In a historic and unprecedented step for the Kurdish diaspora, the city of Düsseldorf, Germany, hosted the first congress of the International Kurdish Language Federation. In this major event, which was attended by representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the German government, and various political entities, emphasis was placed on ending fragmented efforts and creating a unified national umbrella to preserve the mother tongue in the diaspora.
Shifa Barzani, the General Supervisor of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation (KDC), delivered a speech at the congress held today, Saturday. He conveyed the greetings and wishes of success of President Masoud Barzani to the participants.
While welcoming the guests and diplomats, he described the launch of this federation as a historic turning point in diaspora life. For the first time, a national umbrella is being established for all academic centers and Kurdish schools to serve as an inclusive home, bringing the Kurdish language to all diaspora families without discrimination.
The General Supervisor of the KDC highlighted that although individual and institutional initiatives have historically served the language, their impact remained limited. Therefore, this federation will serve as a platform to consolidate all these efforts. He also explicitly noted that this unity might not please certain political forces and occupying countries that continuously try to sow division among Kurds.
However, the unification of 35 Kurdish schools worldwide, alongside the support of experts and the Kurdistan Regional Government, proves that no external agenda can be imposed on them, and Kurds will fraternally decide their own destiny and national future.
In another part of his address, Shifa Barzani emphasized the philosophy of national survival, explaining that losing one’s language equates to losing history—particularly for the Kurdish nation, which does not yet have an independent state. Thus, language is the sole guarantee of survival and of keeping the dream of establishing an independent Kurdistan alive. Upon the recommendation of President Barzani, he pledged full support and cooperation to the federation to open more schools and preserve the language.
Shifa Barzani made an earnest appeal to parents in the diaspora to support the federation, encourage their children, and speak only Kurdish at home in order to protect this ancestral heritage from extinction, noting that no one else will preserve their language for them.
He also proposed formulating a unified standard for the Kurdish language in the diaspora and commended the founding committee for successfully bringing these centers together under this single umbrella.
Hundreds of thousands of Kurdish families live in European countries and across the world. Due to the lack of a unified Kurdish educational system, the newer generations face the risk of losing their mother tongue and assimilating into host cultures.
The establishment of the International Kurdish Language Federation is a strategic effort to organize the scattered capacities of the diaspora and institutionalize Kurdish language instruction, linking the new generation of the diaspora to their national identity and heritage, and serving as a strong bridge between the homeland and the world.
Text of the Message from Shifa Barzani, General Supervisor of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Honored and distinguished guests,
Representatives of the German state, members of parliament, and political figures,
Representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Kurdish political parties, and factions from all four parts of Kurdistan,
Members of the first congress of the International Kurdish Language Federation, congress organizers, supervisors, and preparatory committees,
It is with great pleasure that we gather here today. For the first time in the history of the diaspora, a Kurdish umbrella is being announced for all schools and academic centers that have served the Kurdish language, and the first congress for this national institution is being held.
I hope this step marks the beginning of establishing a Kurdish home and unifying efforts to deliver our sweet Kurdish language to all our children and families in the diaspora. Together, we can play a vital role in preserving the Kurdish language and make this institution a home for all Kurds without exception.
Undoubtedly, prior to today, there have been Kurdish schools, organizations, and figures who continuously served the language. However, unfortunately, these efforts were individual, institutional, and personal, meaning their impact was limited. The Kurdish Language Federation must be the platform that unifies all our efforts, making us stronger, more organized, and more effective in protecting the Kurdish language and culture abroad.
We are aware that this step is not pleasing to some political forces and occupying countries, and that attempts are being made to create divisions and fracture our unity to keep us weak. However, the presence of 35 Kurdish schools from across the globe, alongside the Kurdish language scholars and experts here, and the support of the Kurdistan Regional Government, proves that no external agenda can be imposed on our people. This is the day of Kurdish unity and brotherhood, and together we will shape and decide the future of our nation and country.
Distinguished guests,
While language may merely be a tool for communication and dialogue for other nations, for us Kurds, it is our history, culture, and identity. Nations that have preserved their language have successfully preserved their past, present, and future. Any nation that loses its language loses its history and existence. Particularly for us, who do not yet have an independent state, language is the foundation for national preservation and the continuation of the dream to establish an independent Kurdistan.
Dear sisters and brothers,
Upon the recommendation of His Excellency President Barzani, the leader of the Kurdish people, we will be key supporters and allies of this federation to help advance its mission of strengthening and preserving the Kurdish language in the diaspora. This will be achieved by organizing Kurdish schools abroad, encouraging Kurdish families to enroll their children in Kurdish classes, and prompting them to participate in online language-learning courses—as preserving the Kurdish language is now their duty.
Furthermore, before concluding my remarks, I appeal to Kurdish mothers, fathers, and families abroad to support this federation, encourage their children to learn their language, and speak only Kurdish at home, refusing to let this language fade away.
Our language is the heritage of our ancestors, and we must protect it. If we do not protect it, no one else will protect it for us. If the federation, schools, and Kurdish families work hand-in-hand to fulfill their roles, we will not only preserve our language, but the Kurdish language will grow stronger, and together we can lay the foundation for a standardized Kurdish language in the diaspora.
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is highly appropriate to commend the founding committee and the supervisors of this federation who have successfully gathered Kurdish schools and linguists around this cause. I urge the new leadership of the federation to complete the work that their colleagues in the executive committee could not fully finish.
Distinguished attendees,
Within the framework of focusing on language, teaching various alphabets and scripts, and providing opportunities to Kurdish families wherever they are in the world, the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation—through this federation—has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government. This agreement has enabled the Kurdistan Regional Government to provide Kurdish textbooks in both Aramaic and Latin scripts for Kurdish schools abroad, as well as delivering online language education to Kurdish homes and families worldwide.
It is fitting here to highlight the role of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the honorable Kak Masrour Barzani, in ensuring the success of this agreement between the federation and the Ministry of Education. On my own behalf and on behalf of this congress, we sincerely thank His Excellency, and we hope his support and cooperation for the Kurdish language will continue to expand.
We also extend our thanks to the Minister of Education, the honorable Kak Dr. Alan Hama Saeed, and the Directorate of Studies Abroad, for their support in implementing the memorandum of understanding.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Undoubtedly, these achievements and advancements by the federation would not have been possible without the support, participation, and coordination of Kurdish schools. Therefore, I thank all schools participating in the Language Federation, and I hope that other schools currently outside this framework will join this caravan of service to the Kurdish language and identity, protecting Kurds from assimilation.
Unity and cohesion within the Kurdish nation have always been the foundation of success and great achievements for Kurds. Rest assured that without unity, Kurdistan will be the primary loser. I hope Kurdish linguists and schools worldwide will join hands and, within this federation, unite their efforts to advance the Kurdish language, standing together as a fortress protecting the new generation of our nation from assimilation.
In conclusion, I wish this congress every success, and I wish you all longevity and success in serving the language and protecting our nation in the diaspora.
Long live the Kurds,
Long live Kurdistan,
Shifa Barzani
June 27, 2026
