Haydar

Syrian politician Ammar Haidar, imprisoned by the Bashar Assad regime in 2009, reunited with his daughter Marwa Haidar in the Turkish metropolis Istanbul after 12 years.

Born in Hama, Syria, Haidar, since his youth, has opposed the Assad family due to their anti-democratic practices.

Iraq has declared victory over Islamic State (IS) militants, saying the last remnants of the extremist group have been driven from the country three years after it captured large swaths of Iraqi territory.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on December 9 that that Iraq has "completely liberated" the country.

The wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi on Dec. 16 accepted the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize on his behalf, urging Arab countries to reject theocratic diktats and tolerate differing views.

According to Turkish European Union Minister Ali Haydar Konca, during the week-long curfew in southeastern Cizre at least 20 people lost their lives, though the prime minister of the country apparently wanted to believe no one was hurt. The premier, fighting for his own political survival, was obviously uninformed of the saga of little Cemile.

The kidnappers of 18 Turkish workers will be treated as terrorists, Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Ibadi has said.

?Today [Sept. 2], I gave instructions for those involved in the kidnapping event in Baghdad to be treated as terrorists,? al-Ibadi said in a written statement.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi is to visit Iran on Monday for talks on Baghdad's battle against the Islamic State group, which holds swathes of the country, his office said.