Examine individual changes

'{{Infobox flag |Name = Kurdistan|Article = |Image = Flag of Kurdistan.svg |Nickname = Alaya Rengîn ("The Colorful Flag")<ref name="demotix.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.demotix.com/news/6114478/thousands-show-solidarity-kobane-stockholm |title=Thousands show solidarity with Kobane in Stockholm |author=Hakan Akçura |accessdate=2015-03-09 |deadurl=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701175959/http://www.demotix.com/news/6114478/thousands-show-solidarity-kobane-stockholm |archivedate=2015-07-01 |df= }}</ref> |Proportion =2:3 |Adoption = 1920 by various groups <br>1992 by [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] |Design = Red, yellow, green and white, with sun with 21 rays in the centre.}} The '''flag of Kurdistan''' is used by [[Kurds]] as a symbol for the Kurds' desire for independence.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Aziz|first1=Mahir|title=The Kurds of Iraq: Nationalism and Identity in Iraqi Kurdistan|date=2014|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781784532734|page=130|url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=YHUbBQAAQBAJ|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Routledge">{{cite book|last1=Danilovich|first1=Alex|title=Iraqi Federalism and the Kurds: Learning to Live Together|date=2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317112938|pages=101|url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=zk4fDAAAQBAJ|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="Basic Books">{{cite book|last1=Russell|first1=Gerard|title=Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms: Journeys Into the Disappearing Religions of the Middle East|date=2015|publisher=Basic Books|isbn=9780465097692|url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=BK26CgAAQBAJ|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref> It is the official flag of the autonomous [[Kurdistan Region]] in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Flag & national anthem|url=http://cabinet.gov.krd/p/p.aspx?l=12&s=020000&r=301&p=211|website=Kurdistan Regional Government|publisher=Kurdistan Regional Government|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref> ==Symbolism== The main characteristic of the flag is the blazing golden sun emblem (''Roj'' in Kurdish) 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.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=http://www.kurdistanica.com/english/culture/ncharacters/flag/kurdish_flag.html | title=The National Flag of Kurdistan | author=Dr. M. R. Izady | work=Encyclopaedia Kurdistanica | accessdate=2008-02-06 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501175909/http://www.kurdistanica.com/english/culture/ncharacters/flag/kurdish_flag.html | archivedate=2008-05-01 | deadurl=yes | df= }}</ref> The symbolism of the colors is:<ref name="Routledge"/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=HUMANRIGHTSWATCH|title=Turkish Forces Kill Scores of Peaceful Demonstrato Turkish Forces Kill Scores of Peaceful Demonstrators|journal=Helsinki Watch|date=1992|volume=4|issue=9|page=8|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/t/turkey/turkey926.pdf|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Colour ! Meaning |- | style="background:#ff0000;color:white;" | Red | Symbolizes the blood of the martyrs and the continued struggle for freedom and dignity. |- | style="background:#298C00;color:white;" | Green | Expresses the beauty and landscapes of Kurdistan. Life and vitality. |- | style="background:#ffc000;color:black;" | Yellow | Represents the source of life and light of the people. The sun is an ancient symbol and twenty one sunbeams represent March 21, [[Newroz]]. |- | style="background:#ffffff;color:black;" | White | Represent peace and equality. |} == Dimensions == [[File:Flag of Kurdistan with measure.png|400px|frameless|center]] ==History== The flag first appeared during the movement for [[Kurdish people|Kurdish]] independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]] and resembles an earlier version created by the [[Xoybûn]] (Khoyboon) organization, active in the [[Ararat rebellion]] of 1930,<ref name="institutkurde.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.institutkurde.org/en/kurdorama/the_national_flag_of_kurdistan.php|title=The National Flag of Kurdistan}}, Kurdish Institute of Paris.