Kurdistan Flag Day 17 December 2725 celebrate with PRIDE

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Symbol of Kurdish Sacrifice

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) held a ceremony on Thursday to celebrate Kurdistan Flag day

“This flag is a symbol for the sacrifice of our nation,” Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a speech at the Thursday ceremony, saying it resembles the “diversity and unity” found in the Kurdistan Region.

“I ask our future generation, our youth, to know the sacrifices given for the sake of this flag and our national pride,” he added. “I ask all the different parties and groups in the region to work together under this flag, in order to achieve a good life for all the diverse groups that live in the Kurdistan Region.”

The Kurdish flag was first raised on official government buildings in 1946 when Kurdish leader Qazi Muhammad declared the creation of the Republic of Mahabad from a Kurdish city by the same name in western Iran.

Despite the short life of the Republic, the flag has become a symbol for Kurdish resistance and nationalism against several oppressors.

December 17 was chosen as Kurdistan Flag day in 2004 by Kurdish parliament and has been celebrated throughout the Region annually since.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also expressed his respect to the families of those who have died for what the flag represents in a tweet Thursday morning.

Lahur Talabani, co-leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), tweeted similarly.

"Under the flag of Kurdistan that is the product of thousands of martyrs, our nation deserves a more free and prosperous life," he said.

KDP leader Masoud Barzani also tweeted to venerate the flag on Thursday.

“This hallowed flag for which so much blood has been shed shall eternally remain a source of pride to all the people of Kurdistan,” he said.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/171220202

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Kurdish Flag Day

Kurdish Flag Day Date in the current year: December 17, 2021

Kurdish Flag Day Kurdish Flag Day is officially celebrated in Iraqi Kurdistan (an autonomous region of Iraq populated by Kurds) on December 17 each year. It was established by the parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan in 1999.

The Kurds (Kurdish people) are an ethnic group in the Middle East. They mostly inhabit a contiguous area they regard as Greater Kurdistan. It spans adjacent parts of southeastern Turkey, northeastern Iran, northern Iraq, and northern Syria. Iraqi Kurdistan (Southern Kurdistan) gained de facto autonomy in 1991. In 2017, there was an independence referendum for Iraqi Kurdistan but its results were not recognized by the Iraqi government.

The flag of Kurdistan, also known as the Kurdish flag, symbolizes the Kurds’ desire for independence. It first appeared in the 1920s and was adopted as the official flag of Iraqi Kurdistan in 1992. It consists of three horizontal stripes: red (symbolizes the blood of the Kurdish martyrs), green (symbolizes the landscapes of Kurdistan) and white (symbolizes equality and peace).

The main feature of the Kurdish flag is the golden sun emblem with 21 identical rays located in the middle of the flag. 21 is a venerated number in the pre-Islamic, native religion of the Kurds named Yazdanism. It also symbolizes Nowruz, the New Year holiday celebrated by Iranian and Turkiс peoples on March 21.

https://anydayguide.com/calendar/3428

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Schools mark Kurdistan Flag Day

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Schools across Kurdistan were marking Kurdistan Flag Day, when students, public employees, and citizens celebrate by wearing traditional outfits and raising the nation's flag

On the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) calendar, the national day is celebrated on Dec. 17 every year. However, because Dec. 17 is a Friday this year, the educational institutions and public offices decided to mark it one day earlier.

Students and school administrators raise the Kurdistan flag and sing the national anthem at schools across the region on this day.

Students can also wear traditional Kurdish clothes instead of mandatory school uniforms on Kurdistan Flag Day.

The Kurdistan Parliament in 2004 voted to designate the date as an annual commemoration to "enshrine appreciation, adherence and love" for the Kurdistan flag.

The flag is red, yellow, white, and green and has a 21-ray sun in the center. Red represents the blood of martyrs for Kurdistan. Green represents Kurdistan's nature and white stands for peace.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/26 ... -Day%C2%A0

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PM Barzani Congratulates

Kurdistan People on Flag Day

Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday extended his congratulations to the people of Kurdistan as they celebrate flag day of the nation

"On Kurdistan's flag day, we honor the flag that represents all the different components of Kurdistan. We salute those who gave their lives for this flag and Kurdistan's land," the Kurdish leader said in a video he posted on his Facebook page.

The annual celebration of Kurdistan's flag day on December 17th unites the people of the Kurdistan Region. First hoisted in 1946 for the Republic of Mahabad in Iran, the Kurdistan flag day was later officially recognized by the Region's parliament.

