Ten Kurdish People You Didn't Know Are Kurdish
From Chobani's founder to a Palme d'Or director and an Olympic champion, meet ten famous people you didn't know are Kurdish — and one who isn't.
Read article →Kurdish History Journal
Kurdish Icons
Articles filed under Kurdish Icons.
Stephen Mansfield: Author of The Miracle of the Kurds
Stephen Mansfield, American author of The Miracle of the Kurds, brought the modern Kurdish story to Western readers and was honoured by Rudaw.
Read article →Mosab Hassan Yousef: From the Heart of Hamas to a Fierce Champion of Kurdish Freedom
Explore Mosab Hassan Yousef's journey from Hamas to advocating for Kurdish freedom. Discover his powerful support for a Free Kurdistan.
Read article →Abdul Aziz Yamulki: The Kurdish General Behind the Plot Against Bakr Sidqi
Abdul Aziz Yamulki (1890–1981), Kurdish general in the Iraqi army and son of Mustafa Yamulki, was chief plotter of the 1937 coup against Bakr Sidqi.
Read article →Ali Saip Ursavaş: The Kurdish-Born Warrior of Urfa
Ali Saip Ursavaş (1885–1939) was a Kurdish-born Ottoman and Turkish officer, hero of the defence of Urfa, and a controversial figure in Kurdish history.
Read article →Halis Öztürk: Kurdish Chieftain of the Ararat Rebellion
Halis Öztürk (1889–1977), Kurdish chieftain of the Sipkan tribe, fought in the 1930 Ararat rebellion and later served as a Turkish MP for Ağrı.
Read article →Mahabad Qaradaghi: Kurdish Iraqi Scholar and Academic
Mahabad Qaradaghi (1966-2020), Kurdish Iraqi scholar from the Qaradagh region of Sulaymaniyah, contributed to Kurdish academic and intellectual life — a scholar whose early death cut short a significant scholarly career.
Read article →Şehrîbana Kurdî: Contemporary Kurdish Female Poet of the Diaspora
Şehrîbana Kurdî is a contemporary Kurdish female poet writing in Kurmanji whose poetry gives voice to the experience of Kurdish women in the diaspora and the longing for a homeland not yet free.
Read article →Sara Omar: Kurdish-Danish Novelist Who Broke the Silence
Sara Omar (b. 1986) is a Kurdish-Danish novelist whose debut Dødevaskeren (2017) sold over 100,000 copies and broke Danish taboos on violence against women.
Read article →Dilshad Meriwani: Beloved Kurdish Singer Taken Too Soon
Dilshad Meriwani (1947-1989), Kurdish Iraqi singer from Sulaymaniyah, was one of the most beloved Kurdish musical voices of his generation — killed at age 42 during the Anfal genocide.
Read article →Tuncer Bakırhan: Kurdish Co-Chair of Turkey's DEM Party
Tuncer Bakırhan (born 1970), Kurdish Turkish politician, became co-chair of the DEM Party (formerly HDP) — continuing the tradition of Kurdish democratic leadership in Turkey's most significant Kurdish political party.
Read article →Widad Akrawi: Kurdish Iraqi-Swedish Educator and Global Peace Builder
Widad Akrawi (born 1969), Kurdish Iraqi-Swedish educator, is a globally recognised peace builder and education innovator whose work in conflict and post-conflict education has won international recognition including UNESCO awards.
Read article →Kajal Ahmad: Kurdish Poet of Kirkuk and Voice of Kurdish Women's Experience
Kajal Ahmad (born 1967), Kurdish Iraqi poet from Kirkuk, writes Sorani poetry of extraordinary emotional intensity — one of the most celebrated contemporary Kurdish female poets and a voice of Kirkuk's complex identity.
Read article →Sirwan Barzani: Kurdish Military Commander and Governor of Erbil
Sirwan Barzani (born 1970), Kurdish Iraqi KDP military and political figure, commanded Peshmerga forces in critical battles against ISIS and served as Governor of Erbil Province.
Read article →Rowsch Shaways: Kurdish Vice President of Iraq
Rowsch Shaways (1947-2021), Kurdish Iraqi PUK politician, served as Vice President of Iraq and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister — a senior Kurdish statesman whose career bridged the armed struggle and the democratic era.
Read article →Narmin Othman: Kurdish Iraqi Politician and Minister
Narmin Othman (born 1948), Kurdish Iraqi PUK politician, served as Iraq's Minister of Environment and as Minister of Human Rights — one of the senior Kurdish women in Iraqi federal government.
Read article →Herro Mustafa: Kurdish American Ambassador to NATO
Herro Mustafa (born 1973), Kurdish Iraqi-American diplomat, served as US Ambassador to NATO — the first person of Kurdish origin to represent the United States in one of the world's most important diplomatic posts.
Read article →Houzan Mahmoud: Kurdish Women's Rights Activist and Voice of Kurdish Feminism
Houzan Mahmoud (born 1973), Kurdish Iraqi women's rights activist and writer based in the UK, is one of the most prominent voices for Kurdish women's rights, secularism, and democracy on the international stage.
Read article →Mehmet Şimşek: Kurdish Turkish Finance Minister and Economic Reformer
Mehmet Şimşek (born 1967), Kurdish Turkish economist and politician from Adıyaman, has served twice as Turkey's Finance Minister — the most internationally credible economic figure in recent Turkish government.
Read article →Nadhim Zahawi: Kurdish Iraqi-British Politician Who Rose to the UK Cabinet
Nadhim Zahawi (born 1967), Kurdish Iraqi-born British politician, served in multiple senior UK Cabinet positions including Chancellor of the Exchequer — one of the highest offices ever held by a person of Kurdish origin.
Read article →Hamdi Ulukaya: The Kurdish Immigrant Who Built Chobani Into a Billion-Dollar Company
Hamdi Ulukaya (born 1972), Kurdish Turkish entrepreneur from Iğdır, founded Chobani — America's best-selling Greek yogurt brand — and became a billionaire and major philanthropist championing refugee rights.
Read article →Bafel Talabani: Co-President of the PUK and Son of Jalal Talabani
Bafel Talabani (born 1973), co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and son of President Jalal Talabani, leads one of Iraq's two main Kurdish parties into the contemporary era.
Read article →Masrour Barzani: Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region and Intelligence Chief
Masrour Barzani (born 1969), son of Masoud Barzani, serves as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq since 2019 — previously the head of the Kurdistan Region Security Council for nearly two decades.
Read article →Nechirvan Barzani: President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Nechirvan Barzani (born 1966), KDP politician and nephew of Mustafa Barzani, is President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq — one of the most internationally connected Kurdish leaders and a key figure in regional diplomacy.
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