Karokh Khoshnaw, writer and university lecturer, participated in the First Congress of the Federation of Kurdistani Diaspora Writers as the representative of President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani. During the congress, he delivered a speech in which, alongside extending congratulations, he emphasized that many writers in the diaspora have not only served Kurdish literature and culture abroad but have also stood as examples of resilience, courage, and symbols of resistance against oppression and the repressive policies of authoritarian regimes through their patriotic and national commitment.
Full Text of the Speech
To the Congress of the Federation of Writers
Distinguished participants of the First Hajar Mukriani Congress, greetings to you all, and good day.
We warmly congratulate you all on the convening of this congress and extend our sincere congratulations to all writers of the Kurdish diaspora and Kurdistan. We also express our appreciation to the organisers for their efforts in preparing this important event.
This congress, held under the patronage of the esteemed President Barzani, represents both a timely necessity and a tribute to the pen, intellect, creativity, and contributions of the caravan of diaspora writers, who have always stood in the frontlines alongside their people. Through their writings, they have played an important role in the struggle of the Kurdish national liberation movement and continue to do so today.
The President of the Kurdistan Region, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, has consistently supported writers both inside and outside Kurdistan. On numerous occasions, he has reaffirmed his commitment to encouraging and standing by Kurdish writers.
The establishment of the Federation of Kurdistani Diaspora Writers is clear evidence of the importance that the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation attaches to diaspora writers, enabling them to continue enriching Kurdish culture, language, literature, and creativity through their work. Therefore, we extend our gratitude, appreciation, and thanks to the General Supervisor, the President, the staff, and all members of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation.
Many diaspora writers, in addition to serving Kurdish literature and culture abroad, have also been at the forefront of defending national values and Kurdish identity. They have stood as examples of resilience, courage, and symbols of resistance against oppression and the repressive policies of authoritarian regimes.
Distinguished guests,
We firmly believe that beautiful words, enlightened thinking, and noble individuals are born from a free environment. All our efforts—past, present, and future—have been and will continue to be devoted to creating such an environment. A proper atmosphere for writing and creativity is one in which freedom of thought, opinion, and expression are cherished values, and where life and human dignity are respected and protected.
Our expectation of our writers abroad is that they will continue to play an influential role in building strong bridges between Kurdistan and the wider world, based on the principles of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, equality, love for the homeland, and solidarity among the Kurdish diaspora and the people of Kurdistan.
Writers and intellectuals serve as bridges connecting their people with the world. The presence of every Kurdish writer in the libraries of the world represents the identity and history of an entire nation. Therefore, it is essential that our writers make greater efforts to transcend national borders by translating their works into the world’s living languages and securing Kurdistan’s rightful place in the global sphere of literature, creativity, and culture.
On this magnificent occasion, we pay tribute to the souls of those martyred writers who sacrificed their lives on the frontlines of resistance and in the darkness of prisons for their homeland, their people, and the written word. We salute their proud families. We also honour the memory of all those writers who dedicated their lives to serving literature and contributing to the progress and development of the people of Kurdistan.
Congratulations on the First Hajar Mukriani Congress to all writers and intellectuals in the Kurdish diaspora and Kurdistan. We wish you continued success, prosperity, and every happiness in your noble mission.