Raparin Journal of Humanities (RJH) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the University of Raparin. It is dedicated to advancing high-quality research in the fields of humanities and social sciences. The journal maintains rigorous editorial and ethical standards, ensuring that all manuscripts undergo a thorough and fair review process before publication. RJH is managed by a qualified editorial team consisting of the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Secretary, Editorial Staff, and Editorial Advisory Board. Each member contributes to the journal’s mission of fostering scholarly excellence, promoting interdisciplinary research, and supporting authors throughout the publication process.
The 2014 Yazidi Genocide and its Reflection in New and International Media
Genocide is considered an international crime. In 2014, the Yazidis faced genocide at the hands of the terrorist organization (ISIS). In this tragedy, thousands of women, men, children, youth and the elderly were genocided. It is known that the massacre committed by ISIS against the Shiite people in Sinjar means the extermination and attempts to erase a religious community, because thousands of women were kidnapped, raped and treated as slaves in the market, and the fate of some of them is still unknown. This religion is also practiced in Kurdistan, Iraq, Syria, Armenia, Turkey, etc. Crimes included mass murder, kidnapping, trafficking in women and children, and forced conversion. As several international legal reports have revealed, the complete extermination or destruction of the essence of the Yazidis as an ethnic group, and the Yazidi community suffered great psychological and social damage, most of the Yazidi areas were destroyed by the attacks. Therefore, most Yezidis have not yet recovered from the psychological effects of the genocide. This study is an analytical study to present the role of new media in the recognition and dissemination of the genocide of the Yazidis worldwide. In this paper we will answer the following questions: What is genocide? What is new media? How did the Yazidis face genocide? What is the role of the new media in the issue of publicizing and recognizing the genocide of the Yazidis? To answer these questions in this research we have used several methods including: descriptive, analytical and historical methods, each of these methods according to the needs of our research. It is important to note that the importance of this study lies in the fact that during our research we found that until the writing of this study, there has been little research in this field that links the new media to the issue of recognizing the Yazidi genocide.
Copyright (c) 2026 Raparin Journal of Humanities (RJH) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Parental Emotional Support and Its Relation to the Psychological Adjustment of Children with Chronic Illnesses
Chronic diseases are among the main challenges affecting children’s mental health, as they cause pressures that may lead to difficulties in psychological adjustment. Parental emotional support plays an important role in reducing these effects and enhancing children’s ability to cope with their illness. This study aimed to identify the level of parental emotional support provided to children with chronic diseases, to examine their level of psychological adjustment according to gender, and to determine the correlation between parental emotional support and psychological adjustment. The validity and reliability of the scales were verified and applied to a random sample of (194) children with chronic diseases. The results showed that the sample had a high level of parental emotional support and a high level of psychological adjustment. Gender had no significant effect, and there was a positive and significant correlation between parental emotional support and psychological adjustment.
Emotional Support, Psychological Adjustment, Social Adaptation Children with Chronic Diseases.
The Structures of The Active and Passive Participles and Their Implications in the Authentic Narrations on Trails in Two Authentic Collections
Derivative patterns are considered as one of the prominent features of morphology, which gives prophetic narrations a particular quality distinguishes it with other categories. However, as they are not solely limited to the morphological levels alone, they can also interact with other linguistic levels including sound, structure, and meaning. Furthermore, in the narrations of the prophet (peace be upon him), derivative patterns have a crucial role, in which they can enhance the text with deep meaning and often provide a refinement of the meaning. This shows the clarity of the Messenger’s expression. Altogether, these distinctive features can help shape the foundations of the Arabic linguistic system especially in modern studies. We can observe underline meanings when carefully analyzing the texts. In this study, we aim to shed light on the importance of derivative patterns, focusing particularly on the Active Participle and Passive Participle in the narrations of Fitan (Tribulations), and exploring how they function linguistically. The study of derivatives holds of great importance particularly for students of the language and scholars as well, since it strengthens their understanding of Arabic and broadens their linguistic perspectives. In addition, the prophetic narrations have always been a suitable example for studies of derivative patterns, especially those that have to do with morphological and derivative patterns. Over the centuries, both classic and modern scholars have explored these forms in depth, uncovering underlying layers of linguistic and semantic meanings. Thus, when looking closely at these patterns, we understand that each carries its own meaning. For this reason, it is essential for every student of language to master these patterns and develop a solid understanding of how they work.
Derivative patterns, Passive Participle, Prophetic Narrations, Underlying Meanings, Morphological Patterns.
There are certain circumstances and conditions that both the individual and society pass, wherein they need something that shares the burden with them or alleviates their sorrow and distress. In addition to giving steadiness to the heart, strengthening emotional composure, encouraging determination, and offering empathy and consolation. From this premise our study emerges, titled “Consolation in the Qur’an: A Semantic Study.” It addresses the concept of consolation, as it is one of the significant themes in human experience and has been recognized since early times. Noting that humans as living beings are subject to change by the events unfolding around them as they are evolving. Consolation is a recognized concept in Islam, so long as it remains within the bounds of Islamic law. The Noble Qur’an was revealed by Allah, and the Messengers (peace be upon them) were sent with a comprehensive message that attends to both the external conduct and the internal emotional state. This divine message directs the believer toward fulfillment of their purpose on earth. Numerous verses in the Qur’an articulate meanings related to consolation and support. Upon examining the Qur’anic scholarly interpretations, we find that the interpreters employed a variety of expressions to convey the semantic field of consolation, including terms such as solace, compassion, and condolence. The study is divided into three areas of focus: the first explores the concept of consolation, its meanings, and its lexical equivalents; the second examines the recipients of consolation in the Qur’an; and the third addresses the psychological and spiritual impact of consolatory verses in the context of confronting tribulations. The study includes an introduction, a conclusion, and a comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources.
Consolation, Qur’an, The Consoled Ones, Effects.
Building and Implementing a Scale for the Problems and Obstacles Faced by Football Players from the Perspective of the Fans of Duhok and Zakho Clubs
The research aims to: develop a scale to measure the problems and obstacles faced by football players from the audience's perspective, and identify the obstacles and problems faced by football players from the audience's perspective. The descriptive approach was chosen because it is appropriate for the nature of the research. The research community consists of fans who follow football matches in sports stadiums during the 2024-2025 season, numbering approximately 50,000 in Dohuk Province. The research sample was deliberately selected, numbering 508 individuals, representing 1.02% of the total population. A scale consisting of twenty-three items was created, and the discriminant validity and internal consistency of the scale were found, and the stability of the scale was determined. Statistical methods were used, including arithmetic mean, standard deviation, Pearson's correlation coefficient, t-test for independent samples, and percentage to analyses the results and obtain the research objectives. After collecting the public's opinions on the obstacles, the following results were obtained: A scale with high scientific validity (in terms of reliability, stability, and objectivity) was obtained, which can be used to identify obstacles and problems facing football from the audience's point of view. The following obstacles were identified: 1- The following obstacles appeared repeatedly: a) Do injuries and suspensions affect the match and the players? b) Are the players affected?
Scale Construction, Barriers, Players, Football, Dohuk - Zakho
The Figurative İmage İn Adnan Al-Sayigh's Poetry in Adnan Al-Sayegh's Poetry
Adnan Al-Sayegh is a modern poet, one of the pioneers of modernity and prose poetry, who carries a great deal of pain, alienation, and longing for the land of Iraq. He embodies all this suffering in figurative images of (simile, metaphor, and metonymy), which have the most prominent presence in his poetry. Therefore, our study focused on the figurative language in Adnan Al-Sayegh's poetry through a rhetorical analysis of his verses, as his poetry is rich in figurative images that convey the creator's ideas and visions, in addition to faithfully expressing his emotions. This study contributed to examining these images to highlight their rhetorical values, which play a role in deepening the idea and clarifying the meaning. Since the rhetorical aspect does not reveal the beauty of the text without understanding and analyzing it, we turned to critical study to interpret and delve into the analysis of poetic texts. In light of the critical study, poetic texts are interpreted and understood. The research addressed the study of simile through simple and compound similes, as well as metaphor in all its forms. Metonymy was studied through the metonymy of quality, the metonymy of the described, and the metonymy of relation, with poetic texts mentioned for each topic to prove the point and express the poet's ability to exploit rhetorical arts to present modern conceptual imagery. I relied on the analytical descriptive method to clarify the poetic texts. At the end of the research, the findings were presented, demonstrating how Adnan Al-Sayegh skillfully conveyed his ideas with high capability through his artistic rhetorical tools, which he employed in a way that serves the poetic text.
Figurative Language, Adnan Al-Sayegh, Poet, Rhetorical Expression, Power Of Denotation, Love for the Homeland.
The Effect of Using the Training Method in Learning Some Shooting Skills in Basketball for First-Year Students in The Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Koya University
This research aims to identify the effect of the training method in learning shooting skills in basketball. The experiment was conducted on the first-stage students. Two groups were involved in this experiment (A, B) with total number of (69) students. Group (A) was the experimental group with (20) participants and Group (B) was the control group with (20) participants. A number of female and male students who play basketball were excluded because they did not attend the tests and to achieve homogeneity between the two groups, the number became (40) students distributed between the two groups. The researcher uses the experimental method because it is appropriate for the nature of the research problem. The researcher assumed the existence of statistically significant differences between the training method and the command method. The implementation of the main experiment took (4) weeks, with two hours per week, and there were (8) educational units. The researcher used appropriate statistical treatments, and the results were significant differences between the students of the experimental and control groups, in favor of the experimental group, in shooting skills (free throw, slam dunk, and jumping). The researcher recommends the necessity of using various methods and approaches to increase the rate of learning among students, in addition to benefiting from the methods for all educational stages. Results were obtained showing statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-tests, in favor of the post-tests, by using various methods and approaches in learning.
Teaching Process, Training Method, Shooting, Basketball.
The Role of Green Marketing in Strategic Awareness
This study aims to clarify and analyze the relationship between green marketing, as the independent variable, and strategic awareness as the dependent variable, through a field study conducted at the University of Raparin, a public university located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Green marketing was examined through several dimensions, including waste elimination or reduction, redesigning the product/service concept, and clarifying the relationship between price and cost. Strategic awareness included both internal and external dimensions. Data were collected using a questionnaire distributed to a sample of administrators, academics, and students. Out of 470 questionnaires distributed, 405 were returned, and 383 were deemed valid for analysis. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach using various statistical tools through Excel and SPSS to test the hypotheses. The results revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between green marketing and strategic awareness at both the overall and dimensional levels. This indicates that adopting green marketing practices enhances individuals' awareness of environmental dimensions and supports sustainability-based strategic planning. The study recommends adopting green marketing as a strategic tool within the educational policies of the University of Raparin and integrating strategic awareness as a core element in developing sustainable institutional performance. It also calls for future comparative studies across different sectors and proposes a long-term practical model that integrates environmental management and green marketing to build a smart and green university environment.
Green Marketing, Strategic Awareness, Environmental Sustainability, Eco-Friendly Products and Services, Higher Education, University of Raparin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
A Pragmatic Analysis Impersonal Deixis in the book “Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement" by President Masoud Barzani
Deictic expressions play an essential role in enhancing textual clarity and coherence. They enable the writer to conveying events accurately and clearly, and help the reader understand these events without ambiguity, and making it easier to follow their chronological and spatial sequence, highlights the role of those who carried them out the, and the distribution of roles to the characters involved. Additionally, they function as cohesive devices linking sentences and paragraphs, thereby contributing to a unified textual structure. This study focuses impersonal deixis in "Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement" by President Masoud Barzani, aiming to explore its function in reference resolution and meaning construction. the study adopts a descriptive-analytical method to examine the forms and functions of deictic elements within the text. Then the research analyzed the most important indicative signs and how they affect the expression of meanings and their usage in the text. This analysis reveals that the author strategically employed these expressions to strengthen discourse cohesion and establish semantic connectivity across textual segments.
: Pragmatics- Deixis- Communication- Context- Temporal and Spatial- Conventional and Discursive.
The Role of Strategic Agility in Organizational Sustainability
The objective of this research is to investigate how strategic agility, as embodied by its three dimensions (opportunity exploration, opportunity exploitation, and structural agility) can support organizational sustainability, which is mirrored in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The research issue stems from the inadequate comprehension and implementation of strategic agility and its role in attaining organizational sustainability in Erbil's private universities. The study's entire framework is centered on determining the central research topic, which poses important queries regarding the nature of the connection and its consequences between organizational sustainability and strategic agility. A conceptual model created to answer these concerns, and it has two hypotheses that have been examined using the proper statistical methods. Using a pre-made questionnaire, the study collected primary data using a descriptive analytical methodology. All of the faculty members from eight carefully chosen private universities in Erbil made up the study population. 375 of the 410 surveys that were sent were returned, and 356 of those were judged suitable for statistical examination. To evaluate the suggested hypotheses, data were analyzed using AMOS (Version 24) and SPSS (Version 24). At both the overall and dimensional levels, the statistical findings showed important effects and significant positive correlations between organizational sustainability and strategic agility. The study suggests implementing strategic agility as a crucial strategic technique to improve organizational sustainability in private colleges in light of these findings.
Strategic Agility, Organizational Sustainability, Private Universities, Erbil.
The Jurisprudence of Balancing in International Relations
In this study, entitled “The Jurisprudence of Balancing in International Relations: Applied Models, the researcher examines the jurisprudence of balancing (Fiqh al-Muwazanat), as an independent science within Islamic jurisprudence. The study includes a definition of this field, then outlines the various types of balancing. And substantiates its legitimacy with evidence derived from the Qur’an, the Sunnah, scholarly consensus, and rational deduction, The study also highlights the dispersed contributions of classical scholars in this field, the researcher outlines the necessary regulations and criteria for applying, particularly in weighing benefitsand harms and explains the significance of balancing conflicting interests and how to prioritize between them in cases of contradiction. Then the researcher explains the subject of international relations in Islam. It includes the definition of Ilm al-Siyar (Biography) according to ancient scholars and the concept of international relations among contemporaries. he examines the foundation of international relations in Islamic jurisprudence, drawing on evidence from the Qur’an, the Sunnah, events from the biography of Muhammad(ﷺ), the actions of the Rashidun Caliphs, and Islamic history, and he refers to the stages of development of international relations among scholars, and the researcher explains the distinct characteristics of Islamic international relations, which are characterized by a set of values and principles that distinguish it from others. Finally, the researcher presents practical models demonstrating the process of balancing benefits and harms in matters pertaining to international relations, and explains how to balance interests and harms in these models, and how to weigh up if they conflict.
The Jurisprudence, Balancing, International, Relations.
The Meanings of Single-Letter Particles in the Book Ṣarf al-ʿInāyah fī Kashf al-Kifāyah by al-Baytūshī (d. 1221 AH).
