Browse Items (12 total)
- Collection: Kurdish Oral History
Avras Taha
Avras Taha was born in Duhok city in Iraqi Kurdistan. He lived with his extended family in Duhok, while his father was fighting for the Peshmerga. In 1996, his family fled Iraqi Kurdistan, and arrived to the United States in 1997 via Turkey and Guam. Today Avras has a degree in Civil Engineering from SUNY IT.
Amin Amin
Amin Amin fled his hometown that lies north of the Kurdish city of Duhok from Saddam Hussein’s violence towards Kurds. He arrived to the United States with his family in 1992 and settled in Johnson City, NY, where he grew up among a Kurdish community. Although his primary language is Kurdish, he became very fluent in English and was able to blend in within the American society and culture. Today Amin has a master’s degree from Tennessee State University (TSU).
Armanj Amin & Avras Taha
Armanj: Born in Baghdad, at the age of 6 Armanj Ameen was forced to flee Baghdad to Duhok city in Iraqi Kurdistan. In 1996 he fled Duhok and arrived to the United States in 1997. Today Armanj has a degree in Business Management in Erbil University and a degree in Civil Engineering from SUNY Broome. Avras: Avras Taha was born in Duhok city in Iraqi Kurdistan. His family fled Kurdistan in 1996 and arrived to the United States in 1997 via Guam. Today Avras has a degree in Civil Engineering from SUNY IT
Aysha Mohmmod
Aysha got married Idris in Kurdistan and moved to the United States to build a family. She visits her family in Kurdistan every once in a while.
Dasko Sherwani
Dasko was born in Iraq and throughout his childhood and early days he was part of the Barzani Tribe. He never witnesses a stable childhood because he had to constantly move and run away from Saddam Hussein’s war on the Kurds. Today Dasko lives in the United States and holds a civil engineering degree from Tennessee State University.
Jotiyar and Ridwan
Jotiyar: Born in 1984, Jotiyar is part of a big family of 8 brothers and 3 sisters. Fled Iraq in 1991 to Turkey on foot to seek refuge from the violence of Saddam’s regime. He and his family lived in a makeshift tent in a remote mountainous area near Jalee.
Ridhwan: Being part of the Zebari tribe, Ridhwan has 8 sisters and 7 brothers. Fled to Iran in 1991 also on foot. It took him and his family 12 days to arrive to Iran with little to no food. They lived in a refugee camp and received some international and Iranian government help.
Jumaa Barani
Jumaa was born in Iraqi Kurdistan in the village of Ekmala Khabur near Duhok and came to the United States in 1997. He has a high school diploma and a 2 year college degree from SUNY Broome. Growing up, he witnessed the harsh rule and treatment of Saddam Hussein and his military towards his own family and people, which lead to his brother’s and father’s death.
Karwan Zebari
Born into two wars, Karwan didn’t see his father often, since he was working with the government building roads for the army in southern Iraq. Throughout the beginnings of his childhood, Karwan lived in Duhok with his family. In 1990 his family and he fled Iraqi Kurdistan and went for the Turkish border. Today, Karwan is a representative of the Kurdish regional government in Washington D.C.
Nergiz Taha
At the age of 6, Nirgiz and her family escaped from the cruelty of Saddam Hussein and made it to the U.S. through Turkey where she resides today.
Ridhwan Zebari
Being part of the Zebari tribe, Ridhwan has 8 sisters and 7 brothers. Fled to Iran in 1991 on foot. It took him and his family 12 days to arrive to Iran with little to no food. They lived in a refugee camp and received some international and Iranian government help. In this second Interview, Ridhwan goes deeper into Iraqi Kurdish society from his perspective and how leaving Kurdistan influenced him.