Flag of Kurdistan


The Flag of Kurdistan was created by Xoybûn during the Ararat rebellion against Turkey in 1928, where it was hoisted by thousands of Kurdish rebels. The flag was subsequently presented to the European powers at the Versailles Peace Conference. When the Republic of Kurdistan in Iran was proclaimed in 1947, Mustafa Barzani hoisted the flag in Mahabad and the flag was adopted as the official flag of Kurdistan. Iraq's Kurdistan Region has since adopted the same flag as the official flag.

Symbolism

The main characteristic of the flag is the blazing golden sun emblem at its center. The emblem's sun disk has 21 rays, equal in size and shape, with the single odd ray at top and the two even rays on the bottom. Number 21 is a venerated number, standing for rebirth/renaissance in the ancient and native Kurdish religion of Yazdanism and its modern offshoots. The golden sun emblem has been in use by Kurds since antiquity.
The symbolism of the colours is:
ColourMeaning
Red
RGB:
HEX: #ED2024		Symbolizes the blood of the martyrs and the continued struggle for freedom and dignity.
Green
RGB:
HEX: #278E43		Expresses the beauty and landscapes of Kurdistan. Life and vitality.
Yellow
RGB:
HEX: #FEBD11		Represents the source of life and light of the people. The sun is an ancient symbol and twenty one sunbeams represent March 21, Newroz.
White
RGB:
HEX: #FFFFFF		Represent peace and equality.

History

The flag first appeared during the movement for Kurdish independence from the Ottoman Empire and resembles an earlier version created by the Xoybûn organization, active in the Ararat rebellion of 1930, and flown by the break-away Republic of Ararat during the period 1927–1931. The flag appeared then again in 1932 and in the media where one of its creators described it as red, white and green with a sun in the middle.

Chronology

Modern adaptation to international flag standards

The flag appeared in Kurdish media throughout the 1990s with MED TV, Kurdsat, Kurdistan TV and their affiliates broadcasting with the flag appearing frequently in their programming allowing it to become a symbol of Kurdish statehood. A document dealing with the adaptation to international flag standards of the National Flag of Kurdistan was prepared by Mehrdad Izady and Bijhan Eliasi in 1998. It was instantly adopted by the international Flag Institute. In 1999, the Parliament of the Kurdistan Regional Government adopted the standardized flag to be the official and standard presentation of the Kurdish National Flag in all its aspects.

Other flags used by Kurds

Similar flags

Due to Iranian roots of the Kurds, the colours used in flags used by Kurds are the same that are used in other Iranian-origin areas like Iran and Tajikistan.

Kurdistan Region's flag day

Established by the Kurdistan parliament in 1993, Kurdish Flag Day is celebrated on December 17. Activities done on this day consist of dancing, eating, and celebrating.