Militant Islam Monitor > Satire > Rawan Osman: I Get Death Threats For Being An Ex Jew Hater- So I Went To Iraq & Drove Around Erbil Blaring Israeli Songs & Waving At Muslims
Rawan Osman: I Get Death Threats For Being An Ex Jew Hater- So I Went To Iraq & Drove Around Erbil Blaring Israeli Songs & Waving At Muslims
LOOK AT ME & NOLI ME TANGERE -"Recovered Antisemite" Turned Arab Zioni$t -Muslimah Rawan Osman Expects Love & Respect" From Jews
by Of
July 14, 2026
Rawan Osman روان عثمان
@RawaneOsmane
Recovered Antisemite
Syrian-born l German Activist Writer .
Speaker . Content creator Visiting Research & Diplomacy Fellow Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
https://x.com/RawaneOsmane
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MIM: Many Jewish individuals and organizations in Israel and abroad embrace and celebrate Osman believing her to be the Muslimah Messiah who was "born to defend the State of Israel. Who would have thought that a self proclaimed "Recovered Antisemite",Hezbollah groupie, Syrian -Lebanese Sunni Muslim and German citizen would be the saviour of the Jews? The 'good news' is that Osman IS Muslim, unlike the False Messiah aka Shabtai Zvi who chose conversion to Islam over death.
"Syrian-born activist Rawan Osman believes she was born to defend the State of Israel. A German citizen who travels the world speaking about what is wrong with Islamic society and what is right about Israel, she lives under constant threat.
But Osman, speaking on the ILTV Podcast, said, "I am fearless".
"Although she does take security measures based on the recommendations of a criminal investigator assigned to her case in Germany, Osman said she has made "compromises and sacrifices" to continue her work."
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r192o1k7zx
######
MIM: On February 4, 2026 Osman, who claims that she 'lives under threat' made a 'spontaneous visit' to Iraq and posted a video of her deliberate and calculated provocation in the Muslim city of Erbil with the caption:
"Erbil City Center" Listening to Am Yisroel Chai. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME! Love to the Kurds!"
MIM: Fast foward a few months later to Israel where Osman complained after having received a 'prestigous award' in Israel in an X post that 2 'Jews' had failed to shower her with the 'love and respect' which she as a Lebanese Muslim and "Recovered Antisemite" and Moral Courage 'awardee' is entitled to;
"My skin is thick, but last week in Israel was too much even for me."
People see the shiny dress, the big smile, the glamorous pictures from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange where I received a prestigious award while people showered me with love and respect.
What they do not see is that I went through some of my lowest moments since October 7th, precisely because some of those who hurt me most are supposed to be on my side."
An Israeli friend who attended the ceremony left before I even received the award. No congratulations, no message afterward, nothing. People later told me he was jealous.
Jealous of what exactly?
Believe me, in my life, there is nothing to be jealous of.
"At dinner, I sat across from my friend's daughter. Her partner had recently been injured in Lebanon. She would not greet me, barely looked at me, and when our eyes crossed by accident, she rolled hers."
https://x.com/RawaneOsmane/status/2055277010247614800
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MIM: According to Rawan Osman she was transformed from being a Hezbollah Groupie to a Wannabe Jew.
The very fact that Osman's 'con'version to Judaism is "unlikely to be approved' because she cannot get a security clearance ( due to her family's involvement with Hezbollah which could include her ex husband with whom she had a son) 'should raise red flags as well as her sojourn in Saudi Arabia and 'other Arab countries'.
It stands to reason that her familial ties to jihadists and the terror group Hezbollah makes her vulnerable to blackmail. One scenario could involve a jihadist threatening to harm her son in Germany unless she uses her access to prominent public officials inside Israel to carry out or facilitate a terror attack to save her son from being harmed.
🚩"I am not converted yet.The obstacle is not Judaism. The obstacle is security clearance.Because of my background, my application has been blocked or suspended. I am told that approval is highly unlikely."🚩
MIM: Muslim Zioni$t grifters like Rawan Gabrielle Osman never miss a chance to remind their gullible and fawning mainly Jewish fans and that they are under constant threat of death by their fellow 'religion of peaceniks' aka Muslims.
Influencer aka media whore Osman obsessively documents her jet setting from departure to arrival like a Roaming Gnome on speed. Her destinations range from her 'heimat' in Germany where her mother, adult son and other Syrian relatives also reside.
Osman was recently flown to Toronto on their Jewish donors dime, to speak at the 'World Symposium On Anti Zionism' which was organized by Tafsik "We are Maccabee warriors in the battle against antisemitism both in the battle against antisemitism both in Canada and globally",Stop Antisemitism And CAEF The Canadian Antisemitism Foundation.CAEF has provided Canadians with programs to bridge understanding across ethno-racial and faith communities, to see the humanity in all, and to confront discrimination, including racism and antisemitism.https://www.caef.ca/about-us https://tafsik.com/event/wsaa/
MIM:Rawan Osman wants her adoring followers to know that being feted and funded by Jews and Jewish organizations as a 'Muslimah Messiah' and traveling the globe as a 'celebrity saviour' is 'not as "glamorous" as they imagine and 'nothing to be jealous of.'
She also indulged in a 'pity party' and revealed her hostility towards 'anyone' in Israel (aka Jews) who failed to 'shower her with the "love and respect" which is her due. During Israel's ongoing war in Lebanon when her Hezbollah relatives were killing Jews in daily missile barrages inside Israel and blowing up and shooting IDF soldiers who were trying to free HER Lebanese people from Hezbollah's tyranny of terror Osman recounted how her feelings were hurt because 'a (Jewish) friend's daughter whose partner had recently been injured in Lebanon (maybe even by Osman's own relatives) 'did not greet her, pointedly ignored her and rolled her eyes when she caught Osman's glance.
MIM: Instead of trying to emphasize with the young woman and realize that not every Jew, especially those who themselves or had family members killed, maimed or EXILED from their homes in Northern Israel due to Hezbollah attacks might not be inclined to be friendly towards someone whom they see as being their mortal enemy and literally caused their love ones harm, Osman's only concern was for her own hurt feelings at the perceived' slight.
True to narcissistic form, Osman, who had titled her 'Exile' made the 'non encounter' about her being snubbed by someone and concluded that they failed to appreciate her importance because she expected that as a Jew they should understand her best and grovel in gratitude because she, as a "Recovered Antisemite" she had chosen their side instead of siding with her Hezbollah jihadi family .
#######
MIM: in the X post below, Osman complains about having had a rough week in Israel because she felt that she had been 'disrespected by Jews' who did not show her the groveling gratitude she expects from them.
Exile
"My skin is thick, but last week in Israel was too much even for me."
People see the shiny dress, the big smile, the glamorous pictures from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange where I received a prestigious award while people showered me with love and respect.
What they do not see is that I went through some of my lowest moments since October 7th, precisely because some of those who hurt me most are supposed to be on my side.
An Israeli friend who attended the ceremony left before I even received the award. No congratulations, no message afterward, nothing. People later told me he was jealous.
Jealous of what exactly?
Believe me, in my life, there is nothing to be jealous of.
"At dinner, I sat across from my friend's daughter. Her partner had recently been injured in Lebanon. She would not greet me, barely looked at me, and when our eyes crossed by accident, she rolled hers.
That moment stayed with me because it captured something painful and difficult to explain: exile does not always happen between enemies. Sometimes it happens among people who should understand you best."
A religious convert in Jerusalem once told me that even if I converted a hundred times, I would never become a Jew."
🚩"My son has paid a price too. In Modiin, teenagers called him a Nazi because he lives in Germany. When I missed his high school graduation because of my work, I watched the ceremony from afar wondering whether his teachers thought I was simply a terrible mother. The truth is that I wanted nobody to know he was my son because I wanted to protect him from the hatred directed at me."🚩
https://x.com/RawaneOsmane/status/2055277010247614800?s=20
https://x.com/RawaneOsmane/status/2055277010247614800
#####
MIM: Self proclaimed Muslim 'moderates', 'reformers' and 'Zioni$ts' and "Recovered Antisemites" like Rawan Osman flaunt their 'death threats' as proof of authenticity with fatwas being a certificate of provenance.The Muslim grifters whose 'halal epiphanies'' made them decide that Judeophilia is an infinitely more ore lucrative profession than jihad.
MIM: Less than 6 months ago in February 2026 Osman embarked on what appeared to be a 'suicide mission' to Erbil in Iraq's Kurdistan region. Erbil's population is between '95% to 97% Muslim the majority of whom are Iraqi Kurds who are Sunnis.
based on her incessant 'reminders' to her Jewish funders and fans that, as a Muslim, she is putting her life at risk by broadcasting her love for Israel and Jewish people.The U.S. Department Of State issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory for all of Iraq including the Kurdistan Region due to terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict".
MIM:As of March 2,2026 the U.S.DOJ has maintained a Level 4 Threat Level assessment and advised U.S citizens to "consider consulting with a professional security organization, draft a will, leave DNA samples with your medical provider and discuss funeral wishes with loved ones, "in case you are unable to return to the United States as planned".In a section headlined Armed Conflict U.S. citizens are warned to "not travel near armed groups or Iraqs Northern borders (Kurdistan Region) due to "continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, aerial bombardment and civil unrest."
