Statues of the renowned Kurdish leader Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji and his fellow fighters in Barda Qaraman, west of Suleimaniya Kurdistan

 Statues of the renowned Kurdish leader Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji

Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji or Sheikh Mahmud Hafid (1878 -- October 9, 1956) was the leader of a series of Kurdish uprisings against the British Mandate of Iraq. - He was sheikh of a Qadiriyah Sufi family from the city of Suleimaniya. - He twice proclaimed himself king of an independent Kurdish state. - Sheikh sued for peace and was exiled in southern Iraq in May 1932 and was able to return to his family village in 1941 where he remained the rest of his years. - He ultimately died in 1956 with his family.  - He was a brave leader against the British Mandate in Iraq and fought for the independence and respect of his people. 

 Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji

Source:Site Kurdistan ART