Illustration 1. The Kurdish Republic of Mahabad 1946 Illustration 2. Autonomous region in Iraq 1974 Illustration 3. Territories inhabited by the Kurds Illustration 4. Distribution of the Kurdish people by country (in %) Illustration 5. Countries with Kurdish populations estimated inhabitants in millions (1989) Illustration 6. The Kurdish national anthem Illustration 7. The flight of the Kurds, spring 1991 Illustration 8. The proposed autonomous region 1991.