When you climb the winding paths of Azmr and reach its summit, an awe-inspiring panorama unfolds before you — a breathtaking blend of mountains, plains, hills, and valleys, all blanketed in countless trees. This land carries its own character and rhythm. Locals even divide it into two poetic realms — the “hard city” and the “flat city” — to describe its deserts and the intensity of its heat.
The Timeless Land of Sharbazher
Sharbazher has a long and fascinating administrative history. From the Ottoman Empire to the British presence in Kurdistan and Iraq, it stood as its own unit of governance. Yet, in the hearts and memories of its people, Sharbazher remains the same — an enduring name bound to identity and heritage.
The word Sharbazher itself is a linguistic gem — a compound of two synonymous Kurdish words meaning “city.” Its beauty lies not only in language but also in what it represents: a land of resilience and continuity.
Land of Rebellion and Resistance
This geography was once a place of defiance — a refuge for those who resisted invasion. During the Iraqi monarchy, these freedom fighters were slandered as “guerrillas” by those in power, a term meant to shame them. But the people saw them differently. To them, these were brave rebels — protectors of the homeland.
Azawi, a researcher from Baghdad, even wrote Al-Kitab al-Aswad (“The Black Book”), a text filled with distortions meant to discredit them. Yet the truth survived — not on paper, but in the living memory of the people.
The Storytellers of Sharbazher
The stories of Khulapiza and his companions were passed down through generations. My uncle, Auli Gulchin, was among the young fighters who became Khulapiza’s trusted right hand. His courage, loyalty, and friendship became the heartbeat of these tales.
At night, my grandmother, Gulchin, would lull us to sleep with her melodic voice, retelling the legends of Auli and Khulapiza. These stories became our lullabies, our identity, and our history.
Rudaw’s Mission: Finding Kurds Everywhere
One of Rudaw Media Network’s earliest missions was simple yet profound: “We will find Kurds wherever they are.” From the Caucasus to Europe, Istanbul to Tehran, and even Africa — this vision sought to reconnect the Kurdish spirit scattered across borders.
When I began writing my book, Rudaw’s Director General encouraged me to create a documentary as well. But there was a challenge: beyond a few photographs by the renowned historical photographer Yahya Fani Rasam and some archived articles in Zhin, there was little documented history.
So we turned to oral history — the voices of the people who lived through those times. Few remain, but their testimonies are invaluable.
From Memory to Documentary
Oral history and firsthand testimony have become cornerstones of modern historical research, not just in Kurdistan but globally. Through them, we can resurrect truth from silence.
Our upcoming documentary, Khulapiza, will premiere on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 5 PM in Saleem Cinema, Sulaimani. It will revisit the rebellion of Khulapiza and his comrades, bringing their courage and sacrifice to light once more.
An Invitation to Witness History
We invite everyone — historians, students, dreamers, and those simply curious — to join us in watching Khulapiza. Together, we will rediscover the landscapes of Sharbazher, listen to the voices of the past, and open our eyes once again to the enduring beauty and resilience of Kurdistan.
