Early Life and Tragic Loss

My name is Kamal Omer Aziz. I was born in 1963 in Ekmal village, where I also completed primary school. In 1963, our house was destroyed in an air raid. My parents and brother were killed, leaving me with my four sisters.

Education and Challenges During War

In 1982, I was accepted into the Agricultural University in Mosul. However, during the Iraq-Iran war, the government sought to conscript us into the military.

Joining the PDK and Becoming a Peshmerga

In 1977, I joined the PDK, even though I was very young, because my family lived in a PDK stronghold. On October 10, 1982, I officially became a Peshmerga, serving in the Amedi committee within the Salahaddin organization and the Democratic Youth Union.

Escaping Conscription and Joining the Fight

When I wanted to attend university, I was told I had to join the army and move to Baghdad. Instead, I fled from Amedi to Dohuk and then to Zakho, where I gathered supplies before returning to my village in the Peshmerga-controlled area. There, I received a weapon and officially joined the Peshmerga. I served both as a Peshmerga and as a teacher in the revolutionary areas.

Establishing Schools in Revolutionary Areas

The leadership of the revolution recognized that children in these areas lacked access to education. They decided that villages with available teachers and space should establish schools. In Ekmal, with the approval of the villagers and support from the first branch of the PDK, we opened a primary school for grades 1 to 3. We had 76 students, and I, along with four friends, taught them with supplies we managed to gather. The community, along with the party, offered us significant support.

The Spirit of Nationalism

Our efforts were driven by a deep sense of Kurdish nationalism and a desire to serve our country, our people, and the revolution. We worked voluntarily, not for titles or monetary gain, but to fight against oppression and ensure the future of our nation.

The Impact of the Anfal Campaign

The event that impacted me the most was the Anfal campaign in 1988. You may wonder why. It was because we were forced to leave our villages. Despite all the strength of the Iraqi regime, they couldn’t defeat the revolution, but the Anfal campaign struck us deeply. We couldn’t protect our villages during the chemical attacks.

Loss and Survival During Anfal

During this time, all the school records I had worked so hard to preserve were destroyed. My son, who was three years old, along with two of my sisters and my stepmother, was captured by the Iraqi government. My wife, daughter, and I became wanderers and eventually fled to the Mardin camp, where we stayed for four years. Even there, I opened a school and taught, but those years remain my worst memory—leaving our home, village, and country, unable to protect them.

Continuing Education Amidst Conflict

Despite this, we continued fighting and liberated many areas from the Iraqi regime. At the Mardin camp, we taught both boys and girls, instilling in them a sense of Kurdish nationalism. Our curriculum included Kurdish history, the national anthem, and other important topics. We had 86 students, from grades 1 to 4. The school was located at the edge of the village, hidden among trees to avoid airstrikes.

Protecting Students in War Zones

We taught the children to walk to school in pairs and leave the same way to avoid attracting attention from enemy planes. We even built shelters around the school for protection. The school was in Kani Masi, near Amedi, where Iraqi forces were stationed. Daily bombings were a reality, but we endured to ensure our children received an education. The villagers and students supported us, and many of those students went on to become engineers, teachers, and doctors.

Lessons for the Next Generation

Today, our youth enjoy freedoms and comforts that were hard-earned through sacrifice. They must remember the history of our struggle and keep their sense of Kurdishness alive. They should honor the efforts of the past and strengthen their commitment to their land and country.

The Red Line and Peshmerga Control

In 1983, the Iraqi government declared a “Red Line” (Khat Ahmar). Those within this line were under Peshmerga control. The Peshmerga’s power grew, and many areas were liberated. The PDK encouraged the opening of schools and even a hospital, creating a semblance of a self-governed state.

Peshmerga Resistance and the People’s Motivation

The Iraqi government’s presence was limited to main roads and bazaars, and even then, they only patrolled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. because the Peshmerga ambushed them regularly. This motivated the people even more to join the revolution, fighting for their rights and freedom. Eventually, Iraqi control was reduced to a few soldiers along the main road in Kani Masi. After 2 p.m., they abandoned their posts due to constant Peshmerga movements.

Building a Foundation for Freedom

Our collective efforts during these times strengthened the revolution and laid the foundation for the freedoms we have today.

Written by: Soma Fuad