Redwan Adalat - Humans of Kurdistan

“After Turkey bombarded Sarekane, we abandoned our home and resided in Al-Hasakah. Due to the immigration and discomfort, our financial status went downhill. I was not even able to purchase necessities for my family and children and my home was lacking various pieces of equipment. A friend of mine suggested to help us with a sum of money, so I could purchase a trolley and a popcorn machine and sell popcorn in Al-Hasakah. My friend sold his car immediately since he did not need it and gave me the money. I bought the trolley and began selling popcorn all over the city. I returned the money to my friend within 3 months and was able to purchase essentials for my house. All thanks to my companion who sold his car to help me overcome my struggles. I start working from 4 PM in the afternoon to 1 AM at night because people prefer to eat popcorn at night when they are roaming the city. I have customers from every age range; from 2-year-olds to 70-year-olds”. ...

Jul 11 2021

July 11, 2021

“I remember when I was a student in 8th grade at secondary school. At the time, we would study historical subjects and could perceive culture, relics, and historic topics reflect clearly, therefore it blended with my veins and body early on. I thought about collecting those items up until I completed high school. After I graduated from the institution, I returned to my village. I caught the sight of some remains, pots, and manuscripts written on stones in the area. To my dismay, today's generation does not give significance to such matters and has demolished most of them. I recall there have been times where we would discover vessels filled with money from that era, a portion of it was sold, and a portion of it has been detained by affiliated parties. Afterward, some of my friends and I from the village contemplated to start collecting cultural and folkloric remains to rescue them from extinction”. “In the beginning, we started from the village and collected various items. There were a lot of unique objects due to its’ early history; items that were utilized by our parents and grandparents. I would ask my father questions regularly and he would speak about those rural bygones. Things reached a stage where we received a few local television channels and arranged round tables and programs. I organized cultural and artefactual festivals in our village for two years in a row and acquainted my belongings with visitors and other people. Many people have shown praise and several others that have had ancient artifacts contacted me and brought them to me. One of my brothers offered me a house that currently has over (2000) cultural items and artifacts. This is a significant honor for me and it delights me to know that people still enjoy seeing these objects and equipment”. ...

Jul 10 2021

July 10, 2021

“I have been riding bicycles ever since I was a child. But as I grew older, I noticed that people view women who ride bicycles differently. So, I bought a bike to ride to work and back. I decided to launch a project titled “I Want a Bicycle” and several other girls participated. As the first tread, I arranged a marathon in Amuda city during the Elimination of Violence against Women day. We received a great deal of praise from people and women in particular. I broke the shackles of fear and shame by riding a bike. Our object is to increase confidence amongst women through this program. There are still people who are against the project and look over us in mockery but we believe in ourselves and our determination is imperishable”. ...

Jul 08 2021

July 8, 2021

“During the 80s, I used to spend my days with a brush and paint; my paintings delighted my spirit. When the route converted after the uprising, I wanted to try an alternative art and started photography. Photography was more different, it required more time and sharp eyes. During the insurrection, I resided in Akre, and I would archive pictures of how the people rose. After the circumstances calmed, and the people stabilized, I captured pictures of peoples’ everyday lives and Kurdistans’ alluring nature. Later on, I built a shop to provide for myself and get by and took pictures of newlyweds. what is disheartening is that a recent class has emerged and has persuaded photography without any concern for etiquette. They have disintegrated the art and utilize it for personal interest. Photography is morality; the person who carries a camera is required to have high morale. I hope the nature, culture, and history of Kurdistan are transformed into portraits and hanged in public places instead of foreign pictures and draw peoples’ attention to Kurditsans’ nature”. ...

Jul 06 2021

July 6, 2021

in Humans of East

"Do not stand here, or else we will smash your head with a rock!"“This was the first sentence uttered to me during the Pirshaliar Ceremony in Hawraman, it wounded me from the bottom of my heart. All I wanted to do was to serve my community, compose the ceremony in a scientific script, discuss and introduce it to the world. But my scientific degree was failed to be recognized here, nor my objective. The only thing they recognized in me was my figure as a woman. A woman infused with threats and warnings since the dawn of time, filled with suppression, and silenced voices. I altered my perspective for the first time regarding that situation while I was there; I refused to give up. I was aware that I had to take on a different path, no matter how far, but crucial and evident. Therefore, as a woman, I felt the need to demonstrate my experience in relevance to that sector without any shortcomings. Meaning, I chose a critical perspective, not only for the Pirshaliar Ceremony but generally for Kurdish folk tales that possess a superiority ideology, as a shred of evidence attesting to Kurdish history that has abolished women or disregarded them”. “Frankly, the matters that have been attributed to Kurdish folk tales so far, have had a masculine perspective and have been free from a woman’s stamp. Although, I have considered the aspect that Kurdish female experience is different and has been assaulted within the oppression crossroads. I have been active throughout this sector for 7 years now, even though I have been heavily criticized and opposed. This opposition has been mainly from men because they are not very fond of any altercations in regards to their authority. But I have not gone astray, and it is decided that next year, I will be publishing my first issue within the structure of a book that consists of various divergent readings. I hope to have had served Kurdish women initially, and later on the Kurdish Library as my first tread, even if slightly. Hopefully, from now on we will witness a women’s touch further in this department”. ...

