Kurdish writer, creator of Kurdish Republic stamp, counts down days to referendum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Mumtaz Haidari, a 79-years-old Kurdish writer, and creator of the Kurdistan Republic stamp, hopes to live long enough to participate in the scheduled Kurdistan Region independence referendum and witness the birth of an independent Kurdish state.

Haidari was raised in one of the Kurdistan Region's most prominent intellectual Kurdish families. His library is full of books about Kurdistan’s history and the right to self-determination, written in various languages.

He has been writing about the state of Kurdistan for the past 58 years. The Kurdish aspiration of statehood has long been reflected in the writings of Haidari.

“My first article was published in an Arabic newspaper under the title 'Remembering Kurdistan's Republic.' I emphasized the Kurdish right to self-determination there,” he told Kurdistan24.

The Kurdish writer has been jailed and faced many charges and threats for writing about independence. His family has often been an unfortunate victim of his articles as well.

“I have been jailed and tortured.  After the Iraqi Baath regime discovered I had created the Kurdistan Republic – Erbil stamp for my library [25 years ago], they immediately closed down my library and expelled my daughter who was studying at the University of Baghdad at the time,” Haidari said.

The President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, on June 7 announced plans to hold an independence referendum on Sep. 25, 2017, stating the people of the Kurdistan Region should be allowed to exercise their democratic rights and decide on their future.

While some countries claim the timing of the referendum is not suitable, Haidari states that the process is long overdue. “The referendum for independence should have been held many years ago.”

“Every Kurd in the Kurdistan Region, from Zakho to Khanaqeen, should come to the streets and hold Kurdistan flag in their hands during the Kurdistan Flag Day [Dec. 17]. I doubt any country, including Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Europe, or even the US, would be able to oppose the strong will of the people of the Kurdistan Region,” Haidari added.

He mentioned that he is counting the days ahead of the referendum date to vote in favor of seceding from the rest of Iraq.

Kurds are believed to be the largest stateless nation in the world, estimated to be over 40 million, mostly settled in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. The creation of a Kurdish state has long been a dream for most Kurds around the world.

Editing by G.H. Renaud