Erbil's History Cannot Be Rewritten by a Flag

Erbil Does Not Change Its Identity with a Questionable Flag

Luqman Mustafa Salih | Exclusive to iKurd.net
Translated from Kurdish SharPress

In recent days, a scene from the historic Erbil Citadel has been circulating: a Turkmen girl, wearing traditional clothing and holding a questionable flag associated with a political party, claims that “Erbil is a Turkmen city.”

This is not simply a personal expression of opinion. If it is done for political purposes and to shape an identity, it raises a bigger question: Can Erbil lose its historical identity because of a party flag and political slogans?

The answer is clear: No. The Kurdish position does not deny the Turkmen minority’s right to protect its language, culture, and identity.

Turkmen people, as a minority, are part of the society of the Kurdistan Region, and they have the right to live freely and express their identity.

But there is a major difference between protecting the identity of a minority community and changing the identity of a city.

Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Region, and the Erbil Citadel is one of the most important historical landmarks of the city.

That history does not change because someone raises a party flag or posts a video on social media. It also does not change because of those who currently support them and take pride in doing so.

If this act is simply the behavior of an individual, it can be viewed as a personal opinion. But if there is a political project behind this display aimed at creating a false identity and then building political claims on that identity, then it must be met with a serious and firm response.

Because what starts today with a flag can become a political claim tomorrow.

Erbil is home to all of its communities, but this does not give anyone the right to change the history of the city with baseless slogans.

The people of Erbil tell them, and those supporting them: Erbil is not a place to test your political projects. If you have historical evidence, present it to the people. If you do not, do not create history with a model girl, a questionable flag, and fabricated slogans, only to bring yourselves further shame.

Because history is not written with slogans, and the identity of the capital of the Kurdistan Region cannot be tarnished by a political display.

Just as a party flag is not historical evidence, a slogan is not evidence of geography, and a political party does not have the right to rewrite history according to its own wishes.

Erbil is Erbil: the capital of the Kurdistan Region and part of the ancient history of this land and this people.

This is a historical fact, not a politically driven slogan backed by others.

This article was originally published in the Kurdish language in SharPress on September 5, 2026.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.