The Kurdish flag
Alaya Rengîn, “the colourful flag”: three bands — red, white, green — and a golden 21-rayed sun. Official specifications, geometry and history.
Construction
- Proportions
- 2 : 3
- Stripes
- 3
- Sun rays
- 21
- Ray spacing
- 17.14°
- Sun diameter
- 0.25 × H
Colours
-
Red
The blood of the martyrs and the ongoing struggle for freedom.
- HEX
- #F32837
- RGB
- 243 40 55
- CMYK
- 0 84 77 5
- PMS
- 032 C
-
White
Peace and equality.
- HEX
- #FFFFFF
- RGB
- 255 255 255
- CMYK
- 0 0 0 0
- PMS
- —
-
Green
The landscapes and life of Kurdistan.
- HEX
- #009A3D
- RGB
- 0 154 61
- CMYK
- 100 0 60 40
- PMS
- 355 C
-
Yellow (sun)
The sun (Roj), the source of life and light.
- HEX
- #FFCC00
- RGB
- 255 204 0
- CMYK
- 0 20 100 0
- PMS
- 116 C
Creation
The flag, known as Alaya Rengîn (“the colourful flag”), grew out of the Kurdish national movement of the early twentieth century. A version with a central sun was promoted by the Xoybûn league from 1928, during the Ararat revolt.
At its centre, the sun (Roj) bears 21 identical rays. The number 21 is meaningful in Kurdish tradition and coincides with Newroz, the new year celebrated on 21 March. The solar motif echoes an ancient veneration of the sun in the region.
Use
Today the flag is the official flag of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, where it flies over public buildings.
Beyond that, it is a shared symbol of identity for Kurds across the four regions (Bakur, Başûr, Rojhilat, Rojava) and the diaspora, and is especially visible during Newroz celebrations. Its public display nonetheless remains restricted or banned in some states.