Sami Yusuf sings in solidarity with Kurds

The British singer-songwriter and composer, Sami Yusuf praises the Peshmerga forces fighting the Islamic State (IS).

ERBIL, Kurdistan (Kurdistan24) – The British singer-songwriter and composer, Sami Yusuf praises the Peshmerga forces fighting the Islamic State (IS).

Sami Yusuf, who recently released a video clip of his Kurdish song, in an exclusive interview with Kurdistan24 on Wednesday, said that he hopes to visit Erbil, the Kurdistan Region capital and see its main mosque.

“I love the Kurdish language and people; I have known them since I was a kid. I grew up listening to Kurdish music,” the singer of Azerbaijani descent said.

Yusuf said that he didn’t release the song in Kurdish to expand his fan base. “I am not very commercial, I released the song because I am with the Kurdish people. I love the Kurds… This is a gesture of solidarity,” he said.

Yusuf said that he is familiar with the role Kurds are playing in the world. “I am unhappy about the way Kurdish identity has been suppressed over the years."

“Unfortunately, some parts of the world ignore or refuse to see that this great nation exists as they are contributing and are fighting the war on terror,” Yusuf stated.

Yusuf emphasised that Peshmerga has made great sacrifices.

Sami Yusuf released his new album ‘Barakah’ in early 2016. According to Yusuf, the new album aims “to respond to the growing [Islamic] extremism in our world with a call for a return to harmony and balance.”

 

Editing by Ava Homa 
(Kurdistan24 team in Istanbul conducted the interview)