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| Kurdish singer Helly Luv dismisses threats over music video | Kurdish singer Helly Luv dismisses threats over music video |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Kurdish singer has shrugged off death threats from Islamist groups and vowed to continue filming her music videos in Iraqi Kurdistan. | A Kurdish singer has shrugged off death threats from Islamist groups and vowed to continue filming her music videos in Iraqi Kurdistan. |
| Helen Abdulla – known as 'Helly Luv' – released her debut video, Risk it All, on 3 February and has since received hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. | Helen Abdulla – known as 'Helly Luv' – released her debut video, Risk it All, on 3 February and has since received hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. |
| But the video, which sees the 25-year-old throw a petrol bomb, drape herself over a lion and dance with AK47-waving female peshmerga soldiers, has provoked the ire of some Islamist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan. | But the video, which sees the 25-year-old throw a petrol bomb, drape herself over a lion and dance with AK47-waving female peshmerga soldiers, has provoked the ire of some Islamist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan. |
| "[She's had] various death threats … mainly through social media," said her manager, Gawain Bracy, chief executive at G2 music group. | "[She's had] various death threats … mainly through social media," said her manager, Gawain Bracy, chief executive at G2 music group. |
| "We do not wish to publish names of these Islamic groups because we do not wish to glorify [their] actions." | "We do not wish to publish names of these Islamic groups because we do not wish to glorify [their] actions." |
| Bracy said that despite the threats Abdulla – whose family fled Iraq in 1988 before settling in Finland – was back in Iraqi Kurdistan working on a follow-up to her first video, albeit this time with a security detail. | Bracy said that despite the threats Abdulla – whose family fled Iraq in 1988 before settling in Finland – was back in Iraqi Kurdistan working on a follow-up to her first video, albeit this time with a security detail. |
| Speaking to the Guardian, Abdulla said she was not surprised that her video had attracted so much attention. | Speaking to the Guardian, Abdulla said she was not surprised that her video had attracted so much attention. |
| "I wanted to create something that would be almost like revolution, something new and that's never been done in Kurdistan. I knew it would [make a] noise," she said. | "I wanted to create something that would be almost like revolution, something new and that's never been done in Kurdistan. I knew it would [make a] noise," she said. |
| "I do have strong symbols in my video, like the Molotov cocktail, which I break [so] people see and hear what I have to say. | "I do have strong symbols in my video, like the Molotov cocktail, which I break [so] people see and hear what I have to say. |
| "The peshmerga women in the video are a symbol for our strong women that have been fighting for our country and [for] independence." | "The peshmerga women in the video are a symbol for our strong women that have been fighting for our country and [for] independence." |
| But she stressed that the attention has been largely positive, especially for her outspoken views on Kurdish independence. | But she stressed that the attention has been largely positive, especially for her outspoken views on Kurdish independence. |
| A 2005 referendum saw 98.8% vote in favour of an independent Kurdish state in north Iraq, and the largely autonomous Kurdish region has enjoyed relative stability and economic prosperity in comparison with the war-torn south of Iraq. | |
| "'Risk It All" means risking everything for your dreams and love. Personally as a Kurd I believe we all as Kurds have one dream, and that is independence," she said. | "'Risk It All" means risking everything for your dreams and love. Personally as a Kurd I believe we all as Kurds have one dream, and that is independence," she said. |
| But while Abdulla is keen to continue making her music videos in Iraqi Kurdistan, she has an eye on the international market. | But while Abdulla is keen to continue making her music videos in Iraqi Kurdistan, she has an eye on the international market. |
| She has been based in the US since she was 18, and has worked with Carlos McKinney - a Grammy–nominated American record producer and jazz pianist - and the R&B songwriter and producer The-Dream. | |
| More recently, she is due to play the lead role in a new film by Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi and says she has been offered a role in a new movie with Jennifer Lopez. | More recently, she is due to play the lead role in a new film by Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi and says she has been offered a role in a new movie with Jennifer Lopez. |
| "Even though I am Kurdish I am still focused more on the international market. My dream is just to inspire people to risk it all and not give up," she said. | "Even though I am Kurdish I am still focused more on the international market. My dream is just to inspire people to risk it all and not give up," she said. |
| "As for Kurdistan, I am even more excited and proud of my country for how far it has come. The future is very bright and I can't wait for the day [we can] raise the Kurdish flag on independence day." | "As for Kurdistan, I am even more excited and proud of my country for how far it has come. The future is very bright and I can't wait for the day [we can] raise the Kurdish flag on independence day." |