American Friends Of Kurdistan Inc

American Friends of Kurdistan (AFK) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) advocacy organization based in Washington, DC, dedicated to strengthening American-Kurdish relations through strategic policy advocacy and education. Founded in 2019, AFK operates as the first organization of its kind established specifically to enhance U.S.-Kurdish cooperation and advance shared national security interests. The organization focuses on three core areas: strengthening diplomatic and strategic relations between Americans and Kurds, protecting American-Kurdish national security interests in the Middle East, and promoting shared democratic values and peaceful self-determination efforts. AFK advocates for the development of tailored, region-specific policies addressing Kurdistan across northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran. The organization engages with Congressional leaders and government officials at all levels to build bipartisan support for policies that recognize Kurds as frontline allies in counterterrorism efforts and critical partners in regional stability. AFK distinguishes itself through its independent, nonpartisan approach—maintaining no affiliations with any American or Kurdish political parties and accepting no government financial assistance. With an estimated 45 million Kurds worldwide, the organization believes empowering Kurdish-led democratic initiatives aligns with American values and strengthens U.S. strategic positioning in the Middle East. Through education, advocacy, and policy development, AFK works to address the historical gaps in American policy toward Kurdish communities that have persisted since the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement.