The Iraqi newspaper of Al-Nahar has published a sexually suggestive and offensive meme to portray the post-referendum reality of the Kurdistan Region.
The meme, largely circulated in Kurdish social networking groups has been met with a fervour of anger and disgust.
On the front cover of Al-Nahar, the Iraqi-owned newspaper shows five men in boxers, staring in an unwelcoming manner at a young girl. The meme captions the five men as Iran, Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan and the girl as Kurdistan.
It comes at a time of heightened tensions as Iraq seeks to put in place a set of measures against the Kurdistan Regional Government for carrying out a referendum on independence.
The results of Kurdistan Region’s referendum showed 92.73% voters come out in favour of independence from Iraq, while 7.27% preferred to uphold the status quo.
Iraq’s parliament has called on nations to withdraw all diplomatic missions in Kurdistan Region, and requested the deployment of Iraqi army to Kurdish-controlled disputed areas such as Kirkuk.
These measures are part of a 12-point decree issued on Wednesday by the Iraqi parliament as a form of punishment on Kurdistan Region for holding an independence referendum.
Additionally, the Iraqi parliament has called on Kurdish leaders to face legal measures for holding a referendum, and requested Iran to close its airspace with Kurdistan Region.
Some of the online responses to the meme can be summarised as follows:
Images are not pornographic per se but the message and implications are horrendous. It reveals the ugliness of Iraqi metality and worldview.
— ViscaCATALUNYAiliure (@iLoveKurds) September 28, 2017
Saddam still exist in #Baghdad with many faces but must not forget that even Saddam could not defeat Kurds and #Kurdistan.
— #YES2Kurdistan (@GreenerTalk) September 28, 2017
An extremely disturbing geopolitical rape ‘metaphor’
— Marwan M. Kraidy (@MKraidy) September 28, 2017
This is just beyond low. Very upsetting that this is the level of discourse in Baghdad.
— الخطيب الملبورني (@Legible_M) September 28, 2017
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment