ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The former Jewish representative in the Kurdistan Region’s religious ministry has slammed claims he was ousted from his position by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in order to appease Baghdad.
Sherzad Mamsani, the former Jewish representative in the KRG’s Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs, rejected a report published by the Times of Israel that claimed he was ousted from his position due to efforts by the KRG to improve ties with Baghdad, as, according to the Israeli newspaper, claimed by Mariwan Naqshbandi, the ministry’s head of religious co-existence.
“It is far from the truth,” Mamsani told Rudaw English. “Neither the Kurdish street nor the KRG were against Jews in order to appease Baghdad.”
He described the news as “fabricated.”
He went on to explain that he was working as a “volunteer at the KRG religious ministry for three years,” and that seven months ago asked for leave to go abroad “due to health deterioration.”
He said he was informed in a formal letter from the KRG, dated December 2017, that he was to be removed because he was not “committed to work.”
“What kind of work? I do not know. I was not an employee of the ministry, but just a volunteer,” he told Rudaw English.
Also speaking to Rudaw English, Naqishbandi said “the removal of Sherzad Mamsani was because he was not committed to his work.”
He rejected the allegation that he had said the removal was associated with “the appeasement of Baghdad” or “questions of independence or the referendum.”
“This matter is not politically motivated,” Naqshbandi added.
Mamsani says he currently works as the leader of the Kurdish Jewish Community. He also denied that the Jewish Religion Representation had been closed.
In response to the Times of Israel story, Mamsani published an explanation on Facebook.
“The Times of Israel has published a report by freelance journalist Judit Neurink on March 15, 2018 alleging that the Kurdistan Regional Government has closed the Jewish Religion Representation fearing Baghdad and to appease Arabs,” read the Facebook post, published on Saturday
“The Jewish Religion Representation has not been closed down,” he said, insisting he was removed because he was unable to continue working due to “health deterioration.”
He added he did not manage to “continue his work voluntarily depending on own expenses for two years.”
Mamsani called the comments made by Naqshbandi to the Times of Israel “irresponsible.”
He said they “were against the Kurdistan Regional Government’s objectives to protect the ancient religions of Kurdistan and translated the ousting of the Jewish representative as a political action.”
“Whatever the reason is, the removal is an internal administrative matter of the ministry itself and the representation of the Jewish community in the Kurdistan Region. No one is allowed to voluntarily make comments on this matter,” he explained.
The Times of Israel quoted Naqshbandi claiming that the ousting of Mamsani could be an effort by the KRG to mend ties with Baghdad, which had deteriorated in the wake of the independence referendum held in September 2017.
Mamsani rejected the claim, accusing Naqshbandi of trying to “stir Iraq, Iran and those radicals in the Kurdistan Region against me.”
Naqshbandi apparently also criticized Mamsani for allowing Israel’s flag to fly alongside that of the Kurdistan Region at pro-independence rallies last year.
Mamsani rejected this claim, saying he “never advocated” the raising of Israel’s flag during the referendum campaign.
The KRG created the posts of religious groups’ representations in the religious ministry in 2015.
In his Facebook post, Mamsani went on to add that Naqshbandi’s comments do not represent the KRG and its stance on religious affairs.
“It is not his job to meddle in the affairs of religions and comment on their behalf,” he said.
“Hereby we explain, Kurdistan is the ancient nest of co-existence of all the colors and components as there were many mosques, churches and synagogues existing as neighbors in one alley. This historical color of coexistence is not new and will not be shaken by anyone,” his Facebook post concluded.
Mamsani had told the Time of Israel he was not forewarned about his dismissal, which occurred while he was on sick leave abroad.
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