Helly Luv Flies Kurdish Flag at the Toronto International Film Festival

By Matthew Wilson

TORONTO, Canada - Kurdish pop star Helen Abdulla, better known as Helly Luv, chose to wear traditional Peshmerga dress at the debut of her new film at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Abdulla, who is a 25, plays a 25-year-old mother in Mardan, a police drama. She provoked controversy with the video to her hit single Risk It All, drawing death threats from Islamic militants outraged by her appearance.

Speaking about her latest outfit, she said: "I choose to wear the Peshmerga because I feel the Kurdish Peshmerga forces right now need as much as support. Right now, it’s to that just the Peshmerga forces are protecting the Kurdish people, they’re fighting and protecting the whole world.”