Publisher's introduction [Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi]: Recently there has been a big controversy following the murder of a teacher in France by a Muslim of Chechen origin, who committed the act because he had shown to his students cartoons disparaging the Prophet Muhammad. In response to French President Emmanuel Macron's public defence of 'secularism' that predates the murder, there are now calls in parts of the Muslim world to boycott French goods. The anger against Macron and France is particularly apparent in Syria, as people from Idlib to Damascus and other areas have called to defend the honour of the Prophet Muhammad. In Idlib for example there have been demonstrations against the cartoons and France.

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The restoration of national grid electricity to the areas of Ninawa province recaptured from the Islamic State in 2016-2017 has been an important aspect of the return of some form of normal life to those areas, since electricity constitutes a key public service. In Ninawa province, the Ninawa Electricity Distribution Directorate (Ninawa Electricity Distribution Branch), affiliated with the Electricity Ministry, is the body responsible for the distribution of national grid electricity to various users (e.g. residents, businesses and government offices). On 25 October 2020, I conducted an interview with the Engineer Ahmad Amjad Muhammad Ali, head of the Ninawa Centre Electricity Distribution Directorate (also called the Ninawa Centre Electricity Distribution Branch). This branch covers what is considered the centre of Ninawa province. In the interview we discussed the national grid electricity situation in the province.

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In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Proposal to develop the mechanism of work inside the Islamic courts and make document archives for them.

Presented by the office of specialist investigations and studies

Experimental copy

Aims of the plan or study

1. Unite and facilitate work and improve it inside the courts of the Islamic state

2. Preserve documents and cases from loss and tampering and not destroying and avoiding the repeated errors into which the employees fall.

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The various Hashd formations in Ninawa (Nineveh) province that have regiment numbers are often called the 'tribal Hashd' in reference to Sunni tribes in the province. However, the Hashd formations with regiment numbers in Ninawa province are not exclusively Sunni Arab. The Nineveh Plain Protection Units (NPU), which operates in the Ninawa plain area near the city of Mosul, is a Christian formation. On 21 October 2020, I conducted an interview with the NPU regarding its history and current role in maintaining security. It is slightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Q: When was the NPU formed and in which area?

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The 'tribal Hashd' in Ninawa province is composed of numerous regiments. One of them is Regiment 60 that operates in west Ninawa countryside. The following is a brief profile of the group according to one of its members.

Year of formation: 2016

Tribal origins of personnel: al-Jaghaiyfa

Regions of origin of personnel: Haditha in al-Anbar, Mosul in Ninawa, Arbil and Salah al-Din.

Battles of participation and operations: Battles to liberate Mosul, battles to liberate Tel Abteh (west Ninawa countryside), battles to liberate al-Ba'aj (west Ninawa countryside), operations in the al-Ba'aj jazeera area and operations in the Salah al-Din jazeera area and operations in the Tharthar area.

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