Redwan Adalat - Humans of Kurdistan

“During the 60s, I was working at a sewing shop for five years, until I owned my own shop. I used to sew mens' and womens' clothes back then because there wasn't that much work to only work for one gender back then. Then in 1974 we moved to Iran, my love for my job made me take my sewing machine with me. I started working in a factory that only Kurds used to work at, we were making Peshmarga clothes. I remember that we didn't have electricity, so we used pedals and used portable lights. During the sixties all people used to wear Kurdish clothes except for government employees and teachers. Unfortunately, now it is the opposite, most people only wear Kurdish clothes for occasions. I have been doing sewing for sixty years, and I have taught my kids as well. I didn't want my kids to turn to bad things, so I took them to my shop with myself and they were going to school at the same time. Now that I have gotten old and my eyes have gotten weak, they come here often and help me out”. ...

Feb 27 2021

February 27, 2021

in Humans of East

“Photos never die, they stay with you. I am really upset by what's finite and separation, not only for humans, but for moments, too. That's why I always try to photograph the moments. I have always believed in myself and my desires. My future, is like a child that I have raised. I always try to live well with beautiful thoughts. I like the challenges that come my way, if a path doesn't have any obstacles, is it really a good path? So far, whatever has had value to me I have photographed. I am currently taking photos of happy moments of the families in the city. Something that has really helped me has been my thoughts, thinking about knowing myself and where my life is at. Knowing yourself makes your decisions easy, you know where to go and how long you have left. A nice thought about the future, can provide a nice life for you”. ...

Feb 26 2021

February 26, 2021

“A year ago, one day I had a stomach ache, I went to the doctor and he told me that I had kidney stone. He prescribed medicine for me, but it was useless. I visited other doctors but none of them could help me, I took so much medicine and still didn't feel any better. I finally visited another doctor, he said that he'd take a sample of my tissue or cells for examination. I was very scared because usually these examinations are done in case of having cancer. After 10 days I was diagnosed with gastric cancer. I took 6 chemotherapy sessions. After the third session, they wanted to examine me again”. “It turned out that I had become better and the tumor was getting smaller. I reached the fifth chemo session and the pain was unbearable. One evening, I started bleeding and was rushed to the hospital, but they couldn't do anything due to my pain, they said that my doctor had to come. I reached out to the doctor, but he didn't come despite how bad my situation was. My cousin took me to Damascus the same day, and when the doctor examined me he told me that I was very stable, and I had never had any cancerous cells, I only had a lump of blood in my stomach. I was very happy when he said that. He prescribed a few medicines for me and I was feeling much better, and I have no pain at all now. When I went back to Hasakah, I decided to file a complaint against my former doctor because he told me I had cancer, and due to his wrong analysis, I had to go through chemotherapy and caused me a lot of pain”. ...

Feb 25 2021

February 25, 2021

“Making Klash (Kurdish type of shoes) is a craft, and it's very important that you have the talent and can make what the customers demand. I have tried to innovate in making Klash, I have made them in several different colors. Klash is originally white, but I have made black ones, too. When Klash gets wet, its colors are ruined, but I have made them even waterproof, and that's very new in the industry. I have also made Klash with laces. Sometimes people demand Klash that matches the color of their Kurdish clothes, and I make it for them. I really like changing things, I like bringing in new things while keeping the authenticity of the work. On many occasions, foreigners come to us, they buy Klash and take them home with them”. ...

Feb 23 2021

February 23, 2021

“In 1959, there were no schools in my village so my father sent me and my brothers to a Sheikh to learn how to read and write, the holy Quran was being studied in mosques back then. Among all the students, 3 other students and I were doing well, and we could finish the Quran in 4 months, while the other students needed about a year to finish it. After a year, a school was opened in a nearby village, and my father registered me there. The teacher there tested me and told me that I should go straight to the second grade and I don't have to study the first grade, but my father refused the idea. I went to study in the first grade and the teachers really admired me, they really cared for the student that studies hard. They used to even teach me after school sometimes”. “I remember when I used to play during holidays, I wasn't afraid of my family, but I was afraid that my teachers would see me not studying. I got into the fourth grade and we left to Amuda city and settled there. I finished elementary school, but then my father discouraged me to continue because we didn't have Syrian citizenship and he thought it was useless to have an education at that circumstances. Even my teachers visited my father to convince him otherwise, but he didn't agree to it. I started being a shepherd with my brothers. I am sure if I had continued studying I would have had a good future. I grew up and my love for education was still there so I started reading Jagar Khwen's poetry, I started learning his way of writing, and now I write poetry, too”. ...