This study inspects the syntactic and semantic orientation of the Quranic quotation in monogram, in the book "Sarf al-Inayah fi Kashf al-Kifayah" by the Kurdish scholar Abdullah al-Baytushi (d. 1221 AH). This is the second explanation on his poem "Kifayat al-Ma'ani fi Huruf al-Ma'ani". It addresses to focus on and explain the letters of meaning in grammar. In his clarification of the letters of meaning , he compromised poetic verses he composed himself, evidence of several grammatical matters related to the meanings of the letters. Al-Baytoushi’s technique in explanation is distinguished by analytical precision and dependence on the speech of grammarians who came before him. Al-Baytoushi relied in his book on authentic, reliable sources, from the Qur’an, Hadeeth, and poetry. He mentions his unique opinion , the opinions he preferred, the raised objections , and the corrections . He adopted the method of selection and preference without bias toward among the schools concerning explaining the meanings of the connotations of letters according to the alphabetical sequence, and adherence to monogram, double, triple, quadruple, and quintuple letters with guidance in syntactic analysis. His book shows his efforts to simplify complex syntactic issues for students, via methodological explanations, illustrative examples, and subjection to the scholars’ opinion and discussing objectively. The research focused on the Qur’anic evidence cited by Al-Baytoushi in his book for the meanings of monograms and explaining the letters, cited by many of Qur’anic verses , we’ll devote to the grammatical and semantic explanation. We’ll discuss the monograms, that their structure consists of one letter, depending on the descriptive analytical method, for reaching the result of this analysis.
Letters Of Meaning, Abdullah Al-Baytoshi, Semantics, Grammar, Monograms.
The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Agility in the Relationship Between Strategic physiognomy and Strategic Excellence
This research aims to study the mediating role of entrepreneurial agility in the relationship between strategic physiognomy and strategic excellence, in light of the organizations’ efforts to achieve excellence in their strategies in the current competitive environment to ensure their distinction from competitors, and due to the scarcity of studies that addressed these variables in private universities, therefore, to achieve the research objectives and test its hypotheses, the descriptive analytical approach was used by designing a questionnaire form that was developed by the researchers based on previous literature and after conducting a set of validity and reliability tests in line with the objectives of the current study, and data were collected from (98) leaders in (5) private universities in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, represented by the universities of (Komar, Cihan, Human Development, Tishk, and Goizha). A set of statistical methods, such as dispersion coefficients and structural equation modeling, were used to analyze the data using statistical software (Amos v. 26, SPSS v. 26). The research reached a set of results, the most important of which is the existence of a positive correlation between the study variables (strategic physiognomy, entrepreneurial agility, and strategic excellence), as well as the existence of a significant impact of strategic physiognomy and its dimensions on strategic excellence. In addition, the impact of strategic physiognomy on strategic excellence increases when entrepreneurial agility is present as a mediating variable. Hence, a set of conclusions were indicated that would help in proposing a number of recommendation, the most important of which is the need for private universities to focus on achieving strategic excellence through practicing the dimensions of strategic physiognomy by their leaders, as well as ensuring entrepreneurial agility within them.
Strategic Physiognomy, Entrepreneurial Agility, Strategic Superiority, Private Universities, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdistan Region , Iraq.
The Role of Smart Leadership in Achieving Strategic Recovery
The research aims to know the relationship and impact of smart leadership represented by its dimensions (emotional intelligence, rational intelligence, spiritual intelligence, personal intelligence) on the dimensions of strategic recovery represented by (speed, apology, compensation, initiative) from the point of view of managers in Korek Telecom Company in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The general framework of the research is represented by the research problem, which was defined by raising several questions about the nature of the relationship and influence between the independent variable and the dependent variable. For this purpose, a hypothetical scheme was designed that expressed two hypotheses that were subjected to statistical tests to verify their validity. The questionnaire was used as a means of obtaining data. The research adopted the descriptive analytical approach. The research community represented all managers in Korek Telecom Company in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and their number reached (150) managers. Due to the small size of the community, the researcher decided to adopt the comprehensive enumeration method to determine the sample, as the forms were distributed to them and only (127) forms were retrieved, thus the response rate reached (84.7%). The hypotheses were tested using the computer program (SPSS V26). The research reached a set of conclusions, including the presence of a significant positive relationship between the dimensions of smart leadership and strategic recovery at the macro and micro levels, in addition to the presence of a positive impact of the smart leadership variable on the strategic recovery variable. The research recommended a set of recommendations, the most important of which is the need to invest in the strong relationship between the two variables and direct this relationship towards serving the Korek company under study.
