Thread on extraordinary women from Kurdistan, you should know. Each has their own individual story that cannot be told in one tweet, so please google & read about them yourselves. And please always remember, our societies only work when women & men respect/support each other.1/21

Helena Hazabani or Helena of Adiabene was Queen in Hewlêr (Erbil) and Riha (Urfa/Edessa) in the first century. She was probably born into a Zoroastrian family but later converted to Judaism. Helena was noted for her generosity and helped Jerusalem during a famine in 45-46 CE.2/21

Marziya Fariqi was a musician & Peshmerga. Her patriotic songs inspired Kurds around the world to strive stronger for self-determination. This stance against tyranny made her a political prisoner of Iran in the 70s. She engaged actively in women's/children’s rights movements.3/21

Mastura Ardalan was a Kurdish poet, writer, historian & princess of the Ardalan principality. After the invasion of the Turkic Qajars of Persia into Ardalan, she fled to the principality of Baban. She was the only female Middle Eastern historian until the end of the 19th c. 4/21

Hapsa Khan Naqib, a 20th c. feminist from Slemani found the first women's school & first women's organization of the region. Married to the PM of the Kingdom of Kurdistan, and a strong supporter of self-determination, she also supported Qazi Mohammad's Republic of Kurdistan. 5/21

Leyla Qasim, a 20th c. resistance member from Khanaqin, executed for advocating self-determination. Her last words: "Kill me, but you should know that through my death thousands of Kurds will awake from a deep sleep. I'm glad to give my life on the path to a free Kurdistan." 6/21

Kurda Naqshbandi was a 20th c. feminist, revolutionary & poet from Hawraman. She taught herself to read/write & defied traditional gender roles by demanding a female role in the revolution, leading to a band of sisters who collected donations & smuggled Peshmerga weapons. 7/21

Adela Khanem was a Kurdish 19th/20th c. princess from Sulaimani/Sine (Sanandaj), who later ruled in Halabja. Foreign politicians often visited and lauded her as a capable, strong, and brave Kurdish leader. During her reign, Halabja and its surroundings developed considerably.8/21

Asenath Barzani was the first female Rabbi in the world and lived in the 16th/17th century. She lead a yeshiva, a school for Jewish theology, and was known all over Kurdistan for her excellent knowledge of the Talmud & the Torah. She also engaged in beautiful poetry. 9/21

Leyla Badirkhan was a 20th c. princess & ballet dancer who gained global popularity. She's widely regarded as the first ballet dancer from the Mideast, with shows in America & Europe. Her love for Kurdistan was a constant in her life, always stating that she was a Kurd. 10/21

Ayshe Shan, a 20th c. singer from Amed not only opposed traditional norms holding Kurdish women back but also devoted her great voice to her Kurdish nation. After losing her daughter, she stopped singing. Her love for Kurdistan revived her voice in the 1991 revolution. 11/21

Havrin Khalaf, a 20th c. politician from Derik in Kurdistan was widely known for her diplomatic & uniting approach in politics & never saw a difference between Kurdistan's various ethnicities. Her vision of a better world remains alive in the fight for self-determination. 12/21

Mira Khanzada of Soran, a 16th/17th c. princess/commander in Kurdistan developed her principality & build several monuments in her realm, including the Khanzad Castle. Poems state that she was a generous ruler, in whose realm “stones turn to cheese” & “water turns to milk.” 13/21

Margaret George Shello was an Assyrian Kurdistani Peshmerga in the 20th c. In the 60s she joined Kurdistan’s Peshmerga forces to fight for her people’s right to self-determination vs. Iraq’s brutal rule. Her bravery was acknowledged by all her Peshmerga comrades and leaders.14/21

Mira Mayan Khatun, a 19th/20th c. commander/princess of the Yazidi Shekhan principality in Kurdistan. Not only did she supervise the principality’s politics, she also educated the later prince Mir Tahsin Beg in politics & diplomacy. Her work contributed to Yazidi survival. 15/21

Qadam Kheyr was a 20th c. revolutionary from Luristan in Kurdistan. She led an army against Iran to liberate Kurdistan & to revenge her brother, murdered by Reza Shah. Her loyalty/bravery made her a hero in Kurdistan. Her fight vs Tehran was one of the biggest to this day. 16/21

Najiba Khan Jalilzada, a 20th c. politician & feminist from Koya. Her entrance into school created the first mixed school in Kurdistan & she also supervised a girls' school later. Her political work strengthened Kurdistan's female voice in the self-determination struggle. 17/21

Rewshan Badirkhan, a 20th c. princess, politician, author & one of the first teachers in Syria. She engaged a lot in female education. Being the only Kurd present at the '57 anti-colonial conference in Greece, she showed a lot of courage & determination vs all fascists.18/21

Maryam Qazi, a 20th c. author/television presenter from Mahabad. Her writings focused on women's rights & Kurdistan's right to self-determination, for which she had a deep rooting love. One of her books, "Piřjîn" (Full of Life), focuses on the chemical attacks on Kurdistan. 19/21

Rabia Khanim, a 20th c. patriotic businesswoman from Slemani who monitored the city's bread production. Her work was especially important during Kurdistan's armed struggle for self-determination. She made sure that everybody had enough food & that there were no shortages. 20/21

Fatima Khan of Rawandiz, a 20th c. leader in Kurdistan. After her husband died, she hid it from people (to not strengthen enemies) & administered on herself. However, when it came out, ppl were impressed by her leadership & didn't mind choosing a woman as their leader. 21/21