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Sheri J Laizer

Extensive experience in expert reports on all the countries listed, and also in particular, Kurds in country of origin and diaspora

Name
Sheri J Laizer
Occupation
Freelance writer & broadcast journalist since 1985 specializing in the Near East; photographer; political commentator, Middle East country of origin specialist
Webpage
ekurd.net/sherilaizer
Expertise

Countries of expertise:

Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, (now known as Palestinian Territories and Gaza) from 1983 to the present.
 
Iraq, Turkey, Syria and regions of Kurdish majority (also known as Kurdistan) from 1985 to the present.
 
Iran and Kurdish regions of Iran from 1993 to the present.
 
Lebanon and Palestinians in Lebanon and their lost villages in Israel 1983 (Israel/Palestine) and in field to the present.
 
The Maghreb, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and special aspects former French colonies in North Africa and the Middle East and ongoing French policy and military interventions towards them.
Former al-Andalus Islamic Iberia territory of Spain.

Academic Qualifications: MA (Hons) Diploma in Law (PhD ongoing)

Specific Areas of expertise: Turkish politics and society incl unfair trials and prisons in Turkey, Iraqi political parties, Islamic militant groups across Middle East, the Kurdish Question, women's issues including "honour" killings and media suppression; Palestinians in Lebanon.

Experience of work with national or international organisations: Research films for Amnesty International

Expertise in authenticating documents undertakes the authentication of documents in Turkish, Kurdish, Farsi and Arabic and through contacts in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian National Authority and Lebanon of documents at source or with professional contacts in exile where on the evidence emerging the documents are confirmed to be genuine or otherwise.Maintains an archive of genuine and false examples as well as of national ID cards, death certificates, marriage certificates, letterheads and emblems in use by terrorist/insurgent organisations and bona fide political parties.

Countries and 'in-country' areas visited:

Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, (now known as Palestinian Territories and Gaza) from 1983 to the present.

Iraq, Turkey, Syria and regions of Kurdish majority (also known as Kurdistan) from 1985 to the present.

Baghdad, southern Iraq, northern and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 2018, 2019, 2021

Iran and Kurdish regions of Iran from 1993 to the present.

Lebanon and Palestinians in Lebanon and their lost villages in Israel 1983 (Israel/Palestine) and in field to the present. Last visited Lebanese-Syrian borders in May 2016.

Algeria 2017, Tunisia 2018 and Morocco 2014, 2015, 2016,

Turkey from 1985 to the present, most recently during the parliamentary elections of April 2017

Jordan 2011, 2018

Iraq including Baghdad, central Iraq and the Kurdistan region, 2018, (2019 was COVID beginning) 2020, 2021, 2022 and due back there once new Iraq book is in print.

Experience

More than 1000 expert reports since 1997 for the First-Tier and Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Crown Court, Family Court,UK,the Centre for Constitutional Rights, New York, USA; United States Department of Justice Board of Immigration Appeals, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Federal Republic of Germany various courts; and Country Information for Dutch Council of Refugees Country of Origin Information Unit, Country Information Research centre (CIREC) Switzerland; Special Investigations Branch of the British Army Headquarters in Germany.

Publications

Publications/Articles:

Maelstrom (Poems & photographs) Samurai Publications, London, 1991

Love Letters to a Brigand - Middle East & the West (Poems & Photographs), Jaf Press, London, 1991)

Ziggurats (1985) Ancient Sumerian Poetry c 2600 BC (Amazon.co.uk) Out of print

IRAQ: THE NEXT REVOLT - Deception, Corruption, Hope - Nimble Books, Michigan, USA, 2024

I am the author of nine books, five of them related to my area of expertise: Into Kurdistan - Frontiers Under Fire (Zed Books, 1991) A Turkish edition was published by Koral Yayinevi in 1991. A Farsi edition was published in Tehran by Nashrepaniz Publishers, 2003. A Kurmanji Kurdish edition was published in May 2008, Dohuk, Iraqi Kurdistan. Martyrs, Traitors and Patriots - Kurdistan after the Gulf War (Zed Books, 1996). The second title, updated to 2004 for a Turkish edition was published by Avesta Yayinlari, (Istanbul, October 2007) as Sehitler, Hainler ve Yurtseverler: Korfez Savasindan Gunumuze Kurdistan). It was translated into Arabic for an Arabic edition in Syria (2015). Last Man Dancing, a novel set in Turkey remains in completed third draft form and Ziggurats (1984), an academic work on ancient Sumer, Iraq, not originally intended for commercial publication also remains in final draft. My forthcoming book, Intimate Wars: From Baghdad to Beirut is complete and under consideration for publication in 2017. Numerous chapters have been published as feature articles and editorials on various websites including www.academia.edu, ekurd.net, www.Mezopotamia.de and elsewhere.

I am also the author of numerous articles in scholarly journals, newspapers and magazines published worldwide including online. I am the first English translator of Turkish political columnist and novelist, Ahmet Altan's Dort Mevsim Sonbahar (Four Seasons Fall (Istanbul 1985); the co-translator and co-editor of the Anthology of Gorani Kurdish Poetry, compiled by Anwar Soltani, (Soane Trust for Kurdistan, London, 1998), and translator of Trial by Silence – at war with the State: the Huseyin Baybasin Story, by Mahmut Baksi (Apec, Tryk & Forlag AB, Stockholm 2002). I am the editor and producer for publication of Günün Sirri (The Day's Secret) by Cevat Soysal, published by Avesta Yayinlari Istanbul, 2002 and of Kürt Sorunu: Kemalism, PKK Sistemi ve Ulusal Birlik Cözümü (The Kurdish Problem: Kemalism, the PKK System and the Solution of National Unity) by Faysal Dunlayici (Veng Yayinlari, Diyarbakir, 2007).

Photography:

Photographic work (with visual evidence of country expert work in the field) published online at http://www.sherilaizerworldimages.com/ and www.alamy.com (Sheri Laizer images) at:

All photos: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photography/DA2E8E72-2BE9-403D-BA7E-32BB6BA61F8C/Sheri+Laizer.html

http://www.alamy.com/lbx.asp?1030956( Turkey, Kurds, PKK, villagers, culture & history )

http://www.alamy.com/lbx.asp?961969( Middle East - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Kurds, Palestinians )

http://www.alamy.com/lbx.asp?1030955( Iraq, Iran, Kurds of Iraq & Iran )

Languages
Fluent Turkish, working knowledge of Kurdish, fluent French, Arabic in progress
Ethnic groups expertise
Kurds, Turkmen, Christians, Yezidis and Druzes - across the Middle East
Political groups expertise
Turkish, Kurdish, Iraqi, Cypriot, Iranian, Lebanese and Palestinian political parties.
Religious groups expertise
Islamic groups, Druze, Christians and Yezidis
Other social groups expertise
Prisoners,Women, Displaced people, Proscribed organizations, Paramilitary bodies, Intelligence agencies, gender and sexual orientation, abuse of LGBT persons
Fees
[Private to EIN members]
Contact email
Phone
[Private to EIN members]
Address
[Private to EIN members]