Mama Risha Kurdish leader Najmadin Shukr Rauf known as Mama Risha meaning (Bearded Uncle) was born in 1955 in village of Talaban near Kirkuk of Kurdistan region into a poor family, he enjoys near mythical status in Kurdish society. In 1970, he joined the Palestinian revolution when he was too young. Mama Risha was a prominent member of the Peshmerga (Kurdish armed forces) during the Kurdish prolonged warfare with the Iraqi Government armed forces in their struggle for self-ruled northern Iraq. When Ba’ath regime headed by ousted Saddam Hussein launched an ethnic cleansing campaign during 1970-1980s against Kurds, destroying over 5,000 Kurdish villages and displacing thousands of villagers, Mama Risha decided to join Peshmerga forces of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to respond this brutal policy applied by Ba’ath regime. According to some Kurdish sources he chose that nickname (Mama Risha) because he swore that he would never shave his beard until Kurdistan was totally free from Baath Partys control. He was also nicknamed the Iron Man for his furious and well organized battles and ambushes against the Iraqi forces near the Kirkuk area. In mid 1970s, he joined the Peshmerga forces of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Jalal Talabani. He is considered by most Kurds as a role model and a legendary fighter. Najmadin was killed on January 25, 1985 in an ambush planned by Ba’ath regime.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 23:22:24 +0000
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