Margaret George Shello
| Margaret George Shello | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
1942 Barwari, Iraq |
| Died |
December 25, 1969 (aged 26–27) Kala-Komereyh, Iraq |
| Occupation | Peshmerga |
| Movement | Kurdish Democratic Party |
Margaret George Shello (Syriac: ܡܪܓܪܝܬ ܓܝܘܪܓܝܣ ܫܠܘ), also known as Margaret George Malik,[1] was an Assyrian guerilla fighter who joined the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in their fight against the Iraqi governments in the 1960s. She is commonly believed to have been the first female Peshmerga.[2]
Biography
Margret joined the ranks of Peshmerga fighting in the First Iraqi–Kurdish War at the age of 20 in 1960, and quickly asserted herself among her male comrades and was given a leading position by Mustafa Barzani in important battles such as the battle of Zawita Valley.
Circumstances that led to her early death are still disputed. After her assassination, many Kurds bestowed the revered title of Dayika Kurdistan/Peshmerga (Dayika means Mother) upon her as well as legendary tales of combat with her talisman as a symbol of the Kurdish resistance. Tales of her bravery echoed throughout Kurdistan, encouraging hundreds of men and women to join the resistance and carry-on the legacy she ignited.[3]
References
- ↑ Assyrians in Iraq, Vahram Petrosian
- ↑ "Grave of first female Peshmerga renovated". Rudaw.net. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ↑ The First Female Fighter in Kurdish Ranks