Smart Leadership, Strategic Recovery, Korek Telecom Company, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Manifestations of Place in the Novel “Bahar-i Rash” by Ahmed Mohammed Ismail
The significance of “place” emerges as one of the most vital elements of the novel, serving as the setting where events unfold and through which characters move. At times, place acts as the central axis of the narrative work. In the realm of the novel—and specifically in this work—place is often deeply intertwined with questions of self, identity, and existence. Place in a novel differs from its reality in the physical world; it is a fusion of fact and imagination, possessing its own unique characteristics and distinct dimensions. The importance of place lies in its role as an active element in the development and structure of the story, as well as in shaping the nature of characters and their relationships. It is a space that encompasses and influences the entire narrative framework. We can assert that a creative novelist is one who bestows creative value upon a place, utilizing it to activate other narrative elements such as characters, time, and storytelling techniques. Kurdish novelists have devoted immense attention to “place,” treating it as a fundamental pillar in their works. This stems from the fact that the essence of the Kurdish struggle for survival is rooted in the land. Land and place are primary catalysts in the Kurdish quest to achieve an independent identity and exercise the right to self-determination. Essentially, the struggle is a struggle for the land, because land signifies identity (as exemplified in Ibrahim Ahmed’s novel Zhani Gal). Accordingly, we have chosen to study the concept of place in the novel Bahar-i Rash (The Black Spring) by the distinguished writer Ahmed Mohammed Ismail. In this novel, the author addresses the Anfal genocide committed against the Kurdish people by the former Ba’athist regime in the 1980s. Through the narrative, he highlights the attempts to obliterate Kurdish identity by depopulating the land of Kurdistan of its indigenous inhabitants through mass murder and forced displacement. However, Kurdish resilience proved stronger than the enemy’s brutal and aggressive methods. This eternal bond of love between the land of Kurdistan and its people is a central theme of the novel. Based on this premise, the research topic was selected: “Manifestations of Place in the Novel Bahar-i Rash.” The study explores the concept of place through two main sections.
Place, Anfal, Land, Garmyan, Bahar-i Rash.
The Change in Turkey's Strategy Toward the European Union
This research tries to examine and analysis the changes that occurred in Turkey’s strategy towards the European Union from 2002 to 2024. The Turkish strategy towards the European Union underwent several stages. During the Justice and Development Party’s rule, this strategy converged through accession negotiations with intensive diplomatic activity. Then, there was a divergence and a lukewarmness between the two sides due to various reasons. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the efforts made by Turkey to join the European Union after 2002, as this period witnessed two expansions in 2004 and 2007, an obstacle during constitutional and legal reforms to meet the Copenhagen criteria. Then we touched on the change that occurred in the Turkish strategy that made the European Union, in particular, after 2007, and the transformation of this strategy towards the Middle East and the BRICS countries, especially Russia and China. Based on these data and transformations, the study tries to answer the primary question: What explains the change in the Turkish strategy towards the European Union? . It can be concluded that the change in the Turkish strategy towards the European Union occurred as a result of multiple reasons related to the European demands related to the Copenhagen criteria and the fear of some European countries of Turkey’s accession to the European Union, in addition to the changes that occurred in the regional and international environment, which prompted the ruling Justice and Development Party to diversify its strategic partners.
Turkish Strategy, Justice and Development Party (AKP), European Union, The Middle East, Copenhagen criteria.
Investigating University EFL Teachers’ Feedback Literacy and Practices in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
With the changes and development of educational systems worldwide, feedback has received scholarly attention. Student learning depends on effective feedback, but giving appropriate feedback has proved to be a challenge to both teachers and students. This study investigates teachers’ feedback literacy and practices at universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from the perspectives of the students. It also aims to explore the types of feedback that teachers provide to enhance students’ learning outcomes and motivate them through learning from the feedback. To achieve this aim, a semi-structured questionnaire was used, including both close-ended questions and open-ended questions. The participants were 211 third-year and fourth-year students of English department at Soran university. The results indicated that students had a positive attitude towards providing different types of feedback. The participants also preferred receiving individual feedback from teachers rather than general feedback in front of their classmates. The results also showed that students perceived significant inconsistency in the feedback they receive from different teachers and emphasize the importance of more standardized and coordinated approaches to ensure clarity, fairness, and effectiveness. Moreover, the results showed that feedback in front of classmates, general feedback, self-consciousness, teachers' bias, and limited time are the most common challenges that students face while receiving feedback.
Teacher Feedback, Literacy, EFL Classes, Students’ Improvement.
Enigmatic liberation of Displaced Womanhood in Elif Shafak’s The Bastard of Istanbul (2006) and Gharbi Mustafa’s What Comes with the Dust (2016)
This study presents a comparative analysis of Elif Shafak’s The Bastard of Istanbul (2006) and Gharbi M. Mustafa’s What Comes with the Dust (2016) to explore how these texts – written by two authors from different genders and ethnic backgrounds – depict displacement as a paradoxical tool for female liberation, giving voices to their ongoing struggles. The research examines that women in these two literary works suffer the pain of unbelonging due to dominant exclusionary discourses and that they seek settlement through self-displacement. By means of a critical framework informed by Third Wave Feminism and the postcolonial discussions, this paper examines womanhood in Turkish, Kurdish, and Armenian patriarchal communities in the texts under analysis. Furthermore, the study establishes historical linkages between female experiences – Armanoush and Nazo – being exposed to atrocities during the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and ISIS attacks on Yezidis in 2014. By means of applying comparative tools of analysis, the study investigates how social and historical legacies shape the representation(s) of women, focusing on their shared experiences of rape, slavery, and abuse across different geographical and cultural landscapes. This research argues that these authors utilize the traumatic experience of displacement not only to expose gendered violence but also to chart a path toward reconstructed identity and hard-won autonomy for their female characters.
