filmmaker and documentarian Richard Wilding,
held two seminars at the University of Cambridge and the Royal Association for
Asia Affairs and also organised a reception at the UK parliament in which
Karwan Jamal Tahir KRG High Representative to the UK, a delegation from Slemani
city, several MPs, Kurdistani diaspora, and the relatives of (Cecil Edmonds,
Major Noel and A.M. Hamilton) attended to mark the Sheikh Mahmoud’s revolution
and the 100 years of UK-Kurdistan relations.
In two separate
seminars, Richard Wilding and Dr Ako Shwani, from two different academic
perspectives, the English and Kurdish, focused on the stage in history where
Sheikh Mahmud rose against the British mandate and led a revolt, and proclaimed
the first Kingdom in Kurdistan. They assessed the causes and the consequences
of the revolution and the role of Britain in the region and in suppressing King
Mahmoud’s efforts to build a state for the Kurds.
Meanwhile,
the UK parliament’s APPG, in coordination with Sheikh Mahmoud Foundation, held
a reception at Churchill Hall in the House of Commons to mark 100 years of
relations between Britain and Kurdistan. A delegation from Slemani city, honourable
MPs including Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi، Rt Hon Rosie Winterton, Rt Hon، Brendan Lewis، Rt Hon Fiona
Bruce and a significant number of Kurd’s friends and the Kurdish diaspora
attended the event.
Jack
Lopresti MP, Chairman of the APPG, welcomed everyone and stressed that
relations between the UK and the Kurdistan Region are significant and crucial
for both sides. He said that his country considers the Kurdistan Region as a
faithful ally. He also emphasised that the group will continue to support
Kurdistan Region and defend its constitutional rights within federal Iraq.
At the
reception, a short film was presented by the writer, photographer, and
documentarian Richard Wilding about Sheikh Mahmud and the historical events
during the uprising, the revolution, and the outcomes of these events.
During the
reception, APPG group secretary Gary Kent said that the APPG group endeavours
to maintain and further a strong relationship between the Kurdistan Region and
the UK.
At the end of the event, Sheikh Mahmoud Kaka Hama Abdulkarem delivered a
speech on behalf of the Kurdistan Delegation. He extended his gratitude to the
organiser of the reception and the warm welcome by the KRG UK Representation
and other UK relevant departments.
At the same time, he called on the UK government
to further support the Kurdistan Region and its legitimate rights and to
prevent the past hardships from happening to the Kurds again.
London
16th May 2023