Sheikh Ahmed Barzani (1896–1969) (Vorlage:Lang-ku ), also known as Khudan (خودان) was the head of Barzani Tribe in Iraqi Kurdistan. Sheikh Ahmed is considered to be the architect of Barzan by bringing many different Kurdish tribes under his command and expanding Barzan region. Along with his younger brother Mustafa Barzani, he fought against the oppression of Iraqi government in the 1920s and 1930s.
Sheikh Ahmed's teachings of love, patriotism, tolerance, respect, equality, share of wealth, acquiring knowledge, social reform and environmental protection were unprecedented during his time in Kurdistan. Barzan was at its hay day during his time.
Barzan Revolts
The first of the major Barzani revolts took place in 1931 after Sheikh Ahmed Barzani, one of the most prominent Kurdish leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan succeeded in defeating a number of Kurdish tribes loyal to Iraqi government as well as regular Iraqi troops.
He was later forced to flee to Turkey, where he was held in detention and then sent to exile in the south of Iraq. He headed Barzan’s largest revolution from 1931 to 1937 and gained the respect of many Iraqi Army generals who were fighting him, such as General Abdul-Jabar Barznji the commander of Iraqi Army in Barzan region. Later, the two became close friends.
The Sheikh was the center of focus of the British, Iraqi and Turkish discontent. He was very sympathetic to the Kurdish movements in the North led by Khoyboun (the Arrarat Revolt). He received many Turkey's Kurds who were seeking sanctuary in Barzan, including Kor Hussein Pasha. In September 1930, a Turkish military attaché in Baghdad told Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri Said, “the Turkish military operations in Ararat were very successful. The army will carry similar operations to the west of the Lake of Wan. We expect these operations to come to an end soon. The Turkish army will mobilize along the Iraq-Turkey border if the Iraq Army moves against the Sheikh Barzan. In fact, Ismet Inono complained to Nuri Said in Ankara that Sheikh Ahmed was supporting the insurrection in Ararat (see Archive E4976/1932/93, dated 4SEP1930)
Environmental Protection
Sheikh Ahmed was the first known Kurdish environmentalist and conservationist leader. He attempted to enforce certain regulation to maintain a clean environment. He prohibited, among other things:
- Cutting down trees, especially those which provided shade and prevented erosion
- Overharvesting honey
- Killing the non-poisoned snakes.
- Fishing with dynamites and other explosives
- Hunting during breeding seasons. [1]
Sheikh Ahmed Legacy
Sheikh Ahmed rejected the traditional way of maintaining leadership within the same family. He emphasized that whoever takes the lead must be qualified for such a job. He always condemned corruption which was beginning to take part within the Kurdish Movement and was highly critical of ignoring the oppressed masses who were the victims of the movement’s failures.[2]
Barzani died in 1969.
The British government archives contain many documents about Sheikh Ahmed. For more information review “Iraq: The state of Violence” by Peresh, year 1986.