philosopher politician scholars poet
Sheikh Ghiathadeen was born into a respected and intellectual family of Islamic Sufi scholars who settled in Bamarni in the 17th century and spent most of their life learning and teaching Islamic studies at the Takkiya (khanqah) of Bamarni.
His family were well known for their piety, learning and influence throughout Kurdistan for years before him. During his life he granted more than hundred religious scientific licenses for scholars from different parts of Iraq, Iran, and the Middle East in general, and sponsored the daily living and study costs of his students and followers. He also contributed to establishing many schools and mosques in Bamarni, Amadiya and in many different villages.
The Sheikh was also accredited for opening the first school in the Bahdinan region and obliged all children to attend school.
The idea of opening a school was not favored by the then ruling government, and decided they would not pay the salaries of the teachers. This caused the Sheikh to pay the teachers salaries with his own money.
Sheikh Ghiathadeen"s ancestors originated from Banistan village in the Rekan area. The Sheikh was also well known for his poems.
His poems are still widely known and are used in Secondary school literature books
King Faisal II frequently visited Bamarni and stayed at the Sheikh"s guest house (Diwan-khane). Due to this close relation, the King made an airstrip close to Bamarni in order to visit the Sheikh more frequently. The Sheikh always demanded rights and freedom for Kurds and was part of the Kurdish nationalist organization called Xoybûn.
Sheikh Ghiathadeen Naqshabandi died in 1944, and is buried in his tomb at the top of the Mazar Graveyard in the village of Bamarni.
Sheikh Ghiathadeen was a Member of Parliament for the Kingdom of Iraq and had close relations with King Faisal II of Iraq.
