Sheikh Mahmud Hafid: A Legacy of Kurdish Nationalism

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Sheikh Mahmud Hafid.

October 9 marks the anniversary of the death of Sheikh Mahmud Hafid Barzinji, one of the leading figures of the Kurdish national movement during the first half of the 20th century. He died in Baghdad in 1956, aged 76. His body was subsequently taken to Sulaymaniyah, where he was laid to rest in his hometown following a solemn funeral procession.

Born in Sulaymaniyah in 1881, Sheikh Mahmud assumed leadership of the city in 1910. In May 1919, he launched his first armed uprising against British rule, declaring Kurdistan’s independence and establishing a government in Sulaymaniyah after Kurdish demands were denied consideration at the Paris Peace Conference. He fought several battles, including the notable Battle of Bazian Pass, before his forces were defeated. He was captured and exiled to India after his death sentence was commuted.

Sheikh Mahmud returned to Sulaymaniyah on September 30, 1922, following understandings concerning the Kurds’ right to establish their own government. However, after the British failed to honour their promises, he proclaimed himself King of Kurdistan in November of the same year. He declared Kurdish the official language, introduced a distinct currency and extended his government’s authority across extensive areas of Kurdistan.

Following renewed hostilities, Sheikh Mahmud left Sulaymaniyah in 1924 and continued guerrilla warfare against Iraqi and British forces until 1927, before settling in Iran. In 1930, he returned to lead another uprising, which continued until May 1931. The revolt was eventually suppressed, and he was exiled to southern Iraq before returning to Kurdistan in 1941.

On March 21, 1931, Sheikh Mahmud addressed a letter to the President of the League of Nations, calling for recognition of the Kurdish people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state in Southern Kurdistan. In his letter, he criticised the incorporation of Kurdish territories into Iraq without guarantees safeguarding the rights of their inhabitants, as well as the use of force against the Kurdish population.

He stressed that, while the Kurds sought friendship and brotherhood with other peoples, they would not accept subordination to another nation’s sovereignty. He argued that lasting stability could only be achieved by recognising Kurdish national rights and allowing the Kurdish people to govern their own affairs.

Sheikh Mahmud’s legacy represents a significant chapter in the history of the Kurdish political movement. His struggle combined armed uprisings and attempts to establish a Kurdish government with political and diplomatic initiatives aimed at securing national rights, self-determination and independence.


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