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Zhiar Ali Quotes

Zhiar Ali is a Kurdish LGBT rights activist, animal rights activist, singer-songwriter, and journalist based in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, who is known for his contributions to LGBT rights in Iraqi Kurdistan. Ali, the former media and communications officer at Rasan, founded Yeksani: an initiative focused on advocating for LGBT rights in the Kurdistan Region. He had also co-founded the first pro-vegan animal rights organization Kurdistan Vegans. He has freelanced for news organizations, focusing on music journalism and political and social issues.

Ali was a target of a series of media propaganda attacks against the LGBT community in 2020, and was threatened with murder and assault. The attacks increased substantially after Ali delivered a Global Pride speech on June 27, 2020, organized by InterPride.He criticized Asayish and the Kurdistan Regional Government for an operation which detained LGBT people in Sulaymaniyah. The campaign took place after Asaiysh mistook all gay people for sex workers, and Ali tried to address the confusion in a Middle East Eye interview. Denying that all members of the LGBT community in the Kurdistan region were sex workers, he blamed the KRG for driving some into sex work and said that "prostitution is the last choice to earn a living". Wikipedia  

✵ 2. September 1999
Zhiar Ali photo
Zhiar Ali: 9 quotes0 likes

Famous Zhiar Ali Quotes

“What you gave me, I've never had
No one has fought for me like you have
Please forgive all of my mistakes
I will fix them with whatever it takes”

Zhiar Ali

Light in the Dark https://genius.com/Zhiar-ali-light-in-the-dark-lyrics, 2018 <br class="br">Song lyrics

“Come here, let's not care
Whatever's happening out there
Just feel me, reach all over
Let us blindly discover
What we never thought could exist
Make up for all the time we missed”

Zhiar Ali

Euphoria https://genius.com/Zhiar-ali-euphoria-lyrics, 2018 <br class="br">Song lyrics

“I spend countless minutes thinking of you
Wondering if you love me too, why am I sure you do?
I’m just so sure you do
The spark in your eyes took over my mind
And there’s nothing I can do, not run nor hide
I surrender, surrender to your charm
There is nothing that I won’t do for you”

Zhiar Ali

Addicted To Your Love https://genius.com/Zhiar-ali-addicted-to-your-love-lyrics, 2018 <br class="br">Song lyrics

“I tried repeatedly to change and undergo a 'curative treatment' to no avail. I got to the conclusion that this is me, accepted myself, and moved on.”

Zhiar Ali

Ali discussing his joruney to self-acceptence.

“We have to work on normalizing and destigmatizing the LGBT+ community before anything else, and this requires an exceptional and serious effort; this is one of my goals.”

Zhiar Ali

Ali on the future of LGBT rights in Iraqi Kurdistan.

“I strived to be a better and more successful person. I am proud of the person I have become today, and know that none of my family members could do what I have done. However, I feel that my success did not get enough attention from them for being gay.”

Zhiar Ali

On his struggle and his fight to be validated by his family.

Zhiar Ali Quotes about people

“The rules of your religion do not apply to people who do not believe in it so let people live the way they want.”

Zhiar Ali

Ali on freedom to choose one's religion and lifestyle, via Twitter.

“Every workplace should be legally forced to be inclusive to LGBT people in job opportunities.”

Zhiar Ali

Discussing the issue of LGBT+ individuals not getting jobs due to their sexuality.
Source: [هاوڕەگەزخوازیی لە كوردستان؛ حەزێكی سروشتیی بێ پشت و پەنا, http://www.peregraf.com/ku/report/2186/هاوڕەگەزخوازیی-لە-كوردستان؛-حەزێكی-سروشتیی-بێ-پشت-و-پەنا, پەرەگراف, May 10, 2021, ku]

“Gay people should be protected by law and not discriminated against, [homosexuality] is a natural human desire, not an illness.”

Zhiar Ali

Ali on discrimination against gay people in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Source: [هاوڕەگەزخوازیی لە كوردستان؛ حەزێكی سروشتیی بێ پشت و پەنا, http://www.peregraf.com/ku/report/2186/هاوڕەگەزخوازیی-لە-كوردستان؛-حەزێكی-سروشتیی-بێ-پشت-و-پەنا, پەرەگراف, May 10, 2021, ku]

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