Formal Proposal: Supporting the Kurdistan Region Flag Emoji (ISO 3166-2:IQ-KR) in Android & Google Services

[Walat237]

Subject:

To the Google Android & Noto Emoji Teams,
We are writing to you on behalf of a coalition of Kurdish cultural and civil organizations to formally request the inclusion and support of the Kurdistan Region flag emoji within the Android operating system, Gboard, and the Noto Emoji library.

1. Technical Justification (ISO 3166-2 Standard):
   While the Unicode Consortium has stabilized the primary country flag list, the standard allows for Subdivision Flags based on the ISO 3166-2 standard. The Kurdistan Region is an internationally recognized federal entity with the assigned code IQ-KR. Implementing this flag as a subdivision sequence (similar to England, Scotland, or Wales) is a technical evolution that aligns with existing international standards.
2. Cultural & Digital Representation:
   The Kurdish people, numbering over 50 million worldwide, represent one of the largest communities currently lacking accurate digital representation. For millions of Android users, the absence of the Kurdistan flag emoji is a barrier to expressing their legal and cultural identity.
3. Global Precedent & Inclusion:
   Google has always been a pioneer in digital inclusion and diversity. By supporting the IQ-KR flag, Google will not only satisfy a massive user demand but also reinforce its commitment to representing the diverse identities of its global user base.
   Technical Details for Implementation:
   • Entity Name: Kurdistan Region (Iraq).
   • ISO Code: IQ-KR.
   • Design Specifications: A tricolor of red, white, and green horizontal bands, with a central yellow sun featuring 21 rays (Design attached/linked).
   Request:
   We urge Google to take the lead in implementing the IQ-KR flag sequence in the next Android update or Noto Emoji release. This step would be a significant milestone for digital inclusivity for millions of users worldwide.
   We are prepared to provide further documentation or technical data as needed. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to a more inclusive digital world.
   Respectfully submitted,
   Walat

[jbicha]

Please see https://blog.unicode.org/2022/03/the-past-and-future-of-flag-emoji.html which specifically mentions Kurdistan.

I am not a Google employee or a decisionmaker for this font, but it appears like Google is unwilling to add flag emoji for any subdivisions beyond the ones already included.

[diyarisalh]

Contribution for IQ-KR (Kurdistan Region) Flag Rendering
Hello everyone,
As a user and developer from the Kurdistan Region, I would like to contribute to the ongoing discussion regarding the support for the IQ-KR flag. While the subdivision tag sequence is technically valid in Unicode, the lack of a rendered glyph in the Noto Emoji font results in a poor user experience (a black flag or placeholder) for millions of users.
To assist the Noto Emoji team in implementing this, I have developed an optimized, lightweight SVG version of the flag. This version strictly follows the official specifications, including the 21-ray sun, while keeping the path data as clean as possible for font integration.
Optimized SVG Code:

And link SVG code flags

https://www.svgviewer.dev/s/jHU8wRk0

I have also attached a mockup below to demonstrate how the flag would look in a standard Android messaging interface. Proper rendering of this flag would be a major step forward for digital representation and inclusivity.

[diyarisalh]

Please see https://blog.unicode.org/2022/03/the-past-and-future-of-flag-emoji.html which specifically mentions Kurdistan.

I am not a Google employee or a decisionmaker for this font, but it appears like Google is unwilling to add flag emoji for any subdivisions beyond the ones already included.

Thank you for sharing the Unicode blog post. While the post highlights the challenges of adding new sovereign flags, it also confirms that subdivision flags (based on ISO 3166-2) remain the technical path for regional representation.
The IQ-KR tag sequence is already valid under Unicode's current standards. Our request isn't for a new Unicode character, but for Google to provide rendering support for an existing, officially recognized subdivision code.
As Google continues to emphasize inclusivity and global representation, supporting the Kurdistan flag for millions of users in the region and the diaspora is a meaningful step. By providing an optimized SVG, we hope to lower the technical barrier for the Noto Emoji team to include it in future updates, similar to how other subdivision flags are handled."

@davelab6 — I hope you can take this proposal and the optimized SVG into consideration for future updates of the Noto Emoji font."