Islamist Party in Kurdistan to Meet for Important Changes, Including Stance over IS

By Arkan Ali

SUALIMANI, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Islamic League (Komal) is planning important changes in its leadership structure and image, based on a survey of party members.

This week Komal, one of the Islamic parties in the Kurdistan Region, is expected to set a date and agenda for a convention to be held this month.

That meeting will aim for changes in the party’s organizational structure, the name of its politburo and on the position of the group’s “guide.”

That position has remained unfilled since the death three months ago of Sheikh Mohamed Barzinji, Komal’s spiritual leader.

"This post might be removed. That is because we do not believe we can find anyone else fit for the position," said Tofiq Kareem, a party leadership member.

Since Barzinji’s demise, Komal carried out a survey of 3,000 party members. Most of the respondents agreed that Komal must make changes in its discourse, programs and organizational structure.

Members have demanded that the party abolish a third term for leadership members, that leaders who take up government posts should give up party posts and that the salary structure for cadre members should be revised.

Some respondents also demanded that the current Komal emir, Ali Bapir, should not run again.

“It is not clear whether Ali Bapir will run for the post or not,” Kareem said. “In the last convention Bapir agreed to run only after pressure from the politburo. He did not like to take the position for the second time," he added.

“But me and number of other members of the leadership will not run for membership in the politburo" Kareem told Rudaw."

Komal has serious internal disagreements.

Dilshad Garmiyani, a senior leader, holds views that conflict with the mainstream Komal view.  Some observers believe he represents the Salafists in Komal, who they claim have established a sub-group within Komal.

"We have prepared a new project which will clarify Komal's views on certain sensitive issues, including democracy, independence, the governance system, the participation of Islamist parties in the government and the differences between different Islamic parties and schools of thought,” Kareem told Rudaw.

Komal has a share of two ministerial posts in the Kurdistan Regional Government's new cabinet. Its leadership recently met to elect two candidates to assume the ministerial posts. The politburo's choice of candidates led to discontent in the lower ranks.

Kamaran Hassan, a former cadre member, is unhappy with management and performance, saying Komal “loses public support and votes day after day."

He said that if Komal and other Islamist parties do not make changes they will be unable to offer alternatives to other political parties.

 "Unfortunately, now Islamists look at their political parties as a place for teaching Islam. They have mixed this task with the real purpose of a political party," he said.

Another issue at the upcoming convention is the party stance on the Islamic State (IS/ISIS), whose militants have captured large parts of Iraq’s Sunni regions and are at war with Kurdish Peshmerga forces.

Although IS claims it is Islamist and abides by religious laws, the Islamist parties in Kurdistan believe the group has little to do with Islam, and that its role is to cause havoc in the region.

Komal has been criticized for being late in issuing a statement condemning IS. The delay is believed to be a consequence of differences inside the party over the militants.

“The main task of the third convention must be to clarify what is the righteous task of an Islamist party or group, and how IS is different from Islamist parties," Hassan said.