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Howar
A Young Kurd in Cambridge
Howar is a young Kurdish Iranian. He left his village near Mariuan in the mountainous south to come to Britain in 2004. He speaks Kurdish as his mother tongue and also had to learn the official language of Iran, Farsi. Here he talks about growing up as a member of the Kurdish minority in Iran, why he is unschooled, and about Kurdish clothes, music, dance and food. He also speaks about the freedom we take for granted in Britain, and the good side and the downside of living in Cambridge. Finally, we learn about the importance of football in Howar’s life and his dreams for the future…
We have something called ‘haparkey’. In English it’s dance, but this is different from dance. People don’t embrace each other but stand beside each other and are arm in arm. Usually boys dance with boys in a big circle, and girls dance separately. Kurds have a Muslim culture and the religion sees even this as a sin. But people love ‘haparkey’ at Kurdish weddings and celebrations.
(Note: As a Kurd, Howar was not allowed to speak Kurdish at school, but was forced to speak Farsi. Government policy made it difficult to get books in Kurdish. It is a main reason for Kurdish minorities missing schooling.)
Military service is compulsory in Iran. Ninety percent of Kurds try to avoid the four years military service. If you do not do military service, you cannot have a driving licence, or send your children to school, or even get married! I hope in the future we Kurds get our independence like the Iraqi Kurds did. Kurdistan is an area spread over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Many Kurds in these countries are dying in the name of freedom.
The best thing I like about Britain is freedom. Nobody stops you if you dance, if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend. You are free.
The best thing about Cambridge is all the spaces to play football. If I’m down or angry I play and I forget everything. I just think about this small ball!
It seems to me there are no young people, no families. In my country young people spend a lot of time together. We’re with our family and relatives all the time.
In the future I want to get certified as a mechanic. Then, hopefully, I can open a garage to repair cars. I also want to get married…but don’t know when and where or who! I wish I did!
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