MIM:Rawan Osman's claims that she is risking her life daily because she is 'pro Israel'and receives death threats from her fellow 'Religion of Peaceniks'. She posts countless pictures of herself in airports and airplanes with nary a security guard in sight. This in itself is a reason to scrutinize her oft repeated claims that she is the Muslimah Messiah who was "born to defend Israel" and tell Jews that she as a "Recovered Antisemite" has heroically taken it upon herself to explain the world why Jews and Israel have redeeming social value 'despite the risks and limits it places on her 'personal life'.
MIM: Osman always makes sure that Jewish audiences are aware of the 'significant personal sacrifices' that her new found Judeophilia and her resulting 'activism' which involves 'missing her son's graduation' 'death threats' (from her fellow Muslims) 'family rejection' (from her Hezbollah jihadist relatives) and 'extremist backlash' (also see"family rejection"). Osman disingenuously claimed that 'My family has paid a price for my choices'' implying that her Judeophilia could have adverse consequences for those in Lebanon. The reality is that Her 'family' is herself and her adult son who lives in Germany as does her mother.
#######
I am Syrian-Lebanese. I was born in Damascus. I was raised on Hezbollah's version of history.
My family has paid a price for my choices.
I live under threat.
I am telling you this not for sympathy, but because who is speaking matters."
Syrian-born activist Rawan Osman noted that one of the toughest challenges in her public transformation was missing her son's high school graduation. She made the difficult decision not to attend the ceremony to protect her son's safety amid the intense backlash she faced for her pro-Israel activism. [1, 2, 3]
"The only moment that I felt was really tough was missing my son's graduation from high school, but I did not want anyone to associate me with him for his own safety,' she told ILTV. 'Other than that, I do not think that I'm suffering. I'm really happy with..."
Rawan Osman is a Syrian-born activist and commentator who has openly discussed facing severe backlash, including death threats and family rejection, due to her public transition from a Hezbollah supporter to a vocal pro-Israel advocate. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Osman, who grew up in a Hezbollah-controlled area of Lebanon, frequently speaks about the personal safety risks she navigates for her activism. She has highlighted these escalating dangers on social media, and frequently speaks on how groups like Hezbollah and Hamas sabotage regional coexistence. Due to the highly sensitive nature of these threats, she has stated that her activism requires significant personal sacrifice. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Rawan Osman, a Syrian-Lebanese peace activist and pro-Israel advocate, has routinely faced severe death threats and online harassment due to her outspoken condemnation of Hamas, Hezbollah, and antisemitism. Because of her public transformation from an anti-Israel activist to a vocal Zionist, she has become a primary target for extremist backlash. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Rawan Osman on Harassment and Threats
Rawan Osman often discusses the psychological toll and constant security risks associated with her activism, choosing to view her attackers with a sense of perspective and resilience rather than fear. [1, 2, 3]
Rawan Osman on her public platform and security:
Osman has detailed the reality of living in the public eye while advocating against extremist ideologies, highlighting the personal cost and security measures she must enforce for both herself and her family. [1]
"Although she does take security measures based on the recommendations of a criminal investigator assigned to her case in Germany, Osman said she has made 'compromises and sacrifices' to continue her work.
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MIM: in February 2026, Osman posted photographs and videos of herself as a Roaming Gnome wannabe in the city of Erbil,Iraq which has Level 4 Travel Advisory and warned that U.S citizens should not come to any part of Iraq and urged them to leave the country immediately.
The terror threat did not deter Syrian, Lebanese and German citizen Rawan Osman from wandering around Erbil, to the contrary she wrote on Facebook that she had no security fears in Erbil and asked 'would that be the case in Cairo, Beirut or Damascus?'
Rawan Osman conveniently forgot about the death threats that she receives from fellow Muslims which she claims make it impossible to visit her relatives in Syria and Hezbollah family in Lebanon.
On February 4, 2026 Osman posted a video of her riding in a slow moving passenger car in the 97% Muslim city of Erbil in Northern Iraq with an unarmed driver and windows rolled down smiling at passersby while lip synching to a Hebrew song titled 'The People Of Israel Lives" blaring for everyone to hear!
MIM:Osman posted a video of her deliberate and calculated provocation with the caption:
"Erbil City Center" Listening to Am Yisroel Chai. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE ME! Love to the Kurds!"
https://www.facebook.com/osman.rawan/videos/erbil-city-centerlistening-to-am-yisrael-chaiwatch-what-happens-when-people-reco/2722403348159229/
######
MIM: The day before her 'cruising for a bruising' social media stunt Osman posted a picture of herself at a street market describing her trip to Erbil as "spontaneous" which begs the question if she had entered Iraq with a Syrian, Lebanese or German passport. Given the fact that the U.S. State Department had issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory which was the same one that was in affect during her trip less than one month before in March which read:
"'Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Leave now if you are there."
