Dildar

• Name — Dildar • Birth Name — Yûnis Reuf or Yûnis Mele Reûf • Born — 20 February 1918 • Birthplace — Koy Sanjaq, Mosul Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Kurdistan Region) • Died — 20 October 1948 • Place of death — Erbil, Kingdom of Iraq • Movement — Classicism • Notable Works — Ey Reqîb

Dildar was born on 20 February 1918 in the Bafri Qandi Quarter of the town of Koy Sanjaq located in the Mosul Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire, in what is now the Erbil Governorate of Iraq. In his youth, he attended primary school in Ranya. He then completed his secondary education at a high school in Kirkuk. Dildar then moved to Baghdad to study law.

Dildar’s first poem was published in the Ronakî magazine in 1935, while he was a secondary student and only seventeen years old. Many of his poems were written in the classical Kurdish style, characterized by quantitative rhythm and monorhyme, a traditional form that required great skill. His poems were published in the Ronakî and Galawêz literary journals in Erbil and Baghdad. He moreover introduced romantic and realistic elements in Kurdish poetry.

He graduated as a lawyer in 1945 and practiced law to defend the poor, farmers, and defending the Kurdish issues in general.

He joined the newly formed Hîwa Party in 1938, which became "[t]he first Kurdish organisation legally recognized, that seeks a united and free Kurdistan". Dildar relocated to Iranian Kurdistan to join the revolution led by Qazi Muhammad against the government of Iran, which led to his infamous arrest in Iran.

After being arrested, he was sent to prison in Iran, where he wrote the poem "Ey Reqîb" meaning "Oh Enemy", in 1938, referencing the prison guards, and expressing that the Kurds were alive and will not back down from fighting for a free Kurdistan. His expression of frustration and direct confrontation with the occupiers of Kurdistan made "Ey Reqîb" a symbol in the Kurdish cause for freedom.

Dildar was recorded at birth as Yûnis Mele Re'ûf. He also worked under the name Dildar. The authorities additionally record the headings Yûnis Reuf, Yûnis Mele Re'ûf, Yunis Re'ûf and Yunis Reuf. His recorded languages were Arabic and Kurdish.

Dildar is recorded as a citizen of Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Recorded with the occupation political activist. Recorded with the occupation writer. Recorded with the occupation poet.