Feb 22 2021

February 22, 2021

in Humans of East

“When I turned 20, I started doing any work I could, and this allowed me to travel with my friends and have more financial freedom. Any time I traveled, I met people from different backgrounds and beliefs. I started to realize that every time I knew something new about these people, I also knew a bit more about myself. Previously, I hadn't even thought about knowing myself more, but after those travels my life changed completely. I understood that everyone had flaws same as I do. I used to think about my flaws and get upset, but after a while I realized that I needed to change things in my life. I also got to know a girl that made me even love myself more. Currently, I love myself more than anything and I am very happy to be fully understanding myself”. ...

Feb 22 2021

February 21, 2021

“I was a shepherd as a kid. Because I was living in a village, I was taking care of my animals, and I decided to become a veterinarian to save animals' lives and treat them. I went to Al Baath university in Hamaa city, and was able to graduate in 1988. In 2003, the government decided to open a syndicate for veterinarians for the first time. My friends suggested that I become the manager, and I won in the elections. However, I refused to become the manager, I told them that I didn't want to only sit behind a desk, but I want to help less fortunate people who rely on their animals to make a living. About 28 years ago, I opened a pharmacy special for animals. I believe that being a veterinarian is much more difficult than being a humans' doctor because humans can explain what's wrong with them if they are sick, but animals cannot express themselves. What I do is a humanitarian work, whenever I treat an animal and save their lives, I believe like the world is mine”. ...

Feb 20 2021

February 20, 2021

“I am 60 years old, and I haven't gotten into school yet, but I can write the names of the people who drink tea and want to pay later on at my tea house. I have been serving breakfast and tea to my guests at my tea house for 53 years non-stop. I come to the shop every morning at 5 AM until evening prayer. Many tourists come to my shop, too. Keeping the place clean and my relationship with my guests have made me really love what I do. Any tourist comes to Akre won't leave until they have my tea. I have learned most dialects in Kurdish language due to my job. I have several recognitions and awards from the cultural and tourism centers. Many artists who visit Akre for concerts and parties visit my shop and it turns into a hub of artistic conversations. Examples of artists who have visited me are Salih Amedi, Tahsin Taha, Ayaz and Ardawan Zakholi”. ...

Feb 19 2021

February 19, 2021

in Humans of East

“I was very happy as a teenager, I hadn't gotten married and I loved embroidery so I used to make hats, socks and other things. I then got married, listening to the people around me. We didn't know each other so it was an arranged marriage, but we loved each other dearly after a while. He hadn't joined the military yet, so he had to go away after three months when we got married, and stayed there for two years. During those two years he only visited back two times because they weren't flexible like they are now back then. It was very difficult for me because I was a newly married woman and I didn't know anyone because I had come from another village. I was a smart girl, I did all of my work, and working in the village could be difficult. My mother in law had little kids and I had to take care of them as well. That's how we used to live”. “After my husband decided to move houses, we started a new life. We didn't have anything to take with us. My father in law had said that we can have the house after his passing, but my husband didn't accept it and decided to work for a home because he thought that the other kids deserved it more. We both started working, I was doing embroidery and selling clothing items. I have never been afraid of time until now. I have gotten old now and I am afraid that my legs will give in soon. Once you're old, you will get sick easily. I now can't see well, I have high cholesterol, and have many other illnesses. I wish I could go outside of the country for treatment, but I can't. If I get sick and unable to move, there will be no one to help my husband. We really don't have anyone except for ourselves. We didn't have any children and I cry and pray every night asking why we couldn't have any children. That's the worst thing in my life”. ...

Feb 18 2021

February 18, 2021

“I was born in Afrin, I used to study in Technical Institute of Halab university, but the situation in Halab didn't let me finish my education so I stopped temporarily. I went back to Afrin and registered in Kurdish literature college in Afrin university. However, due to the attacks from Turkey in January 20, 2018 I couldn't finish my education. After the invasion on Afrin I went to Rojava University. I was able to graduate and get my degree in Kurdish literature. I have also worked in theater for 10 years, I have written and directed many plays. I have been awarded 4 times by the Ministry of Enlightenment. Several days ago, we produced a play titled "The burnt souls" and was written and presented by myself. The play was about the day that Turkey invaded my city, Afrin. What really upsets me is that the day the invasion happened coincided with my birthday, which is January 20, 1991. This date reminds me of Turkey's attack every year and has a negative effect on my life. I will never celebrate my birthday again unless my city is totally freed”. ...

Feb 18 2021

February 18, 2021