Kurdish leaders commemorate Kurdistan Flag Day

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Top leaders from the Kurdistan Region on Sunday commemorated the occasion of Kurdistan Flag Day, with ceremonies set to be held across the Region during the 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,” said former Kurdistan Region president and Leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani.

“Happy Kurdistan Flag Day,” President Nechirvan Barzani said on X. 

“As we celebrate #KurdistanFlagDay, we remember the many groups the flag represents and the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the sake of it and the land of Kurdistan,” Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on X. 

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 the Kurdistan Region’s parliament and has been celebrated throughout the Region annually since. 

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) representatives in the United States also celebrated the occasion. 

The occasion is marked in events held at schools across the Kurdistan Region, with students wearing colorful Kurdish clothing and painting their faces with the colors of the flag. 

Updated at 3:18pm with PM Barzani's statement