Mama Risha
Encyclopedia
Najmadin Shukr Rauf or Mama Risha (Kurdish
: مامه ڕیشه meaning Bearded Uncle) (1957 – January 25, 1985), was a prominent member of the Peshmerga
, in northern Iraq
during the Kurdish prolonged warfare with the Iraqi Government armed forces in their struggle for self-ruled northern Iraq
.
Born in village of Talaban near Kirkuk
into a poor family, he enjoys near mythical status in Kurdish
society. According to some Kurdish sources he chose that nickname
because he swore that he would never shave his beard until Kurdistan was totally free from Ba'ath Party's control. He was also nicknamed the "Iron Man" for his furious and well organized battles and ambush
es 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.
Kurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
: مامه ڕیشه meaning Bearded Uncle) (1957 – January 25, 1985), was a prominent member of the Peshmerga
Peshmerga
Peshmerga or Peshmerge is the term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters. Literally meaning "those who face death" the Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan have been in existence since the advent of the Kurdish independence movement in the early 1920s, following the collapse of the Ottoman...
, in northern Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
during the Kurdish prolonged warfare with the Iraqi Government armed forces in their struggle for self-ruled northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Born in village of Talaban near Kirkuk
Kirkuk
Kirkuk is a city in Iraq and the capital of Kirkuk Governorate.It is located in the Iraqi governorate of Kirkuk, north of the capital, Baghdad...
into a poor family, he enjoys near mythical status in Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
society. According to some Kurdish sources he chose that nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
because he swore that he would never shave his beard until Kurdistan was totally free from Ba'ath Party's control. He was also nicknamed the "Iron Man" for his furious and well organized battles and ambush
Ambush
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
es against the Iraqi forces near the Kirkuk area.
In mid 1970s, he joined the Peshmerga forces of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is a Kurdish political party in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was founded on June 1, 1975, by coordinations between Jalal Talabani and Nawshirwan Mustafa...
(PUK) led by Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani is the sixth and current President of Iraq, a leading Kurdish politician. He is the first non-Arab president of Iraq, although Abdul Kareem Qasim was half Kurdish....
. He is considered by most Kurds as a role model and a legendary fighter. Najmadin was killed on January 25, 1985 in an ambush.