The Kurdish People and Americans: Overview of Our Shared Values

Although the Kurds stretch across regions of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, and consist of numerous diverse communities even within each country, as a people they share cultural traits and societal structures that closely align with many of our American core values. Let’s explore some of these commonalities, which can be grouped into five broad categories: 

1. We Both Believe in Gender Equality  

   • Throughout various Kurdish regions—especially in northern Syria (Rojava) and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq—women hold prominent roles in politics, military, and civil administration

     • Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) in Rojava consist of female Kurdish commanders like Nesrin Abdullah, who have led pivotal campaigns against ISIS, gaining international attention for courage and strategy

     • The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria hosts a “co-chair” system legally requiring that every leadership position be shared by a man and a woman

       

       Nesrin Abdullah, YPJ Commander

   • The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has mandated and enforces laws against domestic violence, and for women’s rights

     • Kurds continue to advocate for criminalizing forced marriage or honor killings, otherwise common practices in the Middle East to this day

2. We Both Believe in Respect for Religious and Cultural Diversity  

   • Kurdish regions have supported cultural norms of tolerance and coexistence with diverse religious and ethnic groups, including Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, and others  

     • That’s led to mixed religious communities living side by side with their Kurdish neighbors, with Christian churches and Muslim mosques interspersed across these regions

   • In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the government has enacted protective policies for minorities including Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Yazidis, including supporting their right to practice their religion and maintain their distinct cultural identities

     • For example, in 2014 when ISIS attacked the Yazidi community on Mount Sinjar, Kurdish Peshmerga and YPG/YPJ evacuated and protected thousands of Yazidi civilians

       

       Thousands of Yazidis rescued from ISIS by Peshmerga.

3. We Both Have an Indefatigable Entrepreneurial Spirit

   • Growth of the private sector in Iraqi Kurdistan has been impressive

     • Cities like Erbil and Sulaymaniyah have spawned businesses, ranging from new hotels and restaurants to cutting edge tech startups

   • The KRG has also encouraged foreign investment through pro-business policies and tax incentives

     • That has attracted global companies from around the globe, and the creation of Western-style malls, cafes, and franchises 

   • Lending opportunities in Kurdish regions support female entrepreneurs and rural communities

     • These help Kurdish entrepreneurs start small businesses, and boost the economy with loans, tax breaks, and other government incentives

4. We Both Cherish Personal and Political Freedoms  

   • The Kurdish quest for regional autonomy, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan and Rojava, continues 

     • The 2017 independence referendum was a peaceful expression of the Kurdish people’s desire for self-determination through free and fair elections

   • Civil society groups and independent media outlets operate across the Kurdish regions 

     • These include independent newspapers in the KRG and local councils in Rojava, which continue to receive resistance yet persist

5. We Both Focus on Education and Youth Empowerment  

   • Educational institutions and policies in KRI and throughout the Kurdish regions emphasize education and practical training programs  

     • The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) and the University of Kurdistan-Hewlêr (UKH) in Erbil do global collaboration and educate students in subjects ranging from liberal arts to critical thinking, rare indeed throughout the Middle East

       

       The University of Kurdistan-Hewlêr (UKH)

   • Active civil society organizations work to improve education, health care, and social service

     • NGOs sponsor youth leadership conferences, tech workshops, and vocational training, with a focus on environmental and women’s issues

   • Community driven initiatives offer grassroots opportunities and benefits

     • For example, northern Syria’s Kurdish areas offer multilingual instruction in Kurdish, Arabic, and Assyrian

In summary, the Kurdish people and Americans share many things in common, including our beliefs in gender equality, respect for other religions and cultures, entrepreneurial spirit, personal freedom, and a well-rounded education based on critical thinking. 

Although the Kurds have been fragmented across four countries due to history and politics, they remain strong and unified when it comes to believing in and practicing the very American hallmarks of fairness, freedom, and economic prosperity – rare indeed throughout a region still grappling with centuries’ old traditions, ideologies, and cultural practices.