iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Kamal Chomani

International Relations @ Leipzig University @ir-unileipzig.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

✨ Meet the Minds ✨ Kamal Chomani is a doctoral researcher at our department, funded by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. His PhD looks into political legitimation mechanisms in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He founded The Amargi in 2025 and serves as its Editor-in-Chief.

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

#EXCLUSIVE @theamargi.bsky.social Mazloum Abdi is no longer just a wartime commander, he is negotiating Syria’s future in MSC. In Munich, I asked him about U.S. policy failures, SDF miscalculations, Ocalan’s role in the ceasefire, & future of Kurds in new Syria etc www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMkw...

youtube.com

Mazloum Abdi in Munich: Inside the SDF–Damascus Deal, SDF Miscalculations & Syria’s New Power Map

YouTube video by The Amargi

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Syria’s fragile post-war order is unraveling fast. In this special MEF briefing, host Lauri Regan is joined by Sirwan Kajjo and Kamal Chomani for a hard-nosed discussion of the Syrian gov’s military push into Kurdish-led northeast Syria and the collapse of the SDF www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv0G...

youtube.com

January 23, 2026 | Special MEF Briefing: "Syria on the Brink?" with Kamal Chomani and Sirwan Kajjo

YouTube video by Middle East Forum

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

We're honoured & very glad to be featured by the prestigious Columbia Journalism Review in a fantastic story about why the Amargi exists, and why a free press still matters. @columjournreview.bsky.social @theamargi.bsky.social www.cjr.org/feature/amar...

cjr.org

‘The Amargi’ imagines a free Kurdish press.

The Amargi, a digital outlet based in Germany, takes the lead on Kurdish news.

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

International Relations @ Leipzig University @ir-unileipzig.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

📚 New publication by our research associate @charlottemeier.bsky.social the Elgar Encyclopedia of Political Communication: Digital Activism explores how digital technologies shape social movement mobilisation. 🔗 www.elgaronline.com/display/book...

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Exclusive Interview of @theamargi.bsky.social with KDPI leader Mustafa Hijri. Mr. Hijri asserts that the Kurds in Iran are ready for any possible changes in the country, & following the 7 Oct events & the 12-day Israel-Iran war, Iran is too weak to recover. www.theamargi.com/posts/pdki-l...

theamargi.com

“A Historic Turning Point”: PDKI Leader Says Iran Is Too Weak to Recover

In an exclusive interview with The Amargi’s Editor-in-Chief, Kamal Chomani, Mustafa Hijri, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, asserts that the Kurds in Iran are ready for ...

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

As alliances shift to shape a new Middle East, the Kurds face a familiar danger: exclusion from the new order. In this piece for @theamargi.bsky.social, I'll explain why that would be a historic mistake, & what the status of the Kurds is amid these transformations. www.theamargi.com/posts/the-mi...

theamargi.com

The Middle East Is Being Rewritten, But the Kurds Must Not Be Left Out

Kurds rally in Amed in June 2011 during Turkey’s general elections in support of the pro-Kurdish rights | Photo Credits: Kamal Chomani The Middle East is entering yet another historic turning point. S...

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Tehran is running out of time. Officials say the capital may fail to meet vital needs within two years, as aquifers collapse and services strain. This is not just drought. It is governance. Full story by Ammar Goli and Kawe Fatehi. www.theamargi.com/posts/irans-...

theamargi.com

Iran’s Water Crisis Could Turn Tehran into a Ghost City

The Khaju Bridge (Pol-e Khāju) in Isfahan, Iran, when the Zayanderud riverbed is dry | Picture Credits: Islamic Republic News Agency This article is co-authored by Ammar Goli and Kawe Fatehi Years…

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Iraq’s minority quotas are under fire. Parties mobilised outside votes, helping KDP take five quota seats and three of five Christian seats. Activists call for separate registers or abolition. Full story by Renwar Najm. www.theamargi.com/posts/iraqs-...

theamargi.com

Iraq’s Quota System Silences Minorities

In Iraq’s 2025 parliamentary election, the country’s large parties have dominated the quota seats reserved for religious and ethnic minorities in the Council of Representatives. Christian activists…

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Erwin van Veen tells The Amargi’s Kamal Chomani that Western recognition of Palestine is symbolic unless it’s followed by real measures. Watch the full interview to understand what recognition must lead to next. Link in comments. 👇

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Hamit Bozarslan tells The Amargi’s @kamalchomani.bsky.social the Middle East must move beyond the politics of death and sectarianism to imagine another future. Full interview in the comment.

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

The “Middle East” was never about geography. It was a colonial invention, from Churchill’s maps to Admiral Mahan’s naval strategy. At The Amargi launch, MP Cengiz Çandar explained how this invention still shapes global politics. Full panel here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQnK...