Jul 05 2021

July 5, 2021

“Age passes and does not shy away from anyone. I have worked as a porter for years. What I on no account thought of was the toilsome labor and the hefty objects I would lift with my shoulders. Unfortunately, I no longer have the strength nor the time. I have been working as a security guard in a factory for some years now, and spend all my time by my lonesome; I am the speaker and the listener as well. The factory owner respects me immensely and aids me, and I thank God for that but nothing compares to spending a night at your own home and resting with your children. I have been raising a bunch of pigeons and chickens. This might be difficult to believe but I love them as if they were my own children. It is correct that animals and humans are two separate worlds but unless you mingle with them, you will not understand how understanding they could be and how much devotion will be built within. Anytime one of my hens incubates, and their eggs hatch chicks, it delights me as much as receiving my monthly salary”. ...

Jul 04 2021

July 4, 2021

“I was 2 years old when my mother passed away, Therefore, my eldest sister was obligated to raise us. She would wash our clothes, and wake up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for my father and us. She was like a mother to us. We never felt like our mother had gone, because she would do all the things a mother would do. After 4 years of raising us, my sister got married. My father remarried to another woman who would treat us heinously most of the time. After a while, my youngest sister and I went to live with our brother. Life was not fine with him and his wife either, but she was better than our step mother. Later on, my sister and I got married. I am now a mother to 3 girls and 3 boys; I have become a grandmother as well. As for the tattoos on my face, the majority of Kurdish women have tattoos on their faces. I was 5 years old when my eldest sister tattooed my chin before she got married. I was still a child and did not want to be tattooed; but later on, I tattooed my hands as well. Nowadays, women do not tattoo their faces. That practice is almost vanishing and fading away”. ...

Jul 03 2021

July 3, 2021

in Humans of North

“When people visit Mardin, they spot kites in the sky. Flying kites has become a culture in Mardin. There are always kites in the skies of Mardin. As the youth of Mardin, I would like to resume this culture and further introduce it. Flying kites is every child’s cherished dream, mine as well; I made my first ever from nylon and hovered it. I am now fulfilling my childhood dream. I have visited 26 countries and participated in international festivals. When I participated, I was enlightened to Mesopotamian culture. I wish every child could fly kites. I have launched workshops and have taught 10,000 children so far”. ...

Jun 10 2021

June 10, 2021

“I was working at a teashop and made a dirham per day. I would spend the money I had collected from work on antiques such as Vinyl record players and old radios. I have purchased most of my antiques in Erbil, Baghdad, and Mosul. One of my sisters lived in Baghdad, I would place my purchases at her house until they would stockpile, then I would ship them back to Akre. I have been collecting antiques for 55 years; my house resembles a museum. The variance between my home and everyone else’s home is that I own gadgets and antiques that date back to over 100 years. I am now 70 years old and live on my retirement salary to get by on daily basis. My health is poor and often stay home for days. What burdens me is that every so often people come to my house with the justification of paying me a visit but only end up stealing my belongings. I love my possessions dearly and I have purchased each and every one of them with my hard-earned money. I hope the affiliated parties of this city offer to build a suitable spot for my collector’s items, because I do not have the strength to monitor and keep an eye on them anymore”. ...

Jun 08 2021

June 8, 2021

“Certain financial circumstances have led me to pursue jobs that were more on the masculine side. My husband was a worker, but he was left without a job during the war. Nobody wanted to build houses or buildings during those unfavored conditions. This prompt me to start working in order to get by and feed my family. I started selling basic items on my child’s trolley and I would roam the streets to sell them. I would hold my child with one hand and would push the trolley with the other. Things started getting better, so I bought a piggy bank to collect money and buy a pair of earrings for my only daughter. Later on, I decided to purchase a 3 wheeled motorcycle, because my customers were requesting more items and I could not fit them on my trolley. I did not have the required amount of money, so I had to use the money I had saved up for my daughter and it still was not enough. We borrowed the remaining amount of money and bought it; I learned how to drive it in just a couple of days. Afterwards, my husband received work as well”. “I started working on the three wheeled motorcycle constantly and wandered everywhere in Al-Hasakah to provide and earn a living for my family. My husband was a great support for what I was doing but not all of our relatives and neighbors were exactly on the same page. Some of them were very opinionated and disagreed with what I did and told me that women were not meant for certain jobs, while others rooted for me and were very supportive. It has been 10 years since I have started providing for my family. I am so proud of myself and my will power.I sell blocks of ice during the Summer and fruits and vegetables and children’s necessities throughout Winter. Anytime my motorcycle breaks down, I fix it myself. I do not want my children to be slaves of tradition and norms. I was able to enhance my family’s financial status. There is absolutely no humiliation or shame in what I do. If it was not for this job, who would have reached out and lent me a helping hand? My determination to work has given me the strength I have now”. ...

Jun 05 2021

June 5, 2021