A Kurdish family's loss symbolizes northern Iraq's unmet promise A 16-year-old protester was among the first to be killed

in democracy protests e arlier this year against the corruption and authoritarianism that pervade Kurdis h politics. Temp Headline Image Iraqi Kurdish parents Zahd Mahmoud Qaradaxi (father) and Khuncha Qadir Gafor mou rn the death of their 16-year-old son Swrkew Zahd Mahmoud (on poster) who was ki lled in February, 2011, by Kurdish security forces during pro-democracy protests in the Iraqi Kurdistan city of Suleimaniyeh, northern Iraq, on June 20. (Scott Peterson/Getty Images) By Scott Peterson, Staff writer posted July 15, 2011 at 10:42 am EDT Sulaymaniyah, Iraq Proud as he was of his youngest son, Zahd Mahmoud Qaradaxi never wanted him to b ecome a martyr for democracy in Iraqi Kurdistan. And yet, the 16-year-old student photographer Swrkew (pronounced Sir-kee-yew) wa s one of the first to die in the 62-day pro-democracy protests that rocked north ern Iraq earlier this year. He was shot with live ammunition as thousands took t o Sulaymaniyah's streets to challenge the corruption, nepotism, and authoritaria nism that today pervade Kurdish politics. You can feel his absence, [people] cannot express their feeling and miss him so m uch, says Mr. Qaradaxi, a large man who was a constant and prominent figure in tr aditional Kurdish dress during the Freedom Square protests that began in mid-Febru ary. Swrkew has become a symbol in this neighborhood, in Sulaymaniyah and in Kurd istan. The Kurds' backers in Washington and elsewhere in the West for years portrayed K urdish areas of Iraq as a democratic model. But many who took to the street here last spring demanded more accountable rule, and less corruption. RECOMMENDED: Arab Spring crackdown damages Kurdistan's image as regional model As the US opened a new consulate on July 10 in the regional capital of Arbil, Ma rriott International Inc. signed a management deal for a new 200-room hotel and complex with 75 executive apartments. At the consulate opening, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) president and Kurd ish Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani the highest ranking of a host of Barzanis in top-level Kurdish positions praised Washingtons support in recent years and the toppling of Saddam Hussein, which he said gave a golden opportunity to Iraqis to build a democratic country. US Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey spoke of Americas fondest wish that a strong and vibrant Kurdistan region exist alongside a democratic and federal Iraq, accordin g to McClatchy newspapers. Thomas Nides, the visiting US deputy secretary of sta te, described a 20-year friendship with Iraq s Kurds. But those who felt the sting of the crackdown against protest tell a different s tory about overbearing rules and rulers. In the streets earlier this year, befor e a systematic crackdown disbursed protests for good, the signs read No to Dictat orship and We are so angry. The Qaradaxi family sacrifice Qaradaxi is a former Kurdish peshmerga fighter who took up arms in the 1960s dur ing a critical period in the battle for Kurdish rights. He turns tearful as he d

escribes his disappointment at the loss of his son and of the crushing of the Ku rdish version of the Arab Spring that was inspired by the regime-toppling protes ts in Tunisia and Egypt. Qaradaxi became an organizer soon after protests kicked off in mid-February, and through sheer weight of presence tried to quell the violence that finally left 10 dead. Photographs show him in the thick of the street fight, trying to convin ce Kurdish riot police to stop shooting or throwing stones. As an overhead fan keeps the 100-plus-degree heat at bay, at home, Qaradaxi pull s out discs with video footage that show Kurdish security forces firing with pis tols at crowds on the same day and in the same place that Swrkew was killed. His son appears in some frames. Qaradaxi was beaten at times, and tear-gassed to the point of writhing on the gr ound and choking. But he still went back to speak in the square at the podium be fore security forces burned it in mid-April to show people that violence does wor k for us, to motivate people and give them hope. Since then, it has been a lonely vigil. Even when the protests are not going every day, I go to the [square] and I sit th ere, because this is a place of freedom it is a humiliation for [Kurdish leaders ], says Qaradaxi in the modest family home. I hope this government will collapse. I hope this is my will I want to be buried there. A new era of repression The ethnic Kurds of northern Iraq have exercised a large degree of self-rule sin ce 1991, when Iraqi forces loyal to Saddam Hussein brutally put down a Kurdish u prising, forcing more than 1 million to flee across to neighboring Turkey and Ir an. Afterwards, the US and UK helped create a semiautonomous no-fly zone in the nort h. Today the region is run by the KRG but power resides as it has for decades wi th just two parties, Mr. Barzani s KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK ). Saddam Hussein was an outside enemy of Kurdistan, but now we have one inside: a K urdish government killing Kurds. It is much, much worse, says Qaradaxi. The [Kurdi sh] government has not apologized or said anything to us . I want to make clear: The beauty of Sulaymaniyah, these tall buildings are only for politicians and p eople with money. They are not for real people. In Swrkews house, his parents keep copies of the death certificate, which notes s imply that their sixth son died of a bullet in the chest and stomach. But the impa ct has reverberated far beyond that clinical description. Qaradaxi offers to get newspaper clippings about the death, but his crying wife says there is no point. Hes gone forever, just leave it alone, says Khuncha Qadir G afor. It wont bring him back. RECOMMENDED: Arab Spring crackdown damages Kurdistan s image as regional model