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Mustafa Faraj (born 1935 in
Sanandaj Sanandaj (; ) is a city in the Central District of Sanandaj County, in the Kurdistan province of Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. With a population of 414,069, it is the second largest Kurdish city a ...
,
Eastern Kurdistan Iranian Kurdistan or Eastern Kurdistan () is an unofficial name for the parts of northwestern Iran with either a majority or sizable population of Kurds. Geographically, it includes the West Azerbaijan province West Azerbaijan province ...
– died 1974) was a Kurdish general and a prominent figure within the
Peshmerga The Peshmerga () are the internal security forces of Kurdistan Region. According to the Constitution of Iraq, regional governments are responsible for "the establishment and organization of the internal security forces for the region such as p ...
during the armed resistance against the
Iraqi government The government of Iraq is defined under the current Constitution, approved in 2005, as a democratic, parliamentary republic with Islam as the official state religion. The government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branche ...
. He played a vital role in the Kurdish struggle for autonomy in northern Iraq. Mustafa Faraj was born in
Sanandaj Sanandaj (; ) is a city in the Central District of Sanandaj County, in the Kurdistan province of Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. With a population of 414,069, it is the second largest Kurdish city a ...
in 1935. His mother passed away during his early childhood. After her death, his father remarried and did not take care of him. Faraj was raised by his aunt in the city of
Shahrizor Shahrizor or Shahrezur () is a fertile plain in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, situated in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Silêmanî Governorate and west of Avroman, Hewraman. Shahrizor plain is watered by the Tributary, tributaries of Tandjaro r ...
,
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
. He later lived for extended periods in both
Chamchamal Chamchamal (, ) is a town located in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. it is the town which is nearest located to the disputed territories of Northern Iraq. Chamchamal is home to the Gorani language, Gorani-speaking Kurds, Kurdish ...
and
Kirkuk Kirkuk (; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate. The city is home to a diverse population of Kurds, Iraqi Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmens and Arabs. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Cit ...
. He began his career in the local police force in
Mosul Mosul ( ; , , ; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad. Situated on the banks of Tigris, the city encloses the ruins of the ...
, where he was promoted to a senior rank. In the early 1960s, after hearing a radio message from
Mustafa Barzani Mustafa Barzani (14 March 1903 – 1 March 1979), also known as Mullah Mustafa, was a Kurdish nationalist leader and one of the most prominent political figures in modern Kurdish politics. In 1946, he was chosen as the leader of the Kurdistan ...
calling for the creation of a free
Kurdistan Kurdistan (, ; ), or Greater Kurdistan, is a roughly defined geo- cultural region in West Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, languages, and national identity have historically been based. G ...
, Faraj made the decisive choice to join the Kurdish resistance. One night, he disarmed his own police unit and took twenty police officers hostage. He transported them—along with their weapons—to Barzani’s forces, where they were handed over as prisoners of war. This marked the start of his active role in the
Peshmerga The Peshmerga () are the internal security forces of Kurdistan Region. According to the Constitution of Iraq, regional governments are responsible for "the establishment and organization of the internal security forces for the region such as p ...
. Mustafa Faraj rose to the rank of general and commanded around 500 fighters directly. In larger operations, he led forces of up to 2,000 men. He played a leading role in several major battles against the
Iraqi Armed Forces The Iraqi Armed Forces are the military forces of the Iraq, Republic of Iraq. They consist of the Iraqi Army, Ground forces, the Iraqi Army Aviation Command, Army Aviation Command, the Iraqi Air Force, the Iraqi Air Defence Command, Air Defence ...
