The inaugural congress of the Kurdistan Diaspora Writers’ Federation (KDWF) has officially commenced in Düsseldorf, Germany.
This landmark event, held under the theme “Towards an Authentic and Contemporary Kurdish Literature in the Diaspora,” is operating under the direct patronage and support of President Masoud Barzani.
It serves as a continuation of the historic tradition established by the immortal Mulla Mustafa Barzani, who championed the protection of Kurdish literature and the written word.
The initiative, conceived and supervised by Shifa Barzani, General Supervisor of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation (KDC), aims to unite writers from all four parts of Kurdistan and the former Soviet states under one shared umbrella.
The primary objective is to end the professional isolation of these writers and mobilise their collective talents in the service of the nation.
During the opening ceremony, Shifa Barzani delivered a keynote address. After welcoming representatives from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and various political entities, he announced that the congress has been named in honour of the great Kurdish poet and writer Hejar Mukriyani.
This serves as a symbolic gesture to transcend the artificial borders that have long divided Kurdistan and to commemorate the difficult eras during which writers struggled to preserve the Kurdish language and culture.
In his address, Shifa Barzani reflected on the arduous history of Kurdish journalism and literature.
He honoured the legacy of April 22, 1898, when Miqdad Midhat Bedirkhan published the first issue of Kurdistannewspaper in Cairo.
He also highlighted the vital role of journals such as Hawar (1932), led by Jeladet Ali Bedirkhan, as well as Ronahî and Nûbar, which served as beacons for language preservation and literary development from abroad.
He further acknowledged the flourishing of journalism during the Republic of Kurdistan in Mahabad.
The General Supervisor emphasized the concept of “cultural diplomacy,” stating: “Just as politicians fight through diplomacy and the Peshmerga fight with weapons to secure our nation’s rights, it is the duty of writers and intellectuals to use their pens to lobby for the just cause of Kurdistan and to introduce the history and rights of our people to the world.”
Shifa Barzani acknowledged the presence of Dr. Arian Salahaddin, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture of the Kurdistan Regional Government, expressing hope that, in coordination with the KRG, a legal framework would be established to protect the rights of writers and support the publication of their works.
The KDWF has sent a clear message that it is not affiliated with any ideology or political party. Shifa Barzani urged that the Federation become a home for all Kurdish writers, regardless of ideological, political, or religious differences.
He further emphasized that the diversity of Kurdish dialects should be viewed as a point of strength and enrichment rather than a cause for division.
Although participation from writers within Kurdistan is limited during this cycle due to regional circumstances and technical challenges, the Federation aims to build a bridge between writers in the homeland and those in the diaspora, facilitating the introduction of Kurdish literature to the global stage.
In his concluding remarks, Shifa Barzani paid tribute to the writers and intellectuals who have endured imprisonment, torture, exile, and even execution in defense of the Kurdish language and identity, expressing his hope that this new federation will serve as a unified voice for Kurdish literature and culture worldwide.