Flag of Kurdistan Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Kurdistan


Name	Alaya Rengîn ("The Colourful Flag")
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	c. 1927 by Republic of Ararat 1992 by Kurdistan Region
Design	A red, white, and green tricolour, with a yellow 21 rayed sun in the center (Kurdish Sun).

The flag of Kurdistan (Kurdish: ئاڵای کوردستان ,Alaya Kurdistanê) is a very important symbol for the Kurds. It was first created in 1920 by a group called the Society for the Rise of Kurdistan. Over time, different versions of this flag were used by various Kurdish states.

For example, it became the national flag for the Republic of Ararat and the Republic of Mahabad. More recently, the Kurdistan Region adopted it in 1992. The Kingdom of Kurdistan also used a different flag with a crescent moon, which was also seen as a Kurdish symbol.

The History of the Kurdish Flag
- Early Flags and Revolts
  - The Crescent Flag
  - The CTK Flag
- The Republic of Mahabad Flag
What the Flag's Colors Mean
The Flag in Modern Times
Other Flags Used by Kurds
Similar Flags
Kurdistan Region's Flag Day
See also

The History of the Kurdish Flag

The Kurdish flag has a rich history, changing and developing over many years. It tells the story of the Kurdish people's journey and their hopes for the future.

Early Flags and Revolts

In October 1918, after World War I, a leader named Mahmud Barzanji started a Kurdish state. At first, it was connected to Britain, so it used the British Union Jack flag. But in May 1919, the Kurdish state revolted against Britain.

The Crescent Flag

This was the second flag of the Kurdish state during its revolt in 1919. It was also the flag of the Kingdom of Kurdistan from 1921 to 1925.

When the Kurdish state revolted in May 1919, it started using a flag with a crescent moon. However, the British Empire took control of the Kurdish state in June 1919.

Later, in 1921, the Kingdom of Kurdistan was formed. The crescent flag was raised again in a city called Sulaymaniyah by Mahmud Barzanji. A historian named Rafiq Hilmi said that this crescent flag was considered the national flag of the Kurds. He wrote that a big meeting was held, and the official Kurdish flag was raised. About 10,000 people gathered to see it.

The CTK Flag

This flag was used by the Republic of Ararat from 1927 to 1930. It was adopted by a group called Xoybûn.

This flag was created in 1920 by the Society for the Rise of Kurdistan (CTK). Soon after, a nationalist group called Xoybûn used it. They raised this flag over the city of Ağrı during the Ararat rebellion.

A Kurdish politician named Kadri Cemilpaşa, from the CTK, said that this flag was the national Kurdish flag. Its colors and shape were now set. In 1925, during a trial in Turkey, CTK politicians said that the old Ottoman flag was gone and the Kurdish flag would shine brightly.

The Republic of Mahabad Flag

This was the flag of the Republic of Mahabad.

Before the Republic of Mahabad was declared in Iran in 1946, Kurdish leaders had already prepared a flag. This flag was meant to be the national flag of the new republic. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI) approved and raised this flag in the Iranian government office in Mahabad on December 17, 1945.

When the republic was officially declared on January 22, 1946, the flag was raised in the main square. The Kurdish anthem, Ey Reqîb, was sung. President Qazi Muhammad announced that it was the "flag of Kurdistan." It was flown in all towns under his control. Just before the republic fell, President Muhammad gave the flag to Mustafa Barzani, a leader who had come to Mahabad after a revolt.

What the Flag's Colors Mean

The Kurdish flag is a very important symbol of Kurdish identity. Since it was first raised in 1946 for the Republic of Mahabad, it has become a symbol of the Kurdish people's national identity.

The most special part of the flag is the bright golden sun in the middle. This sun has 21 rays, all the same size and shape. One ray is at the very top, and two rays are at the bottom.

Here's what the colors mean:

Colour	Meaning
Red	This color stands for the blood of those who fought for freedom. It also shows the ongoing fight for dignity.
Green	This color shows the beautiful nature and green landscapes of Kurdistan. It also means life and energy.
Yellow	This color represents the source of life and light for the people. The sun is an old symbol. The 21 sunbeams stand for March 21, which is Newroz, the Kurdish New Year.
White	This color stands for peace and fairness for everyone.

In 2006, leaders in the Iraqi Kurdish region ordered officials to stop flying the Iraqi flag. They said that only the Kurdistan flag should be flown. This was because the symbols on the Iraqi flag at the time were linked to a terrible event where many people died. When those symbols were removed from the Iraqi flag in 2008, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) started flying the Iraqi flag next to the Kurdish flag again. This shows their acceptance of Iraq's federal system.

The Flag in Modern Times

The Kurdish flag became very well known in the 1990s. Kurdish TV channels like MED TV, Kurdsat, and Kurdistan TV often showed the flag in their programs. This helped it become a strong symbol of Kurdish identity and hopes for statehood.

Other Flags Used by Kurds

This is the flag of TEV-DEM, adopted around 2012 for the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

Similar Flags

Because Kurds have Iranian roots, the colors used in Kurdish flags are similar to those in flags from other Iranian-origin areas. These include Iran and Tajikistan.