Hundreds of Kurds gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 27, to mark the eighth anniversary of the independence referendum held in the Kurdistan Region on September 25, 2017. Participants held signs reading “Freedom for Kurdistan” and “Borders Divided Us, Kurdistan Unites Us” while waving Kurdish flags.
The event was organized by the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation in partnership with the Kurdistani Diaspora Center of Nashville and the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council. It served as a solemn commemoration of a historic democratic exercise that affirmed the Kurdish people’s right to self-determination.
“We gathered to mark the eighth anniversary of the Kurdistan independence referendum,” said Ipek Ismail, Vice President of the Kurdistani Diaspora Center of Nashville, emphasizing the significance of the gathering. “Kurdistan is home to over 40 million people and millions more in the diaspora – the largest population in the world without a country. Recognizing Kurdistan means recognizing justice, freedom, and stability in the Middle East.”
Many members of the international community – including the UK, France, and the UN – have expressed support for Palestinian statehood, stating that “statehood for the Palestinian people is a right.” In response, several members of the Kurdish diaspora, along with activists and journalists, have supported the idea of a Palestinian nation while also appealing to global leaders to provide similar recognition to Kurdish interests. “A free Kurdistan is the aspiration of the Kurdish people and is linked to the broader goals of peace, democracy, and human rights,” Ismail told Kurdistan Chronicle. “From Nashville to communities worldwide, there are ongoing efforts to advocate for freedom and independence.”
Every year since 2017, a wide range of Kurds from across the world share pictures and publish posts on social media to commemorate the referendum, expressing their belief that the dream of independence will one day come true. This year, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, the former President of Kurdistan Region, highlighted the resilience of the Kurdish nation. He stated that the idea of homeland goes beyond mere geography, embodying the living sacrifices of its people. “The homeland is not simply a map; it is the blood coursing through our veins,” he said in a post on his official account on X. “What you plant today, you will harvest tomorrow.”
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also reflected on this significant anniversary, describing September 25, 2017, as a day that showcased the courageous decision of the Kurdish people, a moment that represented the victory of their national spirit and inspired hope for the future. He congratulated the people of Kurdistan, the Peshmerga fighters, and the families of martyrs, paying homage to President Barzani’s leadership and the sacrifices that made the referendum a reality.
In conjunction with the anniversary, the Kurdistani Diaspora Center has launched a petition to ensure that Kurdish voices are heard and to remind the international community of the clear and democratic will expressed in the 2017 Referendum, when over 92.7% voted yes for the independence of Kurdistan. The petition serves as a united call from Kurds across the world to stand against historic injustices and to affirm that the right of the Kurdish people to independence is undeniable, irrevocable, and eternal. “By raising our voices together, we keep Kurdistan’s struggle alive and bring it closer to global recognition,” Ismail said.
The Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation echoed these sentiments in a statement, reflecting on the past struggles of the Kurdish people. “A century ago, our nation was unwillingly locked within imposed boundaries and divided among states that never respected our national rights. Particularly in Iraq, for decades, our nation endured oppression and injustice. Despite these crimes, our people persevered in their struggle for freedom, sacrificing tens of thousands of lives.”