MIM:On the same webpage the U.S. State Department helpfully provided a 'to do' list which told travelers to "make a will, leave DNA with their physician and speak with loved ones about funeral arrangements'.
######
MIM: On February 3, 2026 Roaming Gnome Osman gushed that her "spontaneous trip to Erbil" was "one of my most intriguing adventures."
https://www.facebook.com/osman.rawan/posts/a-spontaneous-trip-to-erbil-turned-out-to-be-one-of-my-most-intriguing-adventure/25815587204776165/ OsmanFebruary 3 ·
A spontaneous trip to #Erbil turned out to be one of my most intriguing adventures.
It reminded me that the history of the so-called Middle East is dense, colorful and woven thread by thread, like these rugs.
#######
Rawan Osman
February 4 ·
Erbil city center.
Listening to Am Yisrael Chai.
Watch what happens when people recognize me.
Love to the Kurds 
#Erbil #Kurdistan #Iraq #amyisraelchai
MIM: It is revealing that Osman claims that Jews should be grateful to her for explaining to her fellow non Jews why it's a net positive to not hate Jews and Israel and become "Recovered Antisemites' like herself. Osman globe trots without any security and constantly posts about her travels and locations on social media,an odd activity for someone who claims to be in constantly fearing for their life.
MIM: AI generated this account of what is best described as the ''The Look At Me - I'm Rawan And You're Not - Muslim Miss Story Tour":
Rawan Osman is a Syrian-born activist and researcher who visited Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, on a spontaneous trip in February 2026. She publicly shared positive experiences of her visit, contrasting the safety and hospitality she received there with the hostility she might face elsewhere in the region. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Details of Her Trip and Perspectives:
- Positive Reception: Osman, who has become a prominent pro-Israel advocate and "recovered antisemite", posted videos from the Erbil city center listening to the song "Am Yisrael Chai" and noted the warm reactions of locals when she was recognized. [1, 2]
- Regional Comparisons: She publicly praised the Kurdish people and contrasted her safe experience in Erbil with the dangers she believes she would face in cities like Cairo, Beirut, or Damascus. [1]
Armed Conflict
Do not travel near armed groups or Iraq's northern (aka the Kurdistan Region) borders due to:
- Continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups
- Armed conflict
- Aerial bombardment
- Civil unrest
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Iraq.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid
For U.S. citizens in Iraq:
- Establish a personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
- Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
- Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them for identification purposes.
- Have departure plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
- Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
- Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return to the United States as planned.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Iraq.html?
- Official Travel Advisories: The U.S. Department of State maintains a strict Level 4: Do Not Traveladvisory for all of Iraq—including the Kurdistan Region—due to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed conflict. [1]
Rawan Osman
Erbil city center.
Listening to Am Yisrael Chai.
Watch what happens when people recognize me.
Love to the Kurds
#Erbil #Kurdistan #Iraq #amyisraelchai
https://www.facebook.com/osman.rawan/videos/erbil-city-centerlistening-to-am-yisrael-chaiwatch-what-happens-when-people-reco/2722403348159229/
#######
MIM: This report from May 2025 reveals that the Kurdish Muslims in Erbil among whom Osman gushed she felt safe contradicts her view of the Kurds as being all warm and fuzzy. It also shows that the reach of ISIS and other jihadist groups is global.
Kurdish couple tried in Germany for ISIS link
Znar Shino19-05-2025
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Bavarian Supreme Court held a trial for a Kurdish coupleaccused of the Islamic State (ISIS) links on Monday, more than a year after their detention forseveral charges, including crimes against Yazidis.
https://www.rudaw.net/english/categories/world/871660
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Germany: Iraqi sentenced to life for enslaving Yazidi girls
Rana Taha with AFP, dpa 07/13/2026July 13, 2026
The man and his former partner are accused of holding two Yazidi girls captive for years while subjecting them to forced labor, abuse and torture before handing them over to other IS members.
The Iraqi couple were convicted of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. They were also convicted of sexually abusing children and aiding and abetting the listed offenses.
The couple bought the two Yazidi girls as slaves in Iraq when they were aged five and 12.
The judge also noted that Monday's ruling was the first conviction in Germany for forced religious conversion — in this case, forcing the girls from Yazidism to Islam.
