About us
Supporting Kurdistan’s People and Heritage Since 1996
The American Society for Kurds (ASK) is dedicated to provide humanitarian aid, preserving Kurdish culture, and fostering development across Kurdistan, Iraq.
Founded in 1996
The American Society for Kurds, Inc. (ASK) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the humanitarian, cultural, and civil needs of the Kurdish people. Founded in 1996 by a group of concerned American citizens in Tallahassee, Florida, ASK has played a vital role in bringing aid and development to Kurdistan, Iraq.
|| ASK founder
A group of humanitarians and residences of Tallahassee, Florida, led by Dr. Salah Aziz, established American Society for Kurds to in 1996 to provide humanitarian aids to the Kurds who suffered from the Iraqi- and International- embargo. Thus, these respected individuals are called "ASK Founders". They are:
Dr. Salah Aziz
Assistant Professor
Florida State University
Education: PhD, Nuclear Physics-IU, Bloomington, IN, 1988
Academic Rank: Assistant Professor
Department: Physics
College: College of Sciences
Institution: - Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Dr. Michael L. Basile
Director of the International Education
Education: PhD, International Education Massachusetts, 1989
Academic Rank: Visiting Professor
Position: Chairman
Department: Education Studies, Leadership and Counseling
College: College of Education
Institution: Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky, USA
Ms. Jan Rangers
Paralegal Clerck
|| Our Story
ASK was formed during a critical time for the Kurdish people. In the wake of the 1990 international embargo on Iraq, ASK was one of the few non-governmental organizations granted special permission by the US Department of Treasury to transfer funds directly to Iraqi Kurdistan. This unique license allowed ASK to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to a region in desperate need.
From the 1990s through 2011, ASK implemented a wide range of humanitarian and civic initiatives throughout Iraq and Kurdistan, with support from key US agencies such as NED, NDI, and USIP. ASK established offices in Dohuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah, where it earned the respect and gratitude of the Kurdish people for its impactful programs and support.
After a brief hiatus, ASK re-registered in Kurdistan-Iraq in the fall of 2023, with its headquarters in Sulaymaniyah. In 2024, ASK launched two new projects aimed at furthering its mission of promoting civil society and sustainable development in the region.