Saturday, December 7. The United States Consulate of Erbil hosted, in collaboration with Justice for Kurds, a special screening of Bernard-Henri Lévy’s film Peshmerga.
US Consul General Steven Fagin opened the evening welcoming distinguished guests including Minister of the Interior and Peshmerga Minister Karim Sinjari, Minister of Foreign Relations Safeen Dizayee, General Sirwan Barzani, French Consul General Olivier Decottignies, and representatives from European missions. Members of the US military and consulate filled the audience, along with prominent members of the Kurdish diplomatic sphere and many Peshmerga soldiers, such as Generals Hajjar Ismael and Bakhtiar, who were featured in the film. Ala Tayyeb, the courageous cameraman, wounded during the film, who now resides in Erbil, was present as well.
Director Bernard-Henri Lévy and producer François Margolin introduced the film and following the screening, Lévy answered questions from the audience. The director underscored the fact that, although the film was made in 2015, it is now more relevant than ever, and at this moment, we must remember the sacrifice and bravery of the Kurdish forces in the face of evil. Perhaps none braver than General Maghdid Harki, the noble and heroic Peshmerga featured in the film who lost his life combatting ISIS.
At the conclusion of the evening, Generals Barzani, Hajjar Ismael and Bakhtiar presented Lévy with the “shield medal”, one of the highest Kurdish military distinctions.
The room was filled with warmth and mutual respect among Kurds, Americans and Europeans. The evening served as a reminder of our shared values and the necessity to stand united with the Kurds and against terrorism: the fascism of our time.