Muhammad Amin Zaki

Muhammad Amin Zaki Bey (1880-1948) was a prominent Kurdish figure, recognized for his contributions as a writer, historian, and politician. Born in Sulaymaniyah in 1880, he received his education at the Sulaymaniyah Military School and Baghdad Military High School, graduating from the Ottoman Military Academy in 1902 and the Ottoman Military College in Istanbul in 1905. He entered the Ottoman Army as an infantry Second Lieutenant and later served as a staff officer. After leaving his military position in 1923, he moved to Baghdad and began lecturing at the Iraqi Military Academy. Zaki also played a significant role in the Iraqi administration during the British mandate in the 1920s, notably serving as the Defence Minister in 1928. His scholarly work is particularly noted for his two-volume book on the history of the Kurdish people and their states, which is considered a significant contribution to the field and has been translated into multiple languages. He also served as the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Iraq from December 1944 to June 1946. Muhammad Amin Zaki passed away in Sulaymaniyah in July 1948.