The Conference “In Search of Kurdistan’s Independence and Regional Peace” Held in Lausanne
By Soran Hassan – Lausanne, Switzerland
A conference titled “In Search of Kurdistan’s Independence and Peace in the Region,” organized by the Kurdish Institute of Lausanne in coordination with the Culture and Media Department of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), was held in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland.
The event took place today, Sunday, September 27, 2026, and was attended by numerous representatives of Kurdish institutions and organizations, alongside political and academic figures, and representatives of the Kurdish diaspora in Switzerland.
Among the notable participants were Dr. Baban Elyasi, Reserve Member of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation; Jafar Stik, President of the Support Association; and a delegation from the Kurdistani Diaspora Federation – Switzerland. The Swiss delegation included Seyran Karim, Head of the Federation; Luqman Hawrami, Head of the Kurdistani Diaspora Center in Geneva; as well as Narmin and Saeed, Executive Board members of the Geneva Center.
At the beginning of the conference, Sheikh Mus Ozdemir, Secretary of the Kurdish Institute in Lausanne, delivered a welcoming address and provided an overview of the objectives and content of the conference.
In another segment of the event, several messages and speeches by President Masoud Barzani regarding the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum process and the days leading up to it were broadcast on screen. This segment highlighted the history and pivotal events surrounding the September 25, 2017 referendum.
Following this, a documentary on the history and struggle of the people of Kurdistan was screened, featuring renowned Kurdish artist Shivan Perwer, who provided a narrative on Kurdish history and resistance.
Panel Discussion on the Referendum and the Future of the Kurdish Issue
One of the main components of the conference was a panel discussion moderated by Srwa Ibrahimi, where various political, historical, and legal topics related to the Kurdish cause and Kurdistan were analyzed and debated.
The core panel featured Dr. Salar Osman, Head of the KDP’s Culture and Media Department; Najat Zanyar, President of the Kurdish Institute of Lausanne; and Nazila Afkhami, Vice President of the Kurdish Institute of Lausanne.
The panel addressed the following key themes:
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What is the place and role of Kurdistan in the modern world?
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What are the lessons learned from the Kurdistan independence referendum?
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What are the future prospects for the Kurdish issue and Kurdistan in the Middle East?
In his presentation, Dr. Salar Osman discussed the 2017 referendum and the role of President Masoud Barzani. He stated that, in his view, the referendum was a historic process deeply rooted in both history and democracy. He also emphasized that Kurds must never consider themselves second-class citizens.
Dr. Salar Osman added, “The 2017 referendum and the pro-independence voters will forever be a part of Kurdistan’s history, and President Masoud Barzani’s role in that process will be prominently recorded in the history of this era.”
In the legal and political section of the panel, Nazila Afkhami presented research regarding Eastern Kurdistan (Rojhelat) and political solutions to the Kurdish issue.
Furthermore, Najat Zanyar presented a study on Kurds and international law, discussing how international legal frameworks and their connections to the Kurdish issue can be understood more precisely. Following the presentations, participants engaged in an open discussion and debate on these topics.
Emphasizing the Role of Youth, Education, and Culture
In another segment of the conference, Nvar Malayi spoke about the sense of patriotism among Kurdish youth, identifying this sentiment as one of the foundational pillars when contemplating the future of Kurdistan. He shed light on the current situation of the Kurds and the necessity of taking decisive steps toward the future, stressing the importance of various factions uniting around the experience of the Kurdistan Region.
In the same context, Aso Piroti presented a topic on education and culture and their role in the political sphere. He stated that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Region’s democratic experience can be viewed as an unifying umbrella for various political and social groups.
The conference concluