Parliament passes Resolution on Kurdish Journalism Day and Law on Conservation of Water and Wastewater Networks

The Kurdistan Parliament on 21 April passed the Law on Conservation of Water and Wastewater Networks and a Resolution to officially designate a Kurdish Journalism Day.

Parliament also continued the second reading of the Bill on Protection of Archeology and Heritage, and voted on several changes to committee memberships.

Speaker Rewaz Faiq presiding over the sitting, with Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami and Secretary Muna Kahveci alongside her.

The draft Resolution to designate 22nd April as Kurdish Journalism Day, which was prepared by the Culture and Legislative committees, was put to vote and passed. Speaker Faiq congratulated the Kurdistani people and all journalists of Kurdistan.

The date 22nd April was chosen because the first issue of the first Kurdish newspaper, Kurdistan, produced by Miqdad Madhat Badr Khan, was published in Cairo on 22 April 1898.

The Resolution is also to honour the historical role that the Kurdish press has played in protecting the language and culture of journalism and in conveying a sense of nationhood.

MPs then voted on the Law on Conservation of Water and Wastewater Networks, whose purpose is to protect and conserve water and wastewater in Kurdistan Region, ensure the capabilities of these networks, protect the environment and provide clean water to the public equitably, and to protect public health and the economic infrastructure.

Parliament also continued the second reading of the Bill on Management and Protection of Archaeology and Heritage in Kurdistan Region. MPs exchanged their views and made detailed comments and suggestions on the articles of the bill.

The bill is made up of 34 articles and is intended to manage and protect historical sites as part of the wealth and the cultural, scientific, and civilizational identity of Kurdistan.

MPs also voted on several changes to committee memberships, which were all approved:

• Resignation of MP Zana Mala Khalid Ismail (KDP) from the Committee on Social Affairs and Protection of Human Rights.
• Resignation of MP Gulistan Baqi Sleman (Niheli) (KDP) from the Committee on Agriculture and Irrigation and her appointment to the Committee on Social Affairs and Protection of Human Rights.
• Appointment of MP Halkawt Anwar Khalifa (KDP) to the Committee on Agriculture and Irrigation and the Integrity Committee.
• Appointment MP Sabah Mahmoud Mohammad as the member of the committee on Integrity.
• Resignation of MP Sarchnar Ahmed Mahmood (KIU) from the Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee.
• Resignation of MP Abubakr Omar Abdullah (Haladny) (KIU) from the Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee and his appointment to theMunicipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee.
• Resignation of MP Halz Ahmed Mohammed Hasan (Botani) (KIU) from theAgriculture and Irrigation Committee and her appointment to the Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee.