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.