Its three colors hold symbolic significance, with red representing sacrifices for freedom, green embodying the Region's scenic beauty, and yellow symbolizing light and life, with 21 sunbeams representing Nawroz celebrated on March 21st each year.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/833644

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Kurdistan Flag Symbol of

Nation's Resilience

Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Sunday congratulated the people of Kurdistan on the nation's flag day

"Esteemed people of Kurdistan, Happy Kurdistan Flag Day to all of you. Our flag is a symbol of resilience, peace and self-confidence of our people," he said in a post on X today.

Every year, the people of the Kurdistan Region come together to celebrate Kurdistan's flag day, which is marked on December 17th.

The flag was first hoisted in 1946 to represent the Republic of Mahabad in Iran. The Kurdistan Flag Day was later officially announced by the Kurdistan Region's parliament to celebrate flag day in the Region.

The flag has three colors. Red symbolizes the nation's sacrifices for freedom and recognition as a distinct nation. Green symbolizes Kurdistan's beautiful landscapes and life as a whole. Yellow represents the source of light and life, with 21 sunbeams on the flag representing Nawroz which is celebrated on the 21st of March every year.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/833630

To honor the day, activities across the region are being held at schools, universities, and public offices. Business establishments have also decorated their offices with the flag.

On Nov. 11, 1999, the Kurdistan Parliament ratified the Kurdistan flag law, choosing red, white, and green banners with a sun in the middle as its official flag.

Five years later, December 17 was designated by the Kurdistan Parliament as Flag Day to honor the symbol and the martyrs of Kurdistan.

One of Erbil city’s landmarks, Empire Tower – a business-residential complex – decorated its tallest buildings with the Kurdistan flag.

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Kurdistan Flag Day event attacked

The main opposition group in Western Kurdistan on Sunday said a group of armed people affiliated with the ruling party attacked their members who were celebrating Kurdistan Flag Day in Hasaka province

The Kurdish National Council (ENKS) said in a statement that its members were marking Kurdistan Flag Day in Hasaka’s Derik (al-Malikiyah) city when “an armed group affiliated with the Democratic Union Party (PYD)” attacked them.

“This group broke the loudspeaker and threw stones at the revelers, injuring some. Bullets were also fired to intimidate them and spread panic among them,” read the statement from ENKS - an umbrella group of opposition parties

In a video submitted to Rudaw, an unidentified man can be seen kicking a loudspeaker, breaking its stand. Other footage submitted by ENKS purportedly shows one of their members lying down on the ground with his face bleeding and another person throwing stones.

ENKS events and offices in Western Kurdistan have been attacked many times, mostly blamed on groups affiliated with the ruling PYD. No one has ever been arrested.

“We strongly condemn these intimidating practices against Kurdish citizens and the Council by PYD militants, especially against those celebrating Kurdistan Flag Day,” said ENKS, calling on the international community, especially the United States, to prevent such assaults.

The PYD has not commented

The PYD’s armed wing, People’s Protection Units (YPG), is the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The ENKS and the PYD have been at odds for several years, with the opposition group accusing the ruling party of being unwilling to share power and detaining their members.

In 2016, authorities banned ENKS activities in the region, closing about 40 of their offices and jailing hundreds of ENKS members who were later released. The crackdown was launched after ENKS refused to follow the ruling authorities’ procedures on opening political offices.

After talks, held at the initiative of SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, ENKS reopened their offices in early 2020.

December 17 was declared Kurdistan Flag Day by the Kurdistan Region’s parliament. The flag - a yellow sun on red, white, and green stripes - is the official flag of the Kurdistan Region and a symbol of Kurdish resistance and nationalism beyond its borders.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/17122023

The Kurdish National Council (KNC - Encûmena Nistimanî ya Kurdî li Sûriyê , ENKS) is a coalition of Syrian Kurdish parties not aligned with the PYD/YPG that includes about a dozen Syrian Kurdish parties. It is supported by Barzani's KDP and is a membr of the Syrian National Calition. The KNC rejected the legitimacy of PYD institutions on the ground.

They are seeking constitutional recognition, human rights initiatives, compensation for suffering, and participation in a nationwide democratic process.

The Kurdish movement in Syria is more than 50 years old and has many parties, many ideologies. Of course, as a result, there might be differences in points of view. The Peoples' Democratic Party, or PYD is affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, which Turkey and the US have designated a terrorist organization.

The PKK in turn had ties to the Assad regime, the Iraqi Kurds had close relations with Turkey and the US and are affiliated with a different Syrian Kurdish faction, the Kurdish National Council, which backs the Syrian opposition and is at odds with the PYD over who should control the Kurdish regions of Syria.

