Shnyar Anwar Hassan is a Kurdish-American politician, academic, and Member of the Kurdistan Parliament representing the city of Sulaymaniyah, where she serves as a ranking member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) caucus. Her unique leadership style bridges the gap between international policy, global security, and transformative grassroots execution.
Shnyar’s career is built on a deep academic foundation in societal structures and security. She earned her Master’s degree in Sociology from Babasaheb Ambedkar University in India, where her research focused extensively on political stability and social movements. Expanding her expertise in international policy, she is currently specializing in Governance and Global Security at Virginia Tech in the United States.
Between 2014 and 2017, Shnyar translated her academic background into direct action on the ground in Iraq. Working with various national and international non-governmental organizations, she became a fierce advocate for women’s rights and human dignity, dedicating her efforts to helping survivors of war—most notably rescuing and supporting marginalized Yazidi girls. During this period, she frequently participated in high-level international conferences, contributing to critical policy debates on democracy and women's leadership.
In 2019, Shnyar expanded her political acumen into the United States by joining the Republican Party, as part of president Trump presidential campaign. becoming an active, leading voice within grassroots campaign groups in Virginia.
From 2020 to 2024, she transitioned to Washington, D.C., establishing herself at the U.S. Congress as a fearless, independent advocate for the Kurdish cause. She became widely recognized in Washington for her courageous efforts to keep the memory of historical atrocities like Halabja and the Anfal genocide on the international agenda. Concurrently, she leveraged her platform to champion free speech, actively defending and supporting journalists and reporters facing political pressure and prosecution back in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
In 2024, Shnyar returned to Kurdistan to join the PUK, launching a highly unconventional, modern parliamentary campaign. By directly mobilizing hundreds of previously disengaged young voters, she secured a historic victory, earning the second-highest vote count among all female candidates in the Sulaymaniyah province.
In 2025 inspired by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani’s vision for regional modernization and youth empowerment, Shnyar founded the Green Force Initiative. Serving as its CEO, she designed Green Force not as a charity, but as a disruptive co-governance model to rebuild trust between marginalized communities and the state.
Under her leadership, Green Force has grown exponentially to over 500 active youth members. The initiative directly combats regional challenges through hands-on public projects, including:
* Substantial school and healthcare clinic renovations.
* The implementation of clean water projects for underserved towns.
* Deploying innovative solar energy solutions across university campuses.
* Conducting professional upskilling workshops and training for young graduates.
To date, the Green Force Initiative has directly and indirectly transformed the lives of over 40,000 people across the Sulaymaniyah province, solidifying Shnyar’s status as one of the region's most dynamic, forward-thinking leaders in modern civic resilience.