Two girls have committed suicide in the past month in a Kurdish village in the outskirts of Erbil city. Nisaan Jafar, aged just 20, ended her life on 30/04/2013. According to the local police, Nisaan suffered from "psychological illness" but the actual report from a psychologist seems to be non-existent....

Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative MP was born to Kurdish parents in Iraq. He told the House of Commons on Thursday, "As the horrors of holocaust pass beyond living memory, there is a danger that we dropped our guard, that we believed such terrible events are safely sealed in the history books,...

A new generation of Kurdish people are actively using social media to tell their stories. Some tell stories of brutality under the Saddam Hussein regime, which consequently led to their displacement. Others explain why they're unable to speak Kurdish , and in doing so they tell personal stories of a...

Hewlêr, the capital of Kurdistan, and London of United Kingdom are my favourite two cities in the world. I have lived in London for 13 years, and Hewlêr for considerably less. My memories of these two cities are somewhat scattered because I hold a romanticised view of them.

For instance,...

A new generation of young people are using social media to raise awareness about the plight of Kurdish people. They are using tools of media that was not available a generation ago, and in doing so they are becoming patriots of Kurdistan. Two of the most effective tools of information...

Association of Returnee Professionals in Kurdistan (ARPK) has been launched by a small group of activists from Kurdistan. The non-profit organisation is independent and helps professional who are either planning or have already returned to Kurdistan find jobs, as well as accommodation.

ARPK is the first organisation that has...

Three months ago I decided to leave United Kingdom for Kurdistan. The trip opened my eyes to the socioeconomic problems facing Kurdish people, and the renowned efforts by young activists to ameliorate the situation. Kurdistan has become a part of me, as much as I have become part of it....

In Kurdistan's Hewler province the first Miss Kurdistan pageant show was held on June 28 in Rotana hotel. It was organised by a lebanese company. The twelve participants were from Southern Kurdistan and sponsored by the Kurdistan Regional Government. I was invited by a...

In 2011 Iraqi authorities uncovered a mass grave in the central city of Diwaniyah which are believed to be corpses of Kurds who were killed under Saddam Hussein's rule. Human Rights Watch and other organisations have reported instances of torture, murder, rape, abductions, deportations, forced disappearances, assassinations and...

Leyla Zana is a Kurdish politician and member of Peace and Democracy party in Turkey. She has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by Diyarbakir's High Court for nine speeches she has made between 2007 and 2008. Once again she is charged with "spreading propaganda" on behalf of the...

My Nest In Kurdistan is a reflection of the current state of Kurdish youth, their thoughts as the semi-autonomous region progresses and their aspirations. It provides a persuasive argument for Kurds in diaspora to return, especially those who immigrated due to the prosecution they...

Protest held in Hewlêr earlier today, photo published with permission.

Muslim youth in Southern Kurdistan staged a protest against what they perceived to be a blasphemous article published in a local magazine about Islam. Hundreds of youth took to the streets in the...

Kurdish people have suffered under the Syrian Ba'ath regime for decades. They have been victims of a judicial system that sought to protect the rights of Arabs, while neglecting Kurdish people. Kurds in Syria were unable to register themselves with Kurdish names, to speak Kurdish or even have...

The palestinian cause has become internalised within Human rights discourse, and Muslim movements, the Kurdish cause in contrast has been marginalised, and sidelined. Kurdish population is close to 40million while palestinian population exceeds four million, but enjoy the sympathy and support of the Arab world. It is not just Arabs...

Loghman H. Ahmedi, PDKI representative to the United Kingdom. Photo published with permission.

The Iranian government harbours grandiose ambitions of becoming an influential force in Middle East. It has become a paranoid state of fear, not only of foreign governments but...

Halabja is a Kurdish town in Southern Kurdistan, and Northern Iraq. It is nearly 150 miles north-east of Baghdad, and has a rich history. It is home to Adela Khanum, an iconic feminist Kurdish figure, who was honoured with the title of "Princess of the brave" and helped save lives...

Turkey is well known for countless things, heavenly beaches and immaculate holidays but for Kurdish people it is known for notorious violations of Human rights, which has been overlooked by the international community for decades. Turkey's influence in post-revolutionised Middle Eastern countries continues to grow, but if Turkey is an...

Nationalism can often be in response to a threat whether internal or external. For much of Kurdish history, we have faced internal threats - in the form of civil wars, and external threats from neighbouring governments that took every step possible from committing genocide to war crimes in order...

Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting where Muslims become more charitable and forgive each other. This holy month of fasting helps reinstate Muslims in becoming more charitable, patient and God-conscious. Muslims exchange gifts, and children are spoilt...

Tottenham riot escalated around 11.30 on Thursday after a handful of youth burnt down two police cars and broke into local shops. Media outlets ignored the initial protest, which was largely peaceful aimed at getting 'answers' for the