Jamila Hakim Suleiman Saadullah Agha (1914 - 1967)

Born in 1914, Jamila came from a family with deep roots in Akrê and its old town. She was married to Kamil Husain Efendi and was mother to three sons and a daughter, named Awni, Zaki, Tariq and Nafisa. Friends and Family often mention that their marriage was special for that time, because they had married out of love and not due to, what was and is often still common, family match making.  

Growing up she was considered a matriarch of her family and neighbourhood. She was known for her kindness, charity and advise,  respected by the men and women in her family alike. She valued Kurdish culture, language, and traditions, instilling a deep bond and sense of Kurdayatî[1] into her children.

Akrê, has a tradition of religious and ethnic tolerance and peaceful co-habitation, with the church still being the highest building of its ancient skyline. Jews, Christians, Muslims, Zoroastrians and Ezidis, lived side by side in the old town, but occupations, wars, pan-Arabism and nationalism took its toll on the diverse fabric. Though the broad religious and ethnic tolerance is still very present in many families.

Jamila, was respected and loved by many. One of her best friends and neighbours, was Jewish. Their kids grew up together and it was very common to visit each other not only for the respected religious holidays. Jamila’s children still remember how devastated their mother was when the Jews of Iraq were forcefully expelled and persecuted in the late 1940s. Including her friend, whose son later became the Minister of Defense and Transport in Israel, after emigrating in 1948 from Akrê to Israel.

Jamila and her family had to leave Akrê in 1961, being constantly intimidated by the Iraqi authorities, due to her children being active in the Kurdish resistance movement with General Mustafa Barzani. They moved into the Ancient Citadel in Erbil right next door to what is today known as the Textile Museum. Apparently, old families of Erbil remember them as the house of the ‘Pismams’, which means paternal cousin in Badini, and is a sign of endearment when addressed as such.

Jamila, passed away in 1967, soon before her husband and family had to leave for Haji Omran, Iran and Europe. Her beloved husband, Kamil, passed within one year. They were both laid to rest next to each other in the family cemetery in old Akre. She has over 30 grandchildren and even more great-grandchildren, spread at home in Kurdistan, Europe and the USA.

[1] Kurdayati – a term uses to describe Kurdish patriotism that goes beyond party politics and nationalism. A simple love for Kurdish culture and society.