Sulaymaniyah City Fallen and Martyrs Day in Iraqi Kurdistan Date in the current year: June 13, 2024

Sulaymaniyah (sometimes also spelled Suleimaniah or Suleymania) is one of the largest cities in Iraqi Kurdistan and its cultural capital. The present-day city was founded in 1784, but its ties to Kurdish culture are much older. One of the earliest known texts in the Kurdish language was found here in the 7th century.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Sulaymaniyah was an important center of Kurdish nationalism in Iraqi Kurdistan. It was here that Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji began his uprising against the British Mandate of Iraq. Following the proclamation of the Kingdom of Kurdistan in 1922, Sulaymaniyah was its capital until the collapse of the short-lived state in 1924.

In 1982, a group of young people from Sulaymaniyah was accused of planning an uprising against the ruling party, arrested and tortured, which led to a mass demonstration against the Iraqi authorities. In 1991, Sulaymaniyah became one of the centers of the uprising led by Kurdish separatists, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of people as the Iraqi government tried to suppress the revolt. Finally, in 2011, demonstrations against the inefficiency of the authorities and corruption took place in Sulaymaniyah. 10 protesters were killed and several hundred were injured.

Sulaymaniyah has been the center of Kurdish nationalism practically since it was founded, so it is not surprising that thousands of its residents fell victims to Iraqi Kurds’ struggle for autonomy. Their memory is honored every June 13 with solemn ceremonies and prayers.