ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish leaders on Tuesday marked the Kurdistan Flag Day by honoring the sacrifices made in the past while calling for united efforts to build a prosperous future for the Kurdish people.
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani on X wished a “happy flag day to all Kurds,” emphasizing that “The Kurdistan flag carries the message of peace, coexistence, resilience, and sacrifice of the Kurdish people.”
The Kurdistan flag was first raised on official government buildings in 1946 when Kurdish leader Qazi Muhammad declared the Republic of Mahabad from a city by the same name in western Iran (Rojhelat).
Despite the short age of the republic, the flag has become a symbol of Kurdish resistance and nationalism against oppressors.
December 17 was chosen as Kurdistan Flag Day in 2004 by the Kurdish parliament and has been celebrated across the Region annually since.
“The Kurdistan flag brings us all together and unites us for the sake of a sacred goal,” Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on X.
“[Our] flag is the symbol of our nation’s struggle and sacrifices. It stands as a testament to history, reflecting the strong will of our people and the fact that no enemy has ever been able to break it. Our flag has always stood tall,” Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a video message.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani also venerated the flag.
"We must all work towards a stronger Kurdistan, united by one dream and a shared goal. Accepting differences and setting aside political interests, we must not forget our history which is full of sacrifice, build a brighter future, and ensure a more stable life for our people under our flag," he said in a social media post.
“They [Kurds] live and never shall our flag [be] lowered,” read a social post from Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani. The line is from Ey Raqib, the Kurdish national anthem of the Kurdistan Region, believed to have been written in 1938 by renowned Kurdish poet and political activist Dildar.
