Emmanuel Smague
Sheikh Akram
Sheikh Akram commands over 6.000 peshmergas in the Kurdish army. He is the head of the Hanarai tribe. The tribe of about 3.000 families lives in 24 villages in and around Mala Omar, close to Erbil. More than 8.000 men of the tribe are willing to sacrifice their life for their leader.
During the Iran / Iraq war (1980 to 1988), he collaborated with Saddam Hussein, hunting down the Peshmergas and chasing them away into the mountains.
While a great rivalry opposed them, Sheikh Akram reconciled with Massoud Barzani (the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, and head of the KDP - Kurdistan Democratic Party) during the Kurdish uprising of 1991. This spectacular decision to turn coat was merely strategic. The Sheikh still maintains good relations with Saddam's family.
Sheikh Akram
Sheikh Akram commands over 6.000 peshmergas in the Kurdish army. He is the head of the Hanarai tribe. The tribe of about 3.000 families lives in 24 villages in and around Mala Omar, close to Erbil. More than 8.000 men of the tribe are willing to sacrifice their life for their leader.
During the Iran / Iraq war (1980 to 1988), he collaborated with Saddam Hussein, hunting down the Peshmergas and chasing them away into the mountains.
While a great rivalry opposed them, Sheikh Akram reconciled with Massoud Barzani (the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, and head of the KDP - Kurdistan Democratic Party) during the Kurdish uprising of 1991. This spectacular decision to turn coat was merely strategic. The Sheikh still maintains good relations with Saddam's family.