Armenian Genocide, Displacement, ISIS, Third Wave Feminism, Women.
Analysing the Security of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in the Context of the US - Iran Conflicts Through the Lens of Regional Security Complex Theory
This paper discusses the geopolitical rivalries between the United States and Iran, the United States as a global power and Iran as a regional power, in the context of security dynamics in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) using the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) as a tool of analysis. Although constitutionally recognized, The KRI exists as a non-state actor in a contested sphere of influence within the broader Middle Eastern Security Complex. Using a qualitative methodology and discourse analysis of political statements and events, the paper explores the effects of the American military presence and Iranian proxy activities on the domestic security of the KRI. These findings reveal that the United States has been selectively offering military assistance without politically supporting Kurdish aspirations for independence, while Iran has been putting more pressure through its proxy militia groups, missile strikes and economic pressures. These tensions were further intensified by the 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani, which significantly rendering the region’s vulnerability to proxy related violence. RSCT offers a critical framework for understanding the sub-state vulnerabilities in complex regional conflicts and reveals how the security of the KRI is fundamentally intertwined with the dynamics of regional power politics. Moreover, the research provides to both theoretical and practical literature about the way in which regional conflicts undermine constitutionally autonomous actors like the KRI. Eventually, the paper demonstrates that the security situation in the KRI is shaped by its entrenchment in the broader geopolitical rivalries between global and regional powers.
Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), U.S.–Iran Rivalry, Sub-State Security, Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT), Middle East Geopolitics.
Kurdish EFL Students’ Perceptions of the Merits and Shortcomings of Native and Non-native English-Speaking Teachers at the University of Duhok
This study aims to find the merits and shortcomings of Native English-Speaking Teachers and Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers in teaching listening and speaking courses through gender and group analysis across five dimensions: teacher’s personality traits, professionalism, pedagogical approach, cultural competence, and linguistic competence. To achieve this aim, a descriptive survey design was employed using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 100 students, whereas qualitative insights were obtained from semi-structured interview with 10 students. All participants enrolled were third-year students in the Department of English Language, College of Basic Education, University of Duhok. The research collected both quantitative and qualitative data from participants of both genders who belonged to three different Groups. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 24 to calculate percentage, Chi-square tests, and significance values (p), while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. The findings show that both types of teachers have their own strengths; Native English-Speaking Teachers are more effective in pronunciation and natural fluency, while Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers are more effective in grammar and structural clarity. However, the contradiction between questionnaire results and interview insights reveal that students have different attitudes towards the two types of teachers, which are influenced by the clarity of instruction and the accessibility of communication. Implications for teacher training and curriculum development are discussed.
Native English-Speaking Teachers, Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers, perceptions, merits and shortcomings, EFL teachers.
The Influence of Well-Being, Pay-For-Performance and Job Satisfaction on Job Performance
The paper will address the correlation between employee well-being, pay-for-performance and job satisfaction and job performance of the employees in Sulaimani Municipality in the public sector. The primary goal is to discover which factors have the greatest impact in the determination of job performance here. Data were gathered from 507 employees of the municipal offices in the various departments using a structured questionnaire. The hypothesized relationships were tested with the help of structural equation modeling (SEM).The results indicate that job satisfaction has the most positive effect on job performance followed by employee well-being. Pay-for-performance, however, did not reveal any significant effects, which means that financial incentives may not be as efficient in motivating the employees of the public sector as psychological and emotional factors. The results suggest that it is necessary to establish positive working conditions that will stimulate well-being and satisfaction to enhance performance. The study offers practical recommendations to policy makers and managers who are interested in enhancing employee productivity within the developing country context.
Employee Well-Being, Pay-For-Performance, Job Satisfaction, Job Performance, Public Sector, Sulaimani Municipality.
Drone Operations by Non-state Actors in the Middle East
This study examines the impact of drone technology on the operational capabilities of armed non-state actors (ANSAs) in the Middle East, following 2010; the Middle East entered a new era of conflict, the escalations led to the appearance of new terrorist groups like Islamic state in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and regional competition led to increased involvement of armed groups in the conflicts. Drone technology has extensively contributed to these conflicts through armed non-state actors in the region. The research focuses specifically on Hezbollah and ISIS in drone warfare. It explores how the adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has reshaped traditional paradigms of asymmetric warfare by enhancing reconnaissance, precision strike capabilities, and long-range operations. The research has conducted a comparative analysis between both groups in terms of when Hezbollah, supported by state sponsorship, has developed a structured and technologically sophisticated drone program, whereas ISIS has employed an improvisational, low-cost approach aimed at disrupting enemy forces through innovative tactics. The research indicated how drone technology has significantly increased their reach and precision in targeted strikes, highlighting their ability to project power and adapt to evolving battlefield conditions. Ultimately, the increasing accessibility and deployment of drone technology by (ANSAs) in conflict zones, particularly in the Middle East, poses significant challenges to traditional security paradigms and necessitates a deeper understanding of its impact on asymmetric warfare. The aim of the study is to answer the question of how have Hezbollah and ISIS utilized drone technology to reshape their operational capabilities and asymmetric warfare strategies in the Middle East? The study underscores the growing need for flexible security policies in response to the proliferation of drones beyond state control and their integration into hybrid and irregular warfare strategies.
