Kurdistan Commemorates Madame Danielle Mitterrand's Centenary - The Woman Who Restored Hope to Kurdish Nation in 1991

President Barzani has said of her legacy: "Danielle Mitterrand's tears for the people of Kurdistan will never be forgotten. Her memory shall continue to be honored annually in the Kurdistan Region.”

Former France First Lady Danielle Mitterrand. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
Former France First Lady Danielle Mitterrand. (Photo: Kurdistan24)

Nov. 12, 2024

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Tuesday marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Danielle Mitterrand, the former First Lady of France who played a pivotal role in supporting the Kurdish people during their darkest hours in 1991.

"Hope is born from hopelessness" - these words rang true when Mitterrand, wife of former French President François Mitterrand, traveled from Paris to Kurdish refugee camps along the border between northern and southern Kurdistan during the mass exodus of 1991.

During her historic visit, Mitterrand met with President Masoud Barzani and Kurdish refugees, witnessing firsthand the dire conditions facing the Kurdish people. "We have tried to make the Kurdish voice heard worldwide," she declared at the time.

Her humanitarian intervention led to France calling for a UN Security Council meeting, resulting in Resolution 688, which established the no-fly zone above the 36th parallel and created a safe haven for the Kurdish people.

In 2009, Mitterrand returned to Kurdistan, addressing the Parliament where she stated, "I am very happy and fortunate to be in Kurdistan. I feel as if I'm in my own country - we are one family. The diversity in your parliament is a sign of richness and a source of pride. The presence of parliamentary opposition indicates a mature and healthy democracy."

Born on Oct. 29, 1924, in Verdun, eastern France, Mitterrand passed away on Nov.  22, 2011. She was a dedicated human rights activist and political advocate who championed justice from an early age.

President Barzani has said of her legacy: "Danielle Mitterrand's tears for the people of Kurdistan will never be forgotten. Her memory shall continue to be honored annually in the Kurdistan Region.”

Danielle Mitterrand's intervention in 1991 came at a crucial moment in Kurdish history, when hundreds of thousands of Kurds were fleeing to the mountains following Saddam Hussein's brutal crackdown.

Her advocacy helped establish international protection for the Kurdish people, laying the groundwork for the autonomous Kurdistan Region we know today.

The establishment of the no-fly zone above the 36th parallel proved to be a turning point in Kurdish history, providing the security and stability necessary for the development of Kurdish self-governance.