. During this period, the
Barzani family The Barzani tribe () is a Kurdish tribe and tribal confederation of various neighboring tribes inhabiting Barzan in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Barzanis are mostly Naqshbandi and one of the most influential tribes in Kurdistan. History Barz ...
sought temporary refuge in his home, a sign of the strong trust between them. Due to increasing persecution by the Ba’ath regime, Faraj was forced to go into hiding on several occasions. He spent a period living in a mountain cave to avoid capture by government forces. Throughout his military career, Faraj was wounded multiple times. As he could not safely seek medical care in
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
, he received several surgeries and treatments in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, particularly in
Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
. In the early 1970s, when Dr. Kemal Karkuki and his
Peshmerga The Peshmerga () are the internal security forces of Kurdistan Region. According to the Constitution of Iraq, regional governments are responsible for "the establishment and organization of the internal security forces for the region such as p ...
unit were imprisoned in
Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
, Faraj captured a high-ranking Iraqi officer and successfully negotiated a prisoner exchange that secured their release. In 1974, Faraj was killed during combat between the
Peshmerga The Peshmerga () are the internal security forces of Kurdistan Region. According to the Constitution of Iraq, regional governments are responsible for "the establishment and organization of the internal security forces for the region such as p ...
and the
Iraqi Armed Forces The Iraqi Armed Forces are the military forces of the Iraq, Republic of Iraq. They consist of the Iraqi Army, Ground forces, the Iraqi Army Aviation Command, Army Aviation Command, the Iraqi Air Force, the Iraqi Air Defence Command, Air Defence ...
. After his death, the Ba’ath regime tied his body to a tank and dragged it through the streets of
Kirkuk Kirkuk (; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate. The city is home to a diverse population of Kurds, Iraqi Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmens and Arabs. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Cit ...
as a public warning, to demonstrate that high-ranking Peshmerga could be eliminated. Mustafa Faraj had six children: * Sabria Mustafa Faraj * Aram Salah Mustafa Faraj * Layla Mustafa Faraj * Mina Mustafa Faraj * Mohammed Mustafa Faraj * Nahla Mustafa Faraj His son, Aram Salah Mustafa Faraj, led the Kurdish uprising (’’ Raparin’’) in
Chamchamal Chamchamal (, ) is a town located in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. it is the town which is nearest located to the disputed territories of Northern Iraq. Chamchamal is home to the Gorani language, Gorani-speaking Kurds, Kurdish ...
. He was killed by unknown Kurdish men in Qara Hanjir, between
Kirkuk Kirkuk (; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate. The city is home to a diverse population of Kurds, Iraqi Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmens and Arabs. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Cit ...
and
Sulaymaniyah Sulaymaniyah or Slemani (; ), is a city in the east of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and is the capital of the Sulaymaniyah Governorate. It is surrounded by the Azmar (Ezmer), Goizha (Goyje) and Qaiwan (Qeywan) Mountains in the northeast, Bara ...
. Another son, Mohammed Mustafa Faraj, remains active in the
Peshmerga The Peshmerga () are the internal security forces of Kurdistan Region. According to the Constitution of Iraq, regional governments are responsible for "the establishment and organization of the internal security forces for the region such as p ...
and fought on the frontlines against
ISIS Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...
in the Makhmur District, between the
Erbil Governorate Erbil Governorate (; ) is a governorate of Iraq in the Kurdistan Region. It is the capital and economic hub of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordere ...
and
Nineveh Governorate Nineveh Governorate (; , ) is a governorate in northern Iraq. It has an area of and an estimated population of 2,453,000 people as of 2003. Its largest city and provincial capital is Mosul, which lies across the Tigris river from the ruins of a ...
,
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
.


See also

*
Peshmerga The Peshmerga () are the internal security forces of Kurdistan Region. According to the Constitution of Iraq, regional governments are responsible for "the establishment and organization of the internal security forces for the region such as p ...
*
Mustafa Barzani Mustafa Barzani (14 March 1903 – 1 March 1979), also known as Mullah Mustafa, was a Kurdish nationalist leader and one of the most prominent political figures in modern Kurdish politics. In 1946, he was chosen as the leader of the Kurdistan ...
*
Kurdistan Kurdistan (, ; ), or Greater Kurdistan, is a roughly defined geo- cultural region in West Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, languages, and national identity have historically been based. G ...
*
Chamchamal Chamchamal (, ) is a town located in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. it is the town which is nearest located to the disputed territories of Northern Iraq. Chamchamal is home to the Gorani language, Gorani-speaking Kurds, Kurdish ...
*
Kirkuk Kirkuk (; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate. The city is home to a diverse population of Kurds, Iraqi Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmens and Arabs. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Cit ...
{{Authority control 1935 births 1974 deaths