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-isis-member-enslaved-abused-yazidi-girls-iraq/a-77928732
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The Enemy of My Enemy: Iran Arms Kurds in Fight Against ISIS. TIME MAGAZINE 2014
August 27, 2014
https://time.com/3196580/iran-kurds-isis-erbil-iraq/
##########
Perspectives on Kurdish Muslims and ISIS
The dynamic between ISIS and Kurdish society is complex, often marked by heavy conflict but also involving small-scale ISIS recruitment among radicalized Kurdish groups. [1, 2]
#######
The Islamic State and the Kurds: The Documentary Evidence
SEPTEMBER 2017, VOLUME 10, ISSUE 8
Authors AYMENN AL-TAMIMI
"Abstract: Drawing in part on internal Islamic State documents, this article aims to provide a new and more nuanced understanding of how the Islamic State has dealt with Kurds. Though the Islamic State is often characterized as being inherently anti-Kurdish, the organization has recruited Kurds and directed messaging toward Kurdish audiences. At the same time, internal documents in particular show the tensions between realities on the ground for Kurdish communities that lived under Islamic State control and the organization's ideology that is, in theory, blind to ethnicity."
https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-islamic-state-and-the-kurds-the-documentary-evidence/
##########
MIM: Information On Erbil:
'Out of the estimated 1.2 to 1.4 million people in Erbil, the vast majority—roughly 95% to 97%—are Muslim. This translates to approximately 1.14 million to 1.35 million Muslim residents, primarily consisting of Sunni Kurds, along with Turkmen and Arab populations. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The remaining 3% to 5% of the population includes sizable minority groups, most notably the roughly 250,000 to 300,000 Christians in the region. [1, 2]
Erbil is nominally part of Iraq, but it is directly controlled and administered by the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
While the KRG oversees internal security, civil administration, and the Peshmerga armed forces, the city remains subject to the overarching Iraqi Constitution and shares resources, foreign policy, and federal courts with Baghdad.
Current Safety Conditions
- Geopolitical Risks: Erbil frequently experiences drone and missile strikes from neighboring Iran, usually targeting U.S. bases, airports, or suspected Israeli intelligence assets. [1, 2, 3]
- Official Travel Advisories: The U.S. Department of State maintains a strict Level 4: Do Not Traveladvisory for all of Iraq—including the Kurdistan Region—due to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed conflict. [1]
- Anti-Israel Hostility: Iraqi and KRG laws have heavily cracked down on ties to Israel. Anyone publicly associated with Judaism or Israel risks severe harassment, detention, or violent threats from local militant groups and security services. [1, 2, 3]
- Local Jewish Population: There is no publicly recognized or functioning Jewish community in Erbil. The few individuals of Jewish descent or heritage largely keep a low profile or practice in secret
Erbil International Airport is jointly administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal Government of Iraq, with day-to-day operations and management directed by Airport Director General Ahmed Hoshyar. [1, 2]
The airport's administration and overarching governance are split across two primary entities:
- Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): Oversees the regional administration and daily operations of the facility.
- Federal Government of Iraq: The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) regulates airspace and enforces nationwide aviation mandates, such as airspace closures and national safety standards
###
I am Syrian-Lebanese. I was born in Damascus. I was raised on Hezbollah's version of history.
My family has paid a price for my choices.
I live under threat.
I am telling you this not for sympathy, but because who is speaking matters.
Syrian-born activist Rawan Osman noted that one of the toughest challenges in her public transformation was missing her son's high school graduation. She made the difficult decision not to attend the ceremony to protect her son's safety amid the intense backlash she faced for her pro-Israel activism. [1, 2, 3]
"The only moment that I felt was really tough was missing my son's graduation from high school, but I did not want anyone to associate me with him for his own safety,' she told ILTV. 'Other than that, I do not think that I'm suffering. I'm really happy with...
Rawan Osman is a Syrian-born activist and commentator who has openly discussed facing severe backlash, including death threats and family rejection, due to her public transition from a Hezbollah supporter to a vocal pro-Israel advocate. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Osman, who grew up in a Hezbollah-controlled area of Lebanon, frequently speaks about the personal safety risks she navigates for her activism. She has highlighted these escalating dangers on social media, and frequently speaks on how groups like Hezbollah and Hamas sabotage regional coexistence. Due to the highly sensitive nature of these threats, she has stated that her activism requires significant personal sacrifice. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Rawan Osman, a Syrian-Lebanese peace activist and pro-Israel advocate, has routinely faced severe death threats and online harassment due to her outspoken condemnation of Hamas, Hezbollah, and antisemitism. Because of her public transformation from an anti-Israel activist to a vocal Zionist, she has become a primary target for extremist backlash. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Rawan Osman on Harassment and Threats
Rawan Osman often discusses the psychological toll and constant security risks associated with her activism, choosing to view her attackers with a sense of perspective and resilience rather than fear. [1, 2, 3]
Rawan Osman on her public platform and security
Osman has detailed the reality of living in the public eye while advocating against extremist ideologies, highlighting the personal cost and security measures she must enforce for both herself and her family. [1]
"Although she does take security measures based on the recommendations of a criminal investigator assigned to her case in Germany, Osman said she has made 'compromises and sacrifices' to continue her work.
#######
Erbil the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has a predominantly Muslim culture, with thousands of mosques across the city.
Out of the estimated 1.2 to 1.4 million people in Erbil, the vast majority—roughly 95% to 97%—are Muslim. This translates to approximately 1.14 million to 1.35 million Muslim residents, primarily consisting of Sunni Kurds, along with Turkmen and Arab populations. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The remaining 3% to 5% of the population includes sizable minority groups, most notably the roughly 250,000 to 300,000 Christians in the region. [1, 2]
Erbil is nominally part of Iraq, but it is directly controlled and administered by the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
While the KRG oversees internal security, civil administration, and the Peshmerga armed forces, the city remains subject to the overarching Iraqi Constitution and shares resources, foreign policy, and federal courts with Baghdad.
Current Safety Conditions
- Geopolitical Risks: Erbil frequently experiences drone and missile strikes from neighboring Iran, usually targeting U.S. bases, airports, or suspected Israeli intelligence assets. [1, 2, 3]
- Official Travel Advisories: The U.S. Department of State maintains a strict Level 4: Do Not Traveladvisory for all of Iraq—including the Kurdistan Region—due to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed conflict. [1]
- Anti-Israel Hostility: Iraqi and KRG laws have heavily cracked down on ties to Israel. Anyone publicly associated with Judaism or Israel risks severe harassment, detention, or violent threats from local militant groups and security services. [1, 2, 3]
- Local Jewish Population: There is no publicly recognized or functioning Jewish community in Erbil. The few individuals of Jewish descent or heritage largely keep a low profile or practice in secret
Erbil International Airport is jointly administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal Government of Iraq, with day-to-day operations and management directed by Airport Director General Ahmed Hoshyar. [1, 2]
########
February 2 · 2026
Just outside Erbil, in the village of Alqosh, stands the tomb of Prophet Nahum — a quiet yet powerful reminder of how deeply intertwined this land is with Jewish history.
Nahum, the biblical prophet who warned of the fall of Nineveh, is believed to be buried here. For centuries, Iraqi Jews made pilgrimage to this site, especially on Shavuot, praying in a place that predates modern borders, identities, and conflicts.
Today, the tomb stands as a testament to Kurdistan's layered past: Jewish, Christian, Yazidi, and Muslim — all rooted in the same soil. Preserving it is not just about saving a Jewish site; it is about protecting the shared memory of Mesopotamia itself.
(More on the video later)
#ProphetNahum #jewishhistory #MesopotamianHistory #iraq #erbil #judaism #Torah
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Post
Taajeel, the abandoned Jewish quarter of Erbil, lies in ruins.
A swastika now stains one of its walls.
And yet today, around 250 Jewish families live in Kurdistan, Iraq.
Some Jews told me they walk the streets wearing kippas without fear.
Iraqi Kurdistan proves that an alternative reality can be built
when there is the will to correct history.
Taajeel, the abandoned Jewish quarter of Erbil, lies in ruins.
A swastika now stains one of its walls.
And yet today, around 250 Jewish families live in Kurdistan, Iraq.
Some Jews told me they walk the streets wearing kippas without fear.
Iraqi Kurdistan proves that an alternative reality can be built
when there is the will to correct history.
·https://www.facebook.com/osman.rawan/posts/taajeel-the-abandoned-jewish-quarter-of-erbil-lies-in-ruinsa-swastika-now-stains/25811726921828860/
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Feb 6 2026
I turn 42 this February, and here's the secret behind my clear skin, something I learned from my Damascene grandmother: Aleppo soap, made simply from olive oil and laurel leaves. I bought these bars at a small stand in the bazaar in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq—but they are made in Afrin, Syria, a region long known for this craft. They cost less than ten percent of what I usually pay for "Alepposeife" soaps made in Germany. Now let's see which one delivers better quality.
#efrin#alepposoap #AleppoSeife #Aleppo
https://x.com/RawaneOsmane/status/2019722235582296351?s=20
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Raised to Hate Israel, Rawan Osman Thought for Herself — and Outgrew It"
"I grew up in a Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Israel was not a country in my education. It was a crime. A wound kept open on purpose. I believed it. Repeated it. Then I met Jews."
