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Documentary about Leyla Zana on Youtube
23.10.2006
By Vladimir van Wilgenburg, Journalist, Netherlands |
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Monday, October 23, --
Someone posted a documentary about the Kurdish
female leader Leyla Zana on Youtube. It's very
interesting how video websites like Youtube are
turning into a platform for political activism and
promotion of the ethnic Kurdish identity.
The documentary is a biography of Leyla Zana (born
May 3, 1961) and it’s made by the Kurdish-Canadian
filmmaker Jiyar Gol, who is originally from Sinne in
Kurdistan Rojhelat, eastern Kurdistan (Iran). He has
created several movies about North
(Kurdistan-Turkey)- and South-Kurdistan
(Kurdistan-Iraq).
This 10- minute biography of Leyla Zana tells more
about this dedicated Kurdish Parliamentarian who was
imprisoned for 11 years simply for speaking Kuridsh
in Turkish National assembly.
She was a three times Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
Leyla Zana was even awarded with the 1995 Sakharov
Prize by the European Parliament, but was unable to
collect it until her release in 2004. In 2006 Leyla
Zana visited South-Kurdistan (Kurdistan-Iraq), but
in general she isn’t politically active anymore. |
Leyla Zana on trial in Turkey (1994)
Photo:AP |
Jiyar Gol portrays Leyla Zana as a brave politician
who stood up for her Kurdish identity and rights. In
this short documentary a variety of people give a
deeper insight into Leyla Zana and also into the
Kurdish issue in Turkey.
Currently Jiyar Gol is directing a documentary film
on Canada’s Health Care system for Canada's Global
National TV and developing a movie about Anfal in
Kerkuk.
Jiyar Films productions
http://vladimirkurdistan.blogspot.com
The use of the term "Kurdistan" is vigorously
rejected due to its alleged political implications
by the Republic of Turkey, which does not recognize
the existence of a "Turkish Kurdistan".
Others estimate as many as 40 million Kurds live in
Big Kurdistan (Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Armenia),
which covers an area as big as France, about half of
all Kurds which estimate to 20 million live in
Turkey.
The Kurdish flag flown officially in Iraqi Kurdistan but
unofficially flown by Kurds in Armenia. The flag is
banned in Iran, Syria, and Turkey where flying it is
a criminal offence"
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
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