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Since October 7, the status of local, regional, and global powers in the Middle East has changed dramatically. To help us understand these complexities & the new power dynamics, I was joined by Prof. Hamit Bozarslan in an interview for @theamargi.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZV...

youtube.com

How Continuous Wars Reinforce Authoritarianism in the Middle East? with Prof. Hamit Bozarslan

YouTube video by The Amargi

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

How is the situation of journalists in the Middle East? Across MENA, journalism is one of the most dangerous professions. This is why we founded The Amargi. As Editor-in-Chief, @KamalChomani.bsky.social sets out our vision in his full speech: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBu-...

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

“We launch The Amargi as a promise — to reflect the dignity of our peoples, honour past sacrifices, and create space for new generations to dream and act.” Read Editor-in-Chief @kamalchomani.bsky.social’s full vision here: theamargi.com/posts/the-am...

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

🗣 At our launch today, Kamal Chomani is reminding us why independent media matters. Here are five powerful lines from his speech. 🧵 #TheAmargiLaunches #TheAmargi

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

At our launch today, keynote speaker Bachtyar Ali is reflecting on exile, intellectual life, and freedom. Here are some of his most powerful words. 🧵 #TheAmargiLaunches #TheAmargi

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Panel 1 of our launch is rethinking the Middle East amid shifting power & crisis. Speakers: Cengiz Çandar, Abbas Vali, Joost Jongerden, Rojin Mukryan & Shilan Fuad Hussein. They’re opening vital debates on peace, democracy, gender & climate. #TheAmargiLaunches

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Yesterday we launched The Amargi in Leipzig with powerful conversations on “Reimagining the Middle East Amid Geopolitical Recalibration.” Our work begins here: to challenge silence, resist erasure, and amplify truth. #TheAmargiLaunches

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The Middle East is in flux. New alliances, shifting power, and competing visions are reshaping the region. Professor Hamit Bozarslan joins @kamalchomani.bsky.social to unpack what’s at stake. 🗓️ The Amargi launches Sept 20. Stay tuned.

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Three years ago, Jina (Mahsa) Amini, a young Kurdish woman, died in the custody of Iran’s “morality police.” Her death became the spark of a movement: Jin, Jiyan, Azadî – Woman, Life, Freedom. 🧵 Her story ⬇️

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

📢 We’re officially launching! Join us on September 20th in Leipzig for The Amargi’s launch event: “Reimagining the Middle East Amid Geopolitical Recalibration” 📍 URBN JUNGLE Leipzig – A Future City Lab 🕐 13:00 – 18:00 (Dinner at 19:00) ➡️ Register now: contact@theamargi.com

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

The Amargi @theamargi.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

We’re launching with one of the most influential Kurdish writers of our time! Bachtyar Ali, author of the internationally acclaimed novel The Last Pomegranate Tree and winner of the Nelly-Sachs Prize, will deliver the keynote speech at The Amargi’s official launch in Leipzig on September 20th.

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

COMING SOON! Dear friends, please follow and like @theamargi.bsky.social, a new independent media project I have founded with a group of journalists, academics, and activists here in Leipzig, Germany. More to come in the next few hours, days, weeks! Stay tuned!

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

My new Middle East Forum piece where I analyse how Kurds in Iran remain hesitant to trigger uprisings amid the Iran-Israel war, although they want to see a regime change. When the future is unpredictable, pushing change becomes difficult, especially without unity. www.meforum.org/mef-observer...

meforum.org

Iran’s Kurds at a Crossroads

When the Future Is Unpredictable, Pushing Change Becomes Difficult—Especially Without Unity

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

International Relations @ Leipzig University @ir-unileipzig.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

We're so proud of your excellent work Kamal - keep it up!

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

New publication alert! I'm happy to share that my article, "Martyrdom as a Mask: Unveiling Symbolic Violence in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Civil War Aftermath," has been published in Terrorism and Political Violence. It’s open access and available to read here: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

tandfonline.com

Martyrdom as a Mask: Unveiling Symbolic Violence in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Civil War Aftermath

This paper scrutinizes the political and cultural implications of martyrdom in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), particularly in the aftermath of the Kurdish civil war (Birakuji, 1994–1998) betwe...

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Last week in Athens, the Centre for Mediterranean, Middle East & Islamic Studies hosted a conference titled "The Kurdish Issue and Developments in the Middle East," where I delivered a speech during the 3rd panel. My speech begins at minute 21 and continues until 35. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ-A...

youtube.com

Third Session: CEMMIS Conference on The Kurdish Issue and the Developments in the Middle East

YouTube video by Centre for Mediterranean, Middle East and Islamic Studies

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

The new Syrian regime under Ahmed al-Sharaa insists arms belong to the state. Absolutely, but only if the state is legitimate & approved by the peoples. But al-Sharaa rebuilt Assad's regime. For Syrians, there's no real difference b/n Sunni Islamist or Alawite Baathist dictators.

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

In my latest for the Middle East Forum, I write that Kurdish unity is an illusion, & the unity the Kurdish parties seek is futile, but why? The bigger question is Unity on what? www.meforum.org/mef-observer...

meforum.org

The Illusion of Kurdish Unity

Many Kurds Recognize That Kurdish Leaders and Their Parties Bear Much Responsibility for Their Lack of Unity

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

By Turkish standards, Israel has legitimate security concerns to attack & occupy Syrian land. In fact, no regional countries have occupied and massacred the Syrian people other than the Turkish army. What Israel is doing is just following the Turkish footprints.

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

In my latest piece for The Middle East Forum, I highlight four significant fatwas: two issued by Iraqi Shi'a Marja' leaders in support of the Kurds & one by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 & another from 2018 by the newly appointed Syrian Grand Mufti against the Kurds. www.meforum.org/mef-observer...

meforum.org

Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Pick for Syria’s Mufti Shows He Is No Moderate

The Transitional Government Reinforces Sectarian Polarization and Disregards Syria’s Ethnic and Religious Minorities

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

International Relations @ Leipzig University @ir-unileipzig.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Our colleague @kamalchomani.bsky.social gave an excellent interview on Öcalan's call for peace and a democratic society in Turkey, analyzing how realistic this call is and what implications it may have. Check out the full interview in @derfreitag.bsky.social: www.freitag.de/autoren/sham...

freitag.de

Öcalan-Aufruf: Chance für Linksruck in der Türkei

Abdullah Öcalans Aufruf zur Entwaffnung der kurdischen PKK-Kämpfer könnte weitreichende Folgen haben. Doch wie realistisch ist ein Frieden? Die Türkei hat keine andere Wahl, als Zugeständnisse zu mach...

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

The trauma of the 2013-2015 peace process should not weaken our resolve for peace in Turkey. While trusting the Turkish state may be naive, losing faith in peace itself and the sacrifices it requires would be a true tragedy.

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Öcalan is set to call for silencing arms, extending a hand for peace & democracy. The PKK welcomes his call, as will Kurds worldwide. This is a renewal of his decades-long fight for freedom & peace. Then, the Turkish state must act responsibly & embrace this golden opportunity.

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

My latest for the Middle East Forum: New Iraqi Kurdish Cabinet Prioritizes Fiefdoms Over Unity The KDP and PUK may have mutual interests, but they have no common values. Any arrangements between them will be fleeting, cosmetic, or weak. www.meforum.org/mef-observer...

meforum.org

New Iraqi Kurdish Cabinet Prioritizes Fiefdoms Over Unity

Neither the KDP nor the PUK Wants to Compromise, but They No Longer Can Delay Cabinet Formation

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

International Relations @ Leipzig University @ir-unileipzig.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

The IR team would like to invite you to an online panel discussion on ‘Indigenous peoples and local communities and their importance for protecting biodiversity - Perspectives from COP 16’.

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 15/01/2025

So relentless has been Israel’s assault, and so complete the destruction in northern Gaza that a former Israeli defence minister described the military’s actions there as ‘ethnic cleansing’. Here's how the Israeli military erased a town of 200,000 people in Gaza. on.ft.com/3DTS14e

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

In this @newlinesmag.bsky.social piece, I explore why Iraq’s path, despite its post-2003 challenges, offers valuable lessons for Syria to pursue. How can Syria emulate Iraq’s successes while avoiding its pitfalls? newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ir...

newlinesmag.com

Iraq Offers Lessons and Warnings for a New Syria

As Damascus attempts to forge a stable democracy from the wreckage of war, the neighboring country’s experience offers a way forward

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

Befuddled & Bemused @befuddledbemused.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

this is an excellent deep dive into the promises and risks as Syria attempts to create responsible self-government from @kamalchomani.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

New Lines Magazine @newlinesmag.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

NEW: Syria’s new phase demands bold steps and inclusive leadership. Lessons from post-Saddam Iraq — federalism, consensus and pragmatic reform — could illuminate the path, writes Kamal Chomani. newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ir...

newlinesmag.com

Iraq Offers Lessons and Warnings for a New Syria

As Damascus attempts to forge a stable democracy from the wreckage of war, the neighboring country’s experience offers a way forward

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Reposted by Kamal Chomani

Michael Brill @michaelpbrill.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

"The two countries, which share a lengthy border, experienced numerous military coups in the 20th century before both coalescing around Baath Party dictatorships." @kamalchomani.bsky.social @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/spotlight/ir...

newlinesmag.com

Iraq Offers Lessons and Warnings for a New Syria

As Damascus attempts to forge a stable democracy from the wreckage of war, the neighboring country’s experience offers a way forward

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Kamal Chomani @kamalchomani.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Check out my latest for the Middle East Forum on why and how Delisting the PKK, or at Least Lifting the Bounty on Its Three Leaders, Would Have Several Immediate Benefits for the Kurds and the U.S. in the region. www.meforum.org/mef-observer...

meforum.org

Washington Should Rethink Its PKK Terror Designation

Delisting the PKK, or at Least Lifting Bounties on Its Three Leaders, Would Have Several Immediate Benefits

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