I grew up in a Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Israel was not a country in my education. It was a crime. A wound kept open on purpose. Every funeral, every slogan, every sermon pointed in the same direction: there, across the border, is the source of your suffering. Believe it. Repeat it. Pass it on.
I believed it. I repeated it. For years.
Then I moved to France. And I met Jews.
Not the abstraction. Not the enemy. People. Neighbors. Colleagues. And the collision between what I had been taught and what I was seeing in front of me was so violent — so intellectually embarrassing — that I had no honest choice but to start over. To read. To ask. To dismantle, brick by brick, everything I had been given as truth.
What I found on the other side of that dismantling was not just the absence of hatred. It was something I had not expected: admiration.
Let me be precise about what I am defending and what I am not.
I am not defending every Israeli policy. I am not defending any government unconditionally. I am not asking anyone to check their critical faculties at the door.
Israel is the political expression of that tradition. An improbable state. A people who returned to their ancestral land after two thousand years of exile and built, in decades, what their neighbors have not managed in centuries. Not because they are superior, but because they were shaped by a tradition that takes civilization seriously.
That is what is under attack. Not a government. Not a policy. A civilization.
I am Syrian-Lebanese. I was born in Damascus. I was raised on Hezbollah's version of history. My family has paid a price for my choices. I live under threat.
I am telling you this not for sympathy, but because who is speaking matters.
I am not a westerner who discovered Israel on a Birthright trip. I am not someone who stumbled into this position from comfort.
Erbil city center. Listening to Am Yisrael Chai. Watch what happens when people recognize me. Love to the Kurds 🤍 #Erbil #Kurdistan #Iraq#amyisraelchai
https://www.facebook.com/osman.rawan/videos/erbil-city-centerlistening-to-am-yisrael-chaiwatch-what-happens-when-people-reco/2722403348159229/
Rawan Osman
The Kurdish people are simply wonderful.
Would I be safe in Cairo, Beirut or Damascus the way I was in Erbil?
May the rest of the Middle East learn to treat their own people and their guests the way Israel and Kurdistan Iraq do.
Rawan Osman on Her Erbil Experience
Rawan Osman shares her thoughts on her time in the Kurdistan Region. [1]
"Would I be safe in Cairo, Beirut or Damascus the way I was in Erbil? May the rest of the Middle East learn to treat their own people and their guests the way Israel and Kurdistan Iraq do."
X · RawaneOsmane · 5 months ago
"A spontaneous trip to Erbil turned out to be one of my most intriguing adventures. It reminded me that the history of the so-called Middle East is dense, colorful and woven thread by thread, like these rugs."
Facebook · Rawan Osman · 5 months ago
Rawan Osman On Her Nazi Death Camp Visit
My home is now in Germany — as my ties with Jews and Israelis have made it impossible for me to move back to Lebanon — and I'm concerned what kind of Europe my son will see in the years to come
And yet, today Germany and Israel enjoy a positive relationship in which they cooperate on an array of initiatives, ranging from education to culture to security.
Last year, I had the privilege of visiting Poland for March of the Living — a nearly three-mile march from the Auschwitz concentration camp to the Birkenau extermination camp on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Ironically, it was there, while touring the depths of human depravity, that I saw the beauty of humanity. I didn't find it in the horrific displays of abuse and torture, but instead I witnessed it when Jewish visitors at Auschwitz were moved by the presence of our Arab delegation.
This year, I again joined Sharaka's delegation of Arab influencers at the March of the Living. Last year's delegation was a breakthrough. This year was an affirmation.
I anticipate that more Muslims will visit Auschwitz on Holocaust Remembrance Day as the word spreads, forming a new alliance of tolerance that counters the axis of resistance to change in the Middle East.*
If Germany and the Jewish community can make peace, I firmly believe that Jews and Arabs can continue to do the same."
Exile
My skin is thick, but last week in Israel was too much even for me.
People see the shiny dress, the big smile, the glamorous pictures from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange where I received a prestigious award while people showered me with love and respect. What they do not see is that I went through some of my lowest moments since October 7th, precisely because some of those who hurt me most are supposed to be on my side.
An Israeli friend who attended the ceremony left before I even received the award. No congratulations, no message afterward, nothing. People later told me he was jealous.
Jealous of what exactly?
Believe me, in my life, there is nothing to be jealous of.
A few days later, I went for dinner at a friend's house in Jerusalem. He told me he had bought a bottle of Lebanese arak made in Chtaura, the town where I grew up.
I do not even drink arak, yet holding that bottle sent shivers down my spine. I was holding a piece of home.
