By Eman Magid
Modern, History, and power—these words trace their origins to Kurdistan, a land where the Kurdish people have endured centuries of struggle to preserve their identity.
In the heart of this history lies a beautiful Kurdish village called Sartange, nestled between towering mountains and lush valleys. Located along the Turkey highway, on a high mountain between Duhok and Zakho governorates, Sartange once stood as a vibrant community and a symbol of resilience.
From 1967 to 1971, Hagi Xalid Sartange, a respected leader, cared for a large clan of families living across 1,300 houses. He juggled his responsibilities between tending to his land, supporting his family, and aiding the Peshmerga—the Kurdish freedom fighters. Life in Sartange was defined by both beauty and hardship. The Iraqi army frequently clashed with the Peshmerga, keeping villagers in a constant state of fear. Children stayed indoors, and families lived with the ever-present anxiety of attacks.
The other army attacked Sartange three times, each assault devastating the village. The first attack, in 1961, forced half the population to flee, while the rest stayed behind to defend their land, harvests, and livestock—their primary sources of livelihood. The second attack, in 1974, shattered a seemingly ordinary day with the deafening sound of bombs. Villagers hid in their homes as the Peshmerga and the enemy forces clashed, leaving many dead or injured. The final blow came in 1987, two years before the Kurdish Anfal genocide. This attack marked the village’s ultimate farewell, as residents were forced to leave Sartange forever. The village became known as “Little Barzan,” which is the heart of bravery in Kurdistan, a passage for women and children fleeing violence.
Hagi Xalid Sartange had strong ties with prominent Kurdish leaders, including Ali Khalil, head of the Kurdish Democratic Army, as well as Asad Xoshabi and his son, Salem. These leaders often sought refuge in Sartange before moving to nearby villages like Mangesh and Bamarne. The latter became a central base for the Kurdish Democratic Army.
Despite the villagers’ financial struggles, Hagi Xalid Sartange stood by his people. He gathered them in his home, offering his personal property—soil tractors, a classic car, and a pickup truck—to facilitate their journeys to Mosul, the primary market hub. He even suggested selling his remaining property to provide food for the villagers and their animals.
The people of Sartange survived on agriculture and animal husbandry. Hagi Xalid himself owned extensive groves, but life in the village was far from easy. One day, he was bitten by a snake, and the nearest hospital was in Mosul, reflecting the daily hardships faced by the villagers.
One cold winter night in 1974, while everyone was asleep, the terrifying roar of bombs shattered the silence once again. The enemy army, led by Brigade Commander, demanded a room in Hagi Xalid’s house by force, unaware that he was secretly sheltering Peshmerga fighters in another room. Through sheer courage and divine protection, Hagi Xalid and his children survived the ordeal.
Hagi Xalid tirelessly supported the Peshmerga, delivering food to them in the mountains using pickup trucks and other vehicles. Sartange’s strategic location made it a critical base for the Kurdish fighters, who often operated from the surrounding highlands. Hagi Xalid also cared for 70 families, along with his workers and farmers. Sadly, in 1971, he died of a heart attack while travelling to Baghdad for medical treatment. But his children stayed in their land until the village’s final destruction in 1987.
In the spring of 1987, the regime launched an aerial assault on Sartange, forcing the villagers to abandon their homeland once and for all. Tractors flattened their homes, and the people scattered to Duhok, Sumel, Zakho, and other nearby villages. Only few remaining families attempted to cultivate the land for agricultural purposes, but Sartange was no longer the vibrant community it once was.
Today, Sartange stands as a testament to resilience and renewal. Once the heart of Kurdish resistance, the land has transformed into a modern hub of education and prosperity. It now hosts three major universities—Nawroz University, Duhok Agriculture University, and the American University of Kurdistan.
Is near the village …which on 18 November Auk Welcomed with H.E prime minister of kurdistan Masror Barzani and also many guests from all over the world to visit the campus for universal conference called MEPS that contains of workshops and panels talking about stability, economic reform,and the role of government, Rahma Was one of participants in this event and he points to: MEPS 2025 gives me hope that peace and stability aren’t dreams they’re goals we can reach together. Seeing leaders, experts, and young people in one place makes the future look brighter, MEPS isn’t about politics only it’s about people, ideas, and the power of collaboration. I’m proud to be part of a generation that refuses to settle for instability and chooses progress instead.
This conference shows us the changes that have happened to this land over time. In the past, the only businesses or work for people were farming and commerce. Time is the only scale of change in a certain small village, and this is evidence of the big changes that we see today in all sectors.