Drone, Hezbollah, ISIS, Middle East, Strategy, Asymmetric Warfare.
Investigating Kurdish EFL Learners’ Preferences to Oral Corrective Feedback at College Level
This study aims to investigate Kurdish EFL learners’ preferences to oral corrective feedback (OCF) and any differences between Kurdish EFL learners’ preferences to OCF strategies based on gender. It was carried out at four different departments of English in Duhok city. The participants of the study were 104 Kurdish EFL learners; 52 males and 52 females. A quantitative research methodology was used to conduct the study. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data from learners and SPSS program (version 26) was used to analyze the data collected from questionnaires. The results revealed that after finishing from speaking was the most preferred timing of correction among the participants. Regarding types of spoken errors and OCF strategies, participants mostly preferred the correction of serious spoken errors and metalinguistic explanation was the most preferred strategy. In addition, the results revealed that there were some gender differences in Kurdish EFL learners’ preferences to OCF strategies. The implications of the study’s findings will be of great significance to teachers, teacher training programs and curriculum designers where they highlight the importance of tailoring OCF and incorporating certain teaching methods based on learners’ preferences and gender. Furthermore, it suggests the employment of qualitative methodologies and inclusion of other variables in order to have a better understanding of the study.
Oral Corrective Feedback, Kurdish EFL Learners, Gender, Preferences.
This research focuses on the dynamic and fluid identity of the protagonist of The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007), a novel by Mohsin Hamid (1971-). It claims that the protagonist’s identity is continuously reconstructed with extrinsic and intrinsic ruptures through the lens of postcolonial theory because it provides a framework to analyze identity formation process, particularly the concept of Orientalism by Edward Said (1953-2003) with dual identity and psychological split by Frantz Fanon (1925-1961). The research discusses how the protagonist’s identity is shaped by the global power relations, racial mistrust, and power conflict in America after the 9/11 attacks. It analyzes some of the crucial scenes of the novel and demonstrates how Islamophobia and Western stereotyping generate a crisis in which belonging as well as subjectivity are at stake for Changez in his double consciousness toward resistance. His journey from a New York-based corporate elite to an opponent of American imperialism in Lahore is a tale about decolonizing both political and personal aspects. The form of the novel, as a monologue directed at an American man, emphasizes the ways in which identity shakes under the pressure of fear and suspicion. Furthermore, this research contributes to broader discussions of migrant identity, postcolonial resistance, and the capacity of literature to undermine dominant ways of seeing and treating the Other.
Postcolonial Identity, Orientalism, Islamophobia, Decolonization, The Reluctant Fundamentalist.
Selection of the most Suitable Site for Dam Construction in Pishdar (AHP). District Using the Analytical Pyramid Process (AHP)
This study paper looks into the assessment of dam construction and the spatial distribution of suggested dams in the Pishdar District through using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Geographically speaking, Pishdar district is located in the eastern part of the Kurdistan Region and the northeastern part of Sulaymaniyah Province. However, the district extends between latitudes 36° 32′ 0″–36° 06′ 0″ N and longitudes 45° 20′ 0″–44° 54′ 0″ E, with a total area of 1,331.4 km². As a matter of fact, due to the population growth, the need for water has been increasing significantly, and on the other hand climate including rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and frequent droughts, groundwater levels are dropping, seasonal rivers and canals are shrinking and drying up along with the Iran’s policies on governing the groundwater in the region have further made the situation worse. Most importantly, these factors highlight the necessity of this research. The objectives of this study paper are to determine suitable locations for dam construction, as well as to assess the characteristics and water storage capacities of the proposed dams and estimate the potential water inflow. At the end of our research paper, we reached a number of findings, the most important finding is that both natural and human factors in the region are favorable for dam construction. According to the AHP model, six locations were identified as the most suitable sites for dams. Their suitability levels were classified as very suitable, suitable, somewhat suitable, or less suitable. Importantly, no site was categorized as completely unsuitable for dam construction.
Pishdar District, The Most Suitable Dam Sites, GIS Technology ,Pyramid Analysis (AHP).
Legal Guarantees for The Protection of The Financial Rights of Public Employees in The Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
Public employment is one of the most vital areas within administrative law. It plays a central role in the structure of public administration, particularly when it comes to defining who holds positions in government service—commonly known as civil servants. Civil servants form the backbone of the administrative system. The efficiency and success—or failure—of government operations largely depend on how well these employees perform their duties and how effectively they apply the law in practice. Their performance directly impacts the protection of public rights, especially financial rights guaranteed under existing laws. When someone takes on a public role, the law grants them a set of rights and benefits. One of the most significant of these is the right to financial compensation. Once a civil servant is legally appointed, they become entitled to all the financial and professional rights defined by the legislature for that role. This makes the system governing civil servants’ financial rights a cornerstone of public administration. It's built on a legally defined relationship between the employee and the state. In Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, these financial rights are determined strictly by law, leaving the government no room to alter them arbitrarily. This legal certainty ensures that civil servants’ financial entitlements are protected and upheld.
