Flag of Kurdistan
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The Flag of Kurdistan (Kurdish: Alay Kurdistan or Alaya Kurdistanê,[1] ئاڵای کوردستان, also called Alaya Rengîn "The Colorful Flag") first appeared during the Kurdish independence movement from the Ottoman Empire. It is said to have been created in the 1900s by the organisation of Xoybûn (Khoyboon).[2] An earlier version of this flag was flown by the break-away Republic of Ararat in Turkey during the period 1927-1931. A similar flag was later used by the Soviet-backed Kurdistan autonomous state known as the Republic of Mahabad in 1946. It is currently used as the official flag of the autonomous Kurdistan Region in Iraq which is under control of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The flag is banned in Turkey.[2][3]
The main Kurdish characteristic of the flag is the blazing golden sun emblem at the center, which is an ancient religious and cultural symbol among the Kurds. The sun disk of the emblem has 21 rays, equal in size and shape. The number 21 holds importance in the ancient Yazdani religious traditions of the Kurds.[4]
The symbolism of the colors are:
- Red symbolizes the blood of martyrs of Kurdistan and the continued struggle for the freedom and dignity for Kurdistan and its people.
- Green expresses the beauty and the landscapes of Kurdistan.
- White expresses peace and equality.
- Yellow represents the source of life and light of the people.[5]
[edit] Old flags used by Kurds
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Flag of Soran Emirate[citation needed][6], 1816 - 1835
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Flag of Kingdom of Kurdistan[citation needed][7], 1922 - 1924
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Flag of Republic of Ararat[citation needed][8], 1927-1930
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Flag of Republic of Mahabad, 1946[9]
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kurdish flags |
- ^ "Nefel". http://www.nefel.com/articles/article_detail.asp?RubricNr=1&ArticleNr=1439.
- ^ a b "The National Flag of Kurdistan". http://www.institutkurde.org/en/kurdorama/the_national_flag_of_kurdistan.php., Kurdish Institute of Paris.
- ^ "Kurds and No Way". SchNEWS. 2005-05-06. http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news496.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ Dr. M. R. Izady. "The National Flag of Kurdistan". Encyclopaedia Kurdistanica. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. http://www.kurdistanica.com/?q=node/55l. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ "The Party's Emblem: KDP's Insignia". Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq. http://www.kdp.se/?do=emblem. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/krd_slvd.html
- ^ http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/krd_slvd.html
- ^ http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/krd_slvd.html
- ^ Kürdistan Cumhuriyeti'nin bayrağı yukandan kızılla başlayarak beyaz ve yeşil renklerden oluşur. Ortada, iki buğday dalının -üretim ve emeği simgeleyen- ortasında duran bir kalem -kültür ve bilim simgesi-, arka planda da güneşi -özgürlüğün ifadesi- gösteren bir amblemi vardır. (Ersal Yavi,Kürdistan Ütopyası, Cilt 1, Yazıcı Basım Yayıncılık, 2006, p. 332. (Turkish)
