Kurdish Textile Museum. In the center of the Qalah is the new Kurdish Textile Museum, which is privately funded by Lolen Mustefa. Visitors can experience the beauty and intricacy of this handcrafted art and gain insight into the cultural heritage of the Kurdish people here. Weaving is an integral part of Kurdish life that reflects on the experiences of its people, meets their daily needs for food collection and warmth, and has allowed Kurds to remain self-sufficient through extremely hard times. Women of the Kurdish tribes use the wool and hair from their herds and natural vegetable dyes to construct rugs, blankets, clothing, and household items. It is important that the weaving be encouraged now, because years of war, relocation, and oppression of Kurds throughout the region threaten to erase these integral parts of their heritage.
