KYC Opens a new chapter in Lincoln Nebraska

By: Kouzan Askary

KYC has just added a new chapter to the map of United States.  We proudly announce that Lincoln Nebraska has joined the rest of American cities with Kurdish Youth Club chapters. The inauguration of KYC Nebraska chapter was done with a grand opening celebration.  

The event was held on Saturday October 10 2009. Kurdish Community in Nebraska and youth participated at the grand opening party.  

We would like to thank all that helped to organize and make the event a reality. We would also like to thank everyone whom helped with their effort and knowledge in the process f making a chapter of KYC here in the heart of the cornhuskers.

Kurdish Community in Nebraska is approximately 2600 people, of which most belonging to the ancient Kurdish religion of Yezidism.  The community in Nebraska started to flourish after a wave of migration of Kurds in the late 1980s, fleeing the brutal Anfal campaign of Saddam Hussein. Other waves of migration brought more Kurds there.

The community of Kurdish youths in Lincoln NE loved and welcomed the establishment of KYC in their state. They are really looking forward to it and new and many activities from them is expected to come. The Kurdish community have showed their at most support for establishment of our new chapter and promised their support.

Kurdish Youth Club is a non-political, non-profit youth organization dedicated to serve the Kurdish youth through creating leadership opportunity as such in Nebraska. KYC has many chapters across US. KYC has been able to engage the Kurdish youth in positive self building environment to make leaders of the future.  Members in KYC are from a variety of background that are united under the umbrella of service and contribution to their immediate and wider communities.

Recent news on KYC was on Saturday October 29 2009 KYC chapters brought three different activities to their communities in Washington DC, Harrisonburg VA, and Atlanta Georgia.  KYC will be hosting a three day Kurdish Festival event for all Kurds in US in Atlanta Georgia on January 15, 16,and 17 2010. For more information on KYC please visit www.KurdishYouthClub.com

To contact KYC Nebraska please email us at kycnebraska@gmail.com

Thank you for your time and I am pleased to say we have one more location down and yet more to go.

  We are demonstrating across America on November 2^nd 2007 to express our outrage and concern about the Turkish Parliament’s recent vote approving the use of military force to violate Iraq’s integrity and national sovereignty by invading Iraq on the pretext of fighting Kurdish rebels from Turkey.

Following the Coalition Forces’ libration of Iraq in 2003, Iraqi Kurdistan has committed to establish and enforce the rule of law; to establish a democratic, stable and reliable form of government; and to encourage economic growth and development in the region. As an ally to the United State and democracy, Iraqi Kurdistan serves as a political and economical model for similar changes that can be replicated throughout the Middle East.

 The Kurdistan Regional leadership has expressed on many occasions its desire to establish good relation with each of its neighbors and its policy of noninterference in the affairs of its neighbors.

However, the Turkish Parliament’s recent vote in support of military aggression against Iraq threatens to destroy all that has been developed in Iraqi Kurdistan over the past 15 years, including the reconstruction of countless villages and towns, and the economic prosperity that this region has worked so hard to establish, following years of devastation and deprivation under Saddam Hussein’s genocidal rule.

 Turkey has been pursuing this same path of military aggression against the Kurds since its establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. History teaches us that military aggression is not the answer that will resolve the demands of ethnic minorities living within a broader national government. In case of Turkey, the Kurds comprise an ethnic minority more than 20 million people.

 The long-term denial by the Turkish Government of the Kurd’s existence as a separate ethnic group ( they are referred to by the Turkish Government only as “Mountain Turks” rather than as Kurds), and of the Kurds right to participate freely in the Turkish political process and to only express their language, culture, and heritage must be reversed.

 While the current Turkish Government has made some concessions regarding Kurdish rights, the Parliaments recent vote endorsing military aggression is not the answer that will resolve these fundamental issues. Only by initiating and pursuing good faith a dialogue with the Kurds of Turkey can these fundamental concerns be resolved.

 We thank the United States, the European Union, the Arab League and numerous other countries and organizations that have attempted to persuade Turkey to exercise restraint and to avoid taking military action in Iraq.

 Kurdish American Community     

In name of Kurdish Youth Club and its members, your friends and supporters,
we offer you our deepest condolences. Hearing the tragic news set-forth a shockwave
of sadness and grief throughout the different Kurdish communities and
Kurdish organizations. The loss of our brothers and sisters is a grave loss
in our family of Kurd-perwers. They will be remembered not for their tragedy but
for their joyous memory, for their giving spirit, and helpful hands.
We as members of KYC consider ourselves as your close friends and family.
We stand firmly with you and your family as you face this contingent hardship.
Your loss is our loss and your sadness has filled our hearts. Please accept
our open hearts, open arms, brotherhood, sisterhood, and friendship.


Sincerely,

Your friends, brothers, sisters
Kurdish Youth Club
Ara Alan