Peregraf - Leaders of the Kurdistan Region on Wednesday marked Kurdistan Flag Day, paying tribute to the national symbol that represents Kurdish identity, sacrifice, and aspirations.
Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), said the Kurdistan flag is "a sacred symbol of our people" that carries the message, dreams, and hopes of all Kurdistanis, extending his congratulations on the occasion.
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani described the flag as a symbol of endurance, sacrifice, and dignity, stressing that it is safeguarded with the spirit of the people. He also commemorated the martyrs who gave their lives for the honor of the flag, calling on all Kurds to embrace their differences and work together for a brighter future.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered a speech during an official ceremony attended by representatives of the Kurdistan Region’s religious and ethnic communities. Congratulating the people on Kurdistan Flag Day, he said the flag embodies the resilience, tireless sacrifice, peace, prosperity, and coexistence of the Kurdish people.
The KRG Prime Minister noted that throughout history the flag has often become the final shroud for thousands of martyrs, while many others sacrificed their lives in prisons, on gallows, and across mountains and plains to keep it flying high. He emphasized that it is the collective responsibility of all to protect and uphold the flag, adding that under its shadow the people of Kurdistan continue to move together toward a prosperous, peaceful, and stable future.
Kurdistan Flag Day is observed annually on December 17 by millions of Kurds across the Kurdistan Region and the global diaspora. The flag was first raised over official buildings in 1946 during the short-lived Republic of Mahabad, declared by Kurdish leader Qazi Muhammad in western Iran. Despite the republic’s brief existence, the flag has since become a powerful symbol of Kurdish resistance and nationalism.
The Kurdistan flag consists of red, white, and green horizontal bands, representing sacrifice, peace, and the Kurdish homeland. At its center is a 21-point golden sun, symbolizing rebirth and renewal. In 2004, the Kurdistan Region’s parliament, which currently its operations have been suspended due to disagreements between PUK and PDK, officially designated December 17 as Kurdistan Flag Day.