It was written by the Kurdish poet and political activist, Dildar in 1938, while in jail. "Ey Reqîb" meaning "O Enemy!" refers to the jail guards in the prison where Dildar was held and tortured but also the broader oppression of Kurds.[3]
In 1946, the poem was adopted as the national anthem of the Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad, a short-lived Kurdish republic of the 20th century in Iran that lasted for a year. "Ey Reqîb" has been adopted as the national anthem of Kurdistan Region and is also used by Kurdistan Workers' Party.[2]
Ey reqîb her maye qewmê kurd ziman
Naşikê û danayê bi topê zeman.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Em xortên rengê sor û şoreşin
Seyr bike xwîna dîyan me da rijand.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Em xortên Medya û Keyxusrewin
Dîn îman û ayîman, her niştiman.
Dîn îman û ayîman, kurd û Kurdistan.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Lawê kurd rabûye ser pê wek şêran
Ta bixwîn nexşîn bike tacî jiyan.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
Xortên nûh tev hazir û amade ne
Can fîda ne can fîda, her can fîda.
Kes nebê kurd dimirin, kurd jîn dibin.
Jîn dibin qet nakevê ala kurdan.
ئەی ڕەقیب ھەر، مایە قەومێ کورد زمان
ناشکێ و دانایێ ب تۆپێ زەمان.
کەس نەبێ کورد دمرن، کورد ژین دبن.
ژین دبن قەت ناکەڤێ ئالا کوردان.
Oh, enemy! The Kurdish people live on,
They have not been crushed by the weapons of any time
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
We are descendants of the red banner of the revolution
Look at our past, how bloody it is
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
We are the descendants of the Medes and Cyaxares
Kurdistan is our religion, our credo,
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
The Kurdish youth rise bravely,
With their blood they colored the crown of life
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
The Kurdish youth are ready and prepared,
To give their life as the supreme sacrifice
Let no one say Kurds are dead, they are living
They live and never shall we lower our flag
Oh foes who watch us, the nation whose language is Kurdish is alive
It cannot be defeated by makers of weapons of any time
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and their flag will never fall
We are the sons of the red colour of revolution
Our history is one filled with blood
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
We are the sons of the Medes and Kai Khosrow
Our homeland is our faith and religion
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth has risen like noble warriors
To draw the crown of life with blood
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth are ever-ready
And always prepared to sacrifice their lives
To sacrifice their lives, to sacrifice their lives.
Let no one say the Kurds are dead, the Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive and our flag will never fall
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