Public Employee, Financial Rights, Legal Guarantees, Kurdistan Region.
Educational Counsellor and Challenges in Working withSpecial Needs Students
This study aims to examine the social challenges faced by educational counsellors in developing the skills of students with disabilities within school settings. The emphasis on this objective arises from the pivotal role that educational guidance plays in supporting and enhancing the abilities of students with disabilities. Despite its significance, the implementation of this role is hindered by a range of challenges, which this research seeks to identify and analyse. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study employed thematic analysis to interpret data collected through in-depth interviews. Findings reveal three main categories of challenges. First, administrative challenges include a limited understanding of the counsellor’s role, inadequate coordination within work teams, insufficient material resources, a lack of financial rights, minimal incentives or recognition, and the absence of professional training opportunities. Second, challenges related to the counsellor’s professional performance, such as low job satisfaction and insufficient experience or expertise. Finally, challenges linked to the families of students with disabilities, encompassing non-acceptance or concealment of the disability, limited awareness and access to information, and students’ resistance to instructions.
Challenges, Educational Counseling, Student, Students with Disabilities.
The Thematic Biography in the (Siya) Romance Novel
The genres of biography and novel share a complex and interweaved relationship. This study, titled “ The Thematic Biography in the (Siya) Romance Novel “ , explores the biography of Mamdoh Salim Beg and inspects how factors of his life are mirrored within the ( Siya ) romance novel. The analysis targets to specifying whether the novelist’s narrative is purely imaginative or be affected by real-life experiences and events. Throughout a detailed comparison between Mamdoh Salim Beg’s actual life and the novel’s narrative structure , the research constructs the novel’s biographical nature. This study is segmented into two main sections. The first section discusses the definition of biography, variety kinds of biographies (autobiographical and topical), the connection between biography and the novel, and the relationship between the novel and history. The second section is structured into two main areas: The first area focuses on thematic biography within the ( Siya ) romance novel, delivering a brief biographical synopsis of Mamdoh Salim Beg aligned with a textual introduction. The second area analyzes Mamdoh Salim Beg’s As a result, we vhave come to the conclusion thematic biography within the ( Siya ) romance novel the research consist introduction, conclusion, references, and a summary available in two languages: Kurdish and English.
Biography, Novel, Mamdoh Salim Beg, Love, Thematic Biography.
Organizations of the Kurdistan Laborers Association in Pshdar area during 1975-1989
In the second half of the last century, organizational activity and arrangement were considered as a part of the political and secret struggle for the parties in South Kurdistan. The organization of the Toilers of Kurdistan, as a political party at this stage, was one of the backbones of the organization's survival, which, together with the armed movement, played an important role after the armed revolution at the beginning of the 20th century’s last quarter. Pishdar, as a geographical center and a part of its social composition that had high national feelings, helped the development and success of the Kurdistan liberation movement, in which its base and presidency were in the border areas. The community’s assistance, in terms of economic or spiritual, had a good effect on the success of the entire process of organized and army activity that formed the core of the revolution of that period. Pishdar organizations, due to Pishdar’s geographical location, played an active role in political movements and protests, especially in the uprising of Qaladze on April 24, 1982. They also helped the Peshmerga forces in collecting food, medicine, and conveying messages of the other areas to the center, especially after the Anfal period and the slowdown of organized activity in the cities because of the pressure from the regime's oppressive institutions, they then become the link between the leadership and center of Komala and the isolated cities. What is the role of Kurdistan Laborers Association in Pishdar region in helping and strengthening Kurdistan libration movement? What were the actions of the organization during (1975 - 1989)? In this research, we depend on descriptive and analytical methods for the sake of documentation of the events, oral history has been used.
Organization, Pishdar, Organization of the Toilers of Kurdistan, Secret Working, Revolution.
The Discourse of Fani s’ Poetry in the light of Perspective of Norman Fairclough’s Critical Analysis
Discourse is the characteristic of the actions performed by the speaker in a social environment to convey a meaning that is incorrect and is the way of using language in the literary context Mortal poetry from the perspective of Norman Fairclough is an attempt to analyze the discourse of Fani poems. Fani, is one of the prominent poets of the mid-twentieth century in Bitwin and Pishdar, has become a prominent voice of his time. In this research, based on the contextual content of the texts and the historical aspects and from the perspective of the views of Norman Fairclough, we have tried to understand the political discourse. As a result, we have come to the conclusion that Fani has unconsciously tried to deal with language and use it in the service of literary expression and literary discourse, thus making poetry a political, social and national issue for Fani. The structure of our research consists of two parts: the first part is to introduce the terms and concepts of discourse, the steps of discourse analysis between the views of Norman and Fairclough, and the second part is to practice the poet's poems in discourse analysis, which is the interpretation of the content of the text using the historical and social dimensions, the analysis of political, national and social discourse in Fani's poems. The list of references and abstract of the study are discussed in Arabic and English.
: Literary Discourse, Norman Fairclough, Political Discourse, National Discourse, Social Discourse.