As well as the bustling Family Mall and flourishing agricultural centres. The spirit of Sartange lives on, not only in the memories of its people but also in its modern contributions to Kurdish society. Sartange’s soil may have been scarred by history, but its soul remains unbroken—a timeless reminder of the Kurdish people’s enduring strength and unwavering hope for freedom.
In the past, people were eating culturally healthy Kurdish food, living together in villages and bringing a fresh harvest of the day to cook was the main enjoyable part of mothers in 1980s … imagine nowadays on 16 October, the Family mall in Sartange village manages a big cultural food festival, the years can run through the same place except that the culture never changes! On the word of mouth (Mrs.Nasren Tahrr) Business owner of “mother kitchen “who participated in the festival: this kind of festival is so good, we as a commercial kitchen led by a lady we prepare kurdish food for the reason that they don’t lose their identity with time, this event has a special meaning for us and also it help our business to grow more.
Haval Barzani is one of the management team leaders who made this cultural event happen; these festivals are the main generator for keeping our culture alive and it is a window for sharing the Kurdish journey with universal people, plus it also helps the mall to grow its yearly profit since we connect seasonal Kurdish events with marketing. And here we can see the time effect on this Sartange village through the years.
Ramifarm was one of the samples at the New Year festival as well. Rami Farm cultivates top-quality, locally sourced products and empowers over 250 individuals with great job opportunities, fostering a community where everyone contributes to local prosperity. And they say that: Our facility can accommodate approximately 2500 cows, with 2000 currently being raised.
These cows are sourced from six different European countries. And they belong to the renowned Holstein breed, which is widely recognised as the best-breeding cow worldwide. To ensure efficient management, the cows are housed in separate halls. We milk 1,000 cows, utilising advanced technology to produce high-quality organic milk for everyone. Each cow yields approximately 28kg of milk per day. The festival also featured many other elements, such as hair accessories, handmade clothing, and local candle shops. This place observes many festivals that reflect its cultural traditions.
Also in last days of 2025 December family mall baced in Sartange village tried to keep cultural heritage alive through their festivals, one of example place to show this is Kazan Nuts, in words of mouth of Mr haron He said that: We do different types of things, We aim two things: first we support local products and sell village harvest, farmers and we support them … also we bring outside products and bring them to kurdistan,t his all by participating in festivals to serve people … about their work in festival, a lot of people and tourists visit them and they have the opportunity to share the kurdish experience by their products that contain nuts, cultural sweets and many other healthy food stuff and also they sell special medical herbs. This festival was an important opportunity for them as both a marketing plan and a seasonal event to promote their brand. We can compare this diversity of business with past days, which only had harvesting in the village and commerce through the same harvesting process.
As the final attack of 1987 shattered the quiet resilience of Sartange, mothers stood in their doorways, whispering prayers into the cold mountain air. It was not just homes they were leaving behind but generations of memories etched into every corner of the village—the fields where children once chased butterflies, the groves that scented the breeze, and the mountain paths worn smooth by the footsteps of shepherds and freedom fighters alike. Families, once bound by shared laughter and moments of peace, were forced to break apart, scattering faraway lands where the hills no longer cradled them like home.
But Sartange was more than soil and stone. It was a promise whispered from mother to child that no matter how far life pulled them from their roots, their hearts would always carry the land with them. The taste of fresh figs, the golden light of sunrise brushing the mountaintops, became fragments of home carried in every heart. Even as tractors crushed the last standing walls, the land itself seemed to whisper, “Go, but do not forget. Leave, but know this is where you belong.” Sartange lived on—not just in the farewell footprints of its people but in the echoes of their laughter, in the resilience passed down through generations. The mountains, the groves, and the air that once held their voices, remain their true home—no matter where they go, Sartange is forever where they belong.
*Eman Magid from Duhok graduated from Physics Science College. She invented three electrical devices during her second and third years of university. She is also a Business Management Trainer, delivering courses and training in business management, entrepreneurship, marketing, and development. She has invested in various businesses. She writes short stories, quotes, and articles in 4 different languages, including Kurdish, Arabic, English, and Turkish. She wrote her first book, Discover, at the age of 19, dedicating part of the proceeds to orphans. She also completed a journalism programme and graduated from the University of Kurdistan in Hawler, where her work was published. One piece was about Kurdish nature and art, titled “Colours by a Kurdish lens – Endless journey.” Kurdistan’s nature fostered a deep love in her soul, and as a result, she tries to encourage others to protect the environment for the future as part of her job as an environmentalist at an NGO. Her final role is graphic design for everything related to business and art. She aims to foster a conscious, talented generation and is inspiring youths to do so now through her activities in different fields.
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* Photos provided by the author
