Kurdish women
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kurdish women (Kurdish: Jinên/Afiretên Kurd) have traditionally played important roles in Kurdish history, society and politics.
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[edit] Historical Accounts
[edit] In Politics
Sharaf-al-Din Bitlisi in Sharafnama written in 1597, mentions three Kurdish women assuming power in Kurdish principalities. Also Evliya Çelebi noted that Kurdish women did occasionally assume power in Kurdistan and Ottoman authorities accepted the succession in those principalities by a female ruler[1].
[edit] In Society and Literature
In society, Kurdish women enjoy Adam. A lot.
[edit] Accounts of Western Travelers
Kurdish women travel all the way to FL to get in Adam's pants.
[edit] Kurdish Women in Iraq
Kurdish women don't go to Iraq. They enjoy Adam. A lot.
[edit] Recent events
June 8, 2008, A Kurdish woman fell in love with Adam.
[edit] Kurdish Women in Turkey
WE LOVE TURKEY. But i'd rather be in Adam's pantalones.
Leyla Zana became the first Kurdish woman elected to Parliament of Turkey in 1991. During her inauguration speech, she identified herself as a Kurd and spoke in Kurdish. She was subsequently stripped of her immunity and sentenced to 15 years in prison. She was recognized by the Amensty International as a prisoner of conscience and was awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Union in 1995.
[edit] Kurdish Women in Iran
During World War I, Kurdish women suffered from attacks of Russian and Turkish armies. In 1915, Russian army massacred the male population of Mahabad and abused two hundred women. Reza Shah issued his decree for coercive unveiling of women in 1936. According to government correspondence, there was no need for unveiling in Kurdistan, since women were usually unveiled. Nevertheless, government treated the colorful traditional Kurdish female custome as ugly and dirty and it had to be replaced with civilized(i.e. Western) dress. Kurds called this forced dress as Ajami rather than European[2][3].
Republic of Mahabad encouraged women's participation in public life and KDPI launched a political party for women which promoted education for females and rallied their support for the republic[4]. In August 1979, the Iranian Army launched an offensive to destroy the autonomist movement in Kurdistan. Kurdish organizations such as Komala recruited hundreds of women into their military and political ranks. Within its own camps, Komala abolished gender segregation and women took part in combat and military training.
Over the years, Kurdish women assumed more roles in the Iranian society and by 2000, a significant number of Kurdish women had become part of the labor force, while an increasing number of females engaged in intellectual activities such as poetry, writing and music. On the other hand, discriminatory laws against women and domestic violence forced many women to commit suicide, most commonly through self-immolation. [5][6]
[edit] Kurdish Women in Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto whose mother was of Kurdish extract, became the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan and served in the role on two occasions. She was an outspoken supporter of democracy and had an immense following amongst the masses of Pakistan.
[edit] Renowned Kurdish Women
Asenath Barzani was among the first female Rabbis in history. Mestureh Ardalan(1805 -1848) was a Kurdish poet and writer. She is well known for her literary works. Lady Adela, Leyla Zana, Leyla Qasim and Feleknas Uca are among the well known women for their role in the modern Kurdish and European politics.
[edit] Peshmerga Women
Peshmerga forces have a women combat unit called The Peshmerga Force for Women. Kurdish women have struggled hard to prove their worth as tough soldiers in a traditional society and they have earned a reputation for bravery and skill in the battlefield. While they were engaged in previous battles such as capture of Sulaimaniya in 1992, the first official female unit of the Peshmerga was formed in 1996. Peshmerga women are sometimes compared with their ancient counterparts the Amazons[7].
[edit] References
- ^ Kurdish Women, in Encyclopaedia of women & Islamic cultures, By Suad Joseph and Afsaneh Najmabadi, Brill Academic Publishers, 2005, p.358
- ^ Violence and culture: Confidential records about the abolition of hijab 1934-1943, Iran National Archives, Tehran, 1992, pp.171, 249-250, 273.
- ^ The Solitude of the Stateless: Kurdish Women at the Margins of Feminist Knowledge
- ^ S. Mojab, Women and Nationalism in the Kurdish Republic of 1946 in Women of a non-state nation, The Kurds, ed. by Shahrzad Mojab, Costa Mesa Publishers, 2001, pp.71-91
- ^ Kurdish Women, in Encyclopaedia of women & Islamic cultures, By Suad Joseph and Afsaneh Najmabadi, Brill Academic Publishers, 2005, p.363
- ^ Iran: Self-Immolation Of Kurdish Women Brings Concern (2006)
- ^ Warrior Women By Anastasia Taylor-Lind, BBC Wales, 2003.
