Protesters carry the Kurdistan Region flag during a demonstration in Sulaymaniyah in support of Syrian Kurds, Jan. 19, 2026. (Photo: 964media)
Kurdistan flag emerges as unifying symbol of demonstrations backing Rojava Kurds
SULAYMANIYAH — Residents across the Kurdistan Region are displaying increased enthusiasm for the Kurdish flag, turning it into a visible symbol of national pride amid ongoing protests in support of Kurds in Rojava.
Protests have continued for more than a week in response to assaults by Syrian regime forces and allied Islamist militias on Kurds in Rojava, Syria.
Demonstrators say the attacks are not just a military offensive but also an existential threat to Kurdish existence in Syria.
Fariq Mohammed, a shop owner in Sulaymaniyah, told 964media that demand for Kurdistan flags, logos, and maps has risen sharply during the protests. “People are buying flags in all sizes, sometimes more than one, and placing them on their cars or waving them in the streets,” he said.
Mohammed added that demand is especially high among youth and has reached a level where he struggles to keep up with sales.
He noted the level of interest spans all age groups. “Especially among the youth, the demand for the Kurdistan flag is unprecedented,” he said. “Never before have Kurds been this united — young and old, everyone wants to hold and raise the Kurdistan flag.”
During ongoing demonstrations, protesters have raised the Kurdistan flag as a symbol of identity and resistance. Hersh Mahmood, a local driver, told 964media, “By raising our flag, we show support for the Kurdish people of Rojava and stand with them.”
“I’ve placed a Kurdistan flag on my car,” he said. “Every nation has its own symbols and flag. As a Kurd who speaks Kurdish and was created by God as a Kurd, I raise this flag to support our brothers and sisters in Rojava.”
The Kurdistan Flag Day is observed annually on Dec. 17 after the Kurdistan Parliament designated it in 2009 under Resolution No. 48. Flag Day commemorations follow a 1999 parliamentary decision recognizing the current version of the Kurdistan flag as the region’s official flag. Schools, government offices and other institutions typically mark the occasion by raising the flag and holding celebrations.