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Documentary about Leyla Zana on Youtube
10/22/2006 KurdishMedia.com - By Vladimir van Wilgenburg
Leyla Zana on trial (1994)
Someone posted a documentary about the Kurdish female leader Leyla Zana on
Youtube. It's very interesting how video websites like Youtube are turning
into a platform for political activism and promotion of the ethnic Kurdish
identity.
The documentary is a biography of Leyla Zana (born May
3, 1961) and it’s made by the Kurdish-Canadian filmmaker Jiyar Gol, who is
originally from Sinne in Kurdistan Rojhelat (Iran). He has created several
movies about North- and South-Kurdistan.
This 10- minute
biography of Leyla Zana tells more about this dedicated Kurdish
Parliamentarian who was imprisoned for 11 years simply for speaking Kuridsh
in Turkish National assembly. She was a three times Nobel Peace Prize
nominee. Leyla Zana was even awarded with the 1995 Sakharov Prize by the
European Parliament, but was unable to collect it until her release in 2004.
In 2006 Leyla Zana visited South-Kurdistan, but in general she isn’t
politically active anymore.
Jiyar Gol portrays Leyla Zana as a
brave politician who stood up for her Kurdish identity and rights. In this
short documentary a variety of people give a deeper insight into Leyla Zana
and also into the Kurdish issue in Turkey.
Currently Jiyar Gol is
directing a documentary film on Canada’s Health Care system for Canada's
Global National TV and developing a movie about Anfal in Kerkuk
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