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ala û sirûda netewiya Kurdistanê|url=http://cabinet.gov.krd/p/print.aspx?l=16&smap=010000&p=282|website=Kurdistan Regional Government|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref> A similar flag was later used by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-backed [[Republic of Kurdistan|Kurdish Republic]] known as the [[Republic of Mahabad]] in 1946. ==Modern adaptation to international flag standards== The flag appeared in Kurdish media throughout the 90's 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.<ref name="Basic Books"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Haiderali|first1=Karim|title=The Media of Diaspora|date=2003|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780415279307|pages=82–83|url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=WWlMnPIeGIQC|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kontra|first1=Miklós|title=Language, a Right and a Resource: Approaching Linguistic Human Rights|date=1999|publisher=Central European University Press|isbn=9789639116641|pages=228|url=https://books.google.nl/books?id=-m3HfFHv1dUC|accessdate=16 November 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="auto"/> It was instantly adopted by the international [[Flag Institute]]. In 1999, the Parliament of the [[Kurdish 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== <gallery> File:Flag of Ayyubid Dynasty.svg|{{FIAV|historical|}} Flag of the [[Ayyubid Dynasty]] (1171–1260){{cn|date=May 2017}} File:Flag of the Emirate of Soran.svg|{{FIAV|historical|}} Flag of the [[Soran Emirate]]<ref name="crwflags.com">[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/krd_slvd.html Kurdistan: Short-lived independent states], Flags of the World (1997). The ''Flags of the World'' website shows the Soran and Ararat flags as contributed by Jaume Ollé in 1997 without any reference. Only the flag of the Kingdom of Southern Kurdistan is explicitly based on sources, "The flag is shown in two sources: (a) a 1922 photograph of the Kurdish Army taking an oath of allegiance. (b) a sketch with notes on the colours by Ahmed Khwaja in his autobiography ''Cim Di'' (1970)." (T. F. Mills, 25 November 1997).</ref> (1816–1835) File:Flag_of_kurdistan-1922_1924.svg|{{FIAV|historical|}} Flag of the [[Kingdom of Kurdistan]]<ref name="crwflags.com"/> (1922–1924) File:Kurdish flag (1932).png|{{FIAV|historical|}} Flag of the [[Republic of Ararat]] (1927–1930) File:Flag of the Republic of Mahabad.svg|{{FIAV|historical|}} Flag of the [[Republic of Mahabad]] (1946–1947) File:Flag of Rojava.svg|{{FIAV|defacto|}} [[Syrian Kurdistan]] flag, used as the flag of [[Syrian Kurdistan]] which is also known as [[Rojava]] (Western Kurdistan). It's the official flag of [[Rojava]] (2016) </gallery> ==Similar designs used by Iranic countries== <gallery> File:Flag_of_Iran_with_standardized_lion_and_sun.svg|{{FIAV|historical|}} Flag of the modern era [[Persian Empire]] ([[Iranian monarchy]] until 1979) File:Flag_of_Iran.svg|{{IFIS|Equal}} Flag of the [[Islamic Republic of Iran]] (since 1980) File:Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg|{{IFIS|Normal}} Flag of the [[Republic of Tajikistan]] (since 1992) </gallery> == Kurdish flag day == Established by the Kurdistan parliament in 1999, Kurdish Flag Day is celebrated on December 17. Activities done on this day consist of dancing, eating, and celebrating.<ref>P.U.K. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2016, from http://www.pukmedia.com/EN/EN_Direje.aspx?Jimare=16568</ref><ref>On Kurdistan's National Flag Day, Kurds show solidarity with Peshmerga. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2016, from http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2014/12/state8770.htm</ref><ref>Learn About the Kurdistan Flag | The Kurdish Project. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2016, from http://thekurdishproject.org/history-and-culture/kurdish-culture/kurdish-flag/</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{Commons category|Kurdish flags}} ==External links== * {{cite web|url=http://www.webchin.org/extend/kurdistan-flag/|title=High Resolution Kurdistan Flag For Print}} [[Category:Ethnic flags|Kurds]] [[Category:Iraqi Kurdistan]] [[Category:History of the Kurdish people]] [[Category:Politics of Kurdistan]] [[Category:Politics of Iraqi Kurdistan]] [[Category:Politics of Rojava]]'