Unconsciously, he had invited me to mourn. He is a convert himself, also cut off from parts of the Arab world and from family. On October 7th, his estranged brother messaged him asking if he was still alive. For one brief moment, he thought sympathy had motivated the message. Then another message followed:
"I wish you and your filthy family dead."
I showed him the message I received from my younger sister on October 8th. She insisted the massacre was Israeli propaganda. Her sympathy was entirely with the Palestinians. The conversation ended with "shame on you" before she blocked me.
I still do not know what was worse: the first conversation I had with my mother after October 7th or the last.
How does one process such hatred from one's own family? The answer is that you do not. You simply absorb it while trying to remain sane.
At dinner, I sat across from my friend's daughter. Her partner had recently been injured in Lebanon. She would not greet me, barely looked at me, and when our eyes crossed by accident, she rolled hers.
That moment stayed with me because it captured something painful and difficult to explain: exile does not always happen between enemies. Sometimes it happens among people who should understand you best.
A religious convert in Jerusalem once told me that even if I converted a hundred times, I would never become a Jew. A family member told me years ago that they wished I had died of cancer before seeing the day I visited Israel.
My son has paid a price too. In Modiin, teenagers called him a Nazi because he lives in Germany. When I missed his high school graduation because of my work, I watched the ceremony from afar wondering whether his teachers thought I was simply a terrible mother. The truth is that I wanted nobody to know he was my son because I wanted to protect him from the hatred directed at me.
And still, despite all of this, I cannot betray what I know to be true.
I do not do what I do for money, applause, or awards. If anything, the higher I rise publicly, the lower I fall in the eyes of many people I once loved or expected solidarity from.
I do what I do because Israel is worth it to me.
Israel, the project that materialized. The model that defies the hatred, tribalism, victimhood, and fatalism that destroyed so much of our region.
Every Israeli or Jew whose heart becomes consumed by darkness after October 7th is a victory for the axis of evil. I cannot allow that. Even when I am exhausted. Even when I feel humiliated. Even when I feel completely alone.
If you are ever jealous of pro-Israel activists, especially those who came from the Arab world, remember this:
Many of them are living in exile.
And sometimes friendly fire hurts more than the enemy.
#israel #october7
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March 3 · 2026
On Friday, I flew into Israel with my 17-year-old son—likely on one of the last flights before the airspace closed.
At security, sweet Israelis tried to warn me about the balagan that was about to begin.
"I know," I said. "Yihye tov."
They smiled and answered: "Yihye tov."
My son almost freaked out.
So I asked him:
If we had the chance to witness the fall of the Berlin Wall, would we stay away?
This time, I couldn't argue the way I do in synagogues. I couldn't tell him that Emunah precedes logic. But the truth is, Emunah (faith) has been my compass since October 7.
With absolute certainty—not a shred of doubt—I have said it hundreds of times, even before skeptical crowds in Israel and around the world:
Israel will prevail.
The so-called "Axis of Resistance" committed suicide on October 7.
They are already smoke—they just don't know it yet.
And with that same certainty, I say: the fantasy called "Palestine" will not survive this war.
Do I bet my money on it?
I am here. In Israel. With my only son.
Not theorizing from Europe.
May my fate be that of Israel.
Our lives are not more precious than yours.
I grew up in Lebanon. For eighteen years, I lived through war. We didn't have a shelter.
My mother was convinced we were "safe" in the pantry, where I slept on a mattress behind the washing machine, head to toe with my sister.
Every time a missile struck nearby, she would wet herself in her sleep. We would wake in the middle of the night, washing her with cold water as explosions echoed outside.
So when I am accused of being indifferent to the suffering of children in Gaza, my blood boils—especially when lectured by those who have never experienced war.
War is ugly and sometimes inevitable.
Diplomacy does not soften the hearts of genocidal leaders. I hope the West finally understands.
I don't even know how many wars we survived. And yet, we are alive. Because our time was not up.
In Arabic, there is a saying: 'ala barakat Allah' — by God's grace.
Does this war with Iran scare me?
Not even a little.
But how do I explain that to my son? To someone I raised without faith? To people who don't know me?
How do you explain certainty without Emunah?
I believe in God. In good. In miracles.
I have seen the impossible happen—again and again—against all odds. Surviving wars is nothing compared to that.
One of those miracles hangs around my neck.
A Star of David.
If Israel is not one of the most astonishing miracles in human history, I don't know what is.
After two thousand years of exile—pushed east and west, north and south—after repeated attempts to erase them from history; enslaved, expelled, tortured, forcibly converted; after Kishinev, after Hebron, after the Holocaust…
For Israel to rise in spite of that history is nothing short of extraordinary.
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