For many people, a Kurdistan jersey is more than a sports shirt. It shows where you come from. That is why the NATIONALIS Kurdistan jersey carries several symbols with a long history in Kurdish culture. Here is what they stand for.
The sun: Roj and Newroz
At the center of the Kurdish flag, the Alaya Rengîn, is a golden sun with 21 rays. The Kurdish word for sun is Roj. The 21 rays are often linked to 21 March, the day of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, which celebrates spring and a new beginning. On our jersey the sun rises behind the mountains: light returning after a long night.
Red, white, green and gold
The colors of the flag are usually read like this: red for the courage and sacrifice of many generations, white for peace, green for the landscapes of Kurdistan and gold for the sun, meaning life and hope. Over the heart, the jersey carries the map of Kurdistan in exactly these colors.
The mountains
The Zagros and Taurus ranges still shape Kurdistan today. A well known Kurdish saying goes that the Kurds have no friends but the mountains. It means that for centuries the mountains were shelter and home. That is why they stand large in the foreground of the jersey, right below the rising sun.
The dove
A dove flies next to the lettering. It stands for peace and hope, a wish shared by many Kurds, in Kurdistan and all over the world.
HER BIJI
Above the lettering it says HER BIJI. This is Kurmanji and means something like “long live”. You hear it at weddings, at Newroz and in the stadium, usually together with whatever is being celebrated: Her bijî Kurdistan.
JIN JIYAN AZADÎ
On the back of the neck it says JIN JIYAN AZADÎ, which means “Woman, Life, Freedom”. The phrase comes from the Kurdish women’s movement. It became known worldwide in 2022, when many people took to the streets under this call after the death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in Iran. On the jersey it is deliberately small, placed where you carry it with you rather than put it on display.
KURDÎSTAN with Î
The lettering on the chest is spelled KURDÎSTAN, with the circumflex over the I, as in the Kurdish alphabet. KURDÎSTAN also runs in gold over the shoulders.
Sports jersey and streetwear
The Kurdistan jersey is made of lightweight polyester interlock (170 g/m²) with a sporty cut. It works on the pitch just as well as with jeans in everyday life. Every edition is limited. You will find sizes, measurements and care instructions on the Kurdistan jersey product page.
