Karame Ankosi
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| Born | 1937, Tbilisi, Georgian SSR |
|---|---|
| Died | 2019 |
| Nationality / Ethnicity | Kurdish (Ezidi / Yazidi), Georgian citizen |
| Occupation | Scholar, writer, cultural activist, broadcaster, public intellectual |
| Education | Tbilisi State University; Faculty of Oriental Studies, Department of Iranian Philology. |
| Organizations / Affiliations | Union of Ezids of Georgia (Chairman)
International Fund for Defending Rights and Religious and Cultural Heritage of Kurds Center of Ezidi Religion Union of the Representatives of Kurdish Intelligentsia Kurdish section of the UNESCO Fund in Georgia |
| Major awards / honors: | Gold medal from high school graduation (1956)
The Badge of Honor of Georgia Various state credentials and public service roles |
| Spouse | Zina Ankosi |
| Children | Madina, Gulchina |
Karim “Karame” Ankosi (1937-2019) was a Kurdish-Yazidi scholar, broadcaster and activist in Georgia. He played a central role in preserving the Kurdish language, folklore, and Ezidi religious heritage, founding educational programs, publishing dictionaries and textbooks, and leading civil society organizations to defend minority rights and promote cultural visibility.[1][2]
Early Life and Family
Ankosi was born in 1937 in Tbilisi into an Ezidi (Yazidi) Kurdish family whose roots trace back to Seyid Bey village in the Van region.[1][3][4]
His wife is named Zina Ankosi (born 1951), an engineer. They had two daughters: Madina (born 1973), who trained at the Academy of Sports/Physical Culture in Georgia and works as a gymnastics coach; and Gulchina (born 1975), a lawyer educated in Germany and Tbilisi.[1]
Education
Completed secondary education with high distinction (gold medal) at High School No. 54 in Tbilisi, in 1956. He began studies in Physics at Tbilisi State University in 1956; then switched to the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Department of Iranian Philology, graduating in ~1961.[1]
Career & Contributions
Academic, Language, and Textbook Work
Authored or published several linguistic and educational works, including:
- Alphabet for the Kurdish language (Kurmanji dialect, using Latin alphabet), 2004[3][4]
- Kurdish Folklore (Translation, 2007)[3][4]
- Let’s Learn to Read and Write in Kurdish (Kurmanji), 2016[3][4]
- Short Georgian-Kurdish (Sorani) colloquial dictionary, 2011[3]
- Short Georgian-Kurdish (Kurmanji) dictionary, published in 2019, for Kurdish-Yazidi population in Georgia and for others interested in the language.[3]
Activism and Organizational Leadership
In 1992, he organized the “Society of Kurdish Citizens of Georgia,” bringing together multiple Kurdish public organizations. Later in 1997, the Society was renamed “Union of Ezids of Georgia” and Ankosi was elected chairman.[1]
Founder or co-founder of several NGOs and cultural/religious organizations:[1]
- “International Fund for Defending Rights and Religious and Cultural Heritage of Kurds”
- “Center of Ezidi Religion”
- “Union of the Representatives of Kurdish Intelligentsia”
- “Kurdish section of the UNESCO Fund in Georgia”
Held public / civic roles: was chosen for various state committees & commissions; served as people’s assessor in the Supreme Court of Georgia; was a member of the republic election committee; member of the Presidium of the Soviet of Elders of Caucasian Peoples; member of the Presidium of the society “Tbiliseli.”[1]
Media and Minority Rights Activities
Ankosi is known for being an outspoken figure in defending Kurdish cultural and Ezidi religious identity in Georgia.
At a Kurdish minority conference in the early 2000s, raised concerns about Kurdish cultural loss; made an oft-quoted provocative question: “Should we take up arms, like Kurds in Iraq?” This drew media attention and controversy. Following media coverage, he received threats; his remarks were said to have been misinterpreted.[1][2]
Awards & Recognition
Awarded various state honours and credentials, among them “The Badge of Honor of Georgia”. Ankosi also held membership in the Union of Journalists of Georgia..[1]
Legacy
Karim Ankosi is remembered as a leading Kurdish-Yazidi intellectual and activist in Georgia, whose work deeply influenced education, language preservation, folklore, religious studies, publishing, and media. His textbooks and dictionaries: including Georgian-Kurdish (Kurmanji) and Georgian-Kurdish (Sorani) dictionaries, and language learning materials; remain crucial resources for Kurdish language learning in Georgia. Through his leadership in civil society organizations, he helped give structure and visibility to the Kurdish/Yazidi community’s cultural rights claims, ensuring their heritage, identity, and religious traditions were preserved and recognized.[1][3][2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Ankosi, Karim (May 2014). "Karim Ankosi (Karame Ankosi) Bibliography of Published Books, Articles and Notes" (PDF). Isko Daseni – via Kurdipedia.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Georgia: Kurdish Minority Facing Oblivion | Institute for War and Peace Reporting". iwpr.net. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 https://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/bitstream/1234/500336/1/Aghmosavletmcodneobis_Macne_2023_Tomi-VI_N2.pdf
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Sitchinava, Bukhuti (2023-12-08). "Kurdology: Successes and Challenges on the Example of Georgia". აღმოსავლეთმცოდნეობის მაცნე. 6 (2). doi:10.61671/hos.6.2023.7357. ISSN 2587-490X.
External links
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