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PM Barzani Stresses Unity and Stability

on Kurdistan Flag Day

A special ceremony marking Kurdistan Flag Day was held on Wednesday at the Erbil Citadel, attended by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and representatives of the Kurdistan Region’s religious and ethnic communities

In a speech at the event, PM Barzani congratulated the people of Kurdistan on the occasion, describing the Kurdistan flag as a powerful symbol of national identity, resilience and sacrifice.

He said the flag represents the long struggle and unyielding sacrifices made by the Kurdish people, as well as values of peace, coexistence, reconstruction and continuity of life.

The prime minister noted that throughout history, the Kurdistan flag has repeatedly served as the final shroud for thousands of martyrs.

He added that many others lost their lives in prisons, were executed, or died on mountain peaks and across plains in the cause of raising and defending the flag

The Prime Minister stressed that it is the shared responsibility of all citizens to keep the Kurdistan flag raised high.

He said that under the shade of the flag, the people of Kurdistan continue to move forward together toward a peaceful, prosperous and stable future.

Kurdistan Flag Day is observed annually on 17 December

The flag, featuring red, white and green horizontal stripes with a golden sun emblem at its center, is widely regarded as a symbol of Kurdish identity, unity and the decades-long struggle for rights and self-rule.

The day commemorates the official recognition of the Kurdistan flag by the Kurdistan Parliament in 1999, and is marked each year with official ceremonies, public events and the raising of the flag at government institutions, schools and public spaces throughout the region.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/901844

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Kurdish leaders celebrate
Kurdistan Flag day

Kurdistan leaders on Wednesday celebrated the Kurdistan Flag Day to honor what Kurds refer to as the “Alla Rengîn” - “colorful flag” in Kurdish - hailing it as a symbol of national identity and historical resilience

In a statement on X, President Masoud Barzani congratulated the Kurdish people, describing the Kurdistan flag as "a sacred emblem and symbol of our people."

The flag "carries the message, dreams, and aspirations of all the people of Kurdistan," the preeminent Kurdish leader added, wishing a “Happy Flag Day to the dear people of Kurdistan."

Of note, President Barzani in mid-November issued a strongly worded statement emphasizing that “great sacrifices and much blood have been shed” to protect the Kurdistan flag. He stressed that “the flag belongs to every Kurd, and every Kurd has the constitutional and legal right to take pride in both their flag and the achievements of their people.”

The pre-eminent Kurdish leader made the remarks while meeting a Kurdish youth who was reportedly beaten around that time by Iraqi security forces in the disputed Kirkuk province for carrying the flag on federal legislative election day. A video of the incident circulated widely online, sparking public and official outrage and prompting calls for accountability.

President Barzani then asserted that “no person or party has the right, under any pretext, to insult the Kurdistan flag or prevent it from being raised.”

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday marked Kurdistan Flag Day at Erbil’s historic Citadel, describing the banner as “a symbol of peace, prosperity, and coexistence.”

The ceremony was attended by representatives of various religious communities, as the Kurdish premier honored the sacrifices of thousands of Peshmerga fighters and emphasized the duty to “keep the flag raised high.”

For his part, Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), on Wednesday marked the occasion, stating, "Our flag is our identity, a symbol of endurance, sacrifice, and dignity. We protect it with our very spirit."

Talabni stressed that the day is an opportunity for Kurds to "honor all our martyrs who gave their lives for the glory and honor of our flag" and urged everyone to "embrace our differences and work together to build a brighter future for our beloved people."

Bafel Talabani, the traitor who caused the death of thousands of Peshmerga when he conspired to give away a large area of Kurdistan to Iraqi, Bafel Talabani, who should be charges with TREASON

Millions of Kurds across the Kurdistan Region and the global diaspora observe Kurdistan Flag Day every year on December 17.

The Kurdistan flag was first raised over official government buildings in 1946, when Kurdish leader Qazi Muhammad declared the Republic of Mahabad in the city of Mahabad, in the Kurdish-majority western Iran (Rojhelat).

Although the republic existed only briefly, the flag has come to symbolize Kurdish resistance and nationalism in the face of oppression.

The Kurdish flag features a red band, representing the blood of those who sacrificed their lives for Kurdish freedom; a white band, symbolizing peace and equality; and a green band, reflecting the Kurdish homeland, its mountains, and serene waters.

At the center is a 21-point golden star spanning all three bands, symbolizing the rebirth of an entity or the revival of an idea, according to prominent Kurdish historian Mehrdad M.R. Izady, who worked to standardize the flag.

In 2004, the Kurdistan Region’s legislature officially designated December 17 as Kurdistan Flag Day, which has since been celebrated annually by millions of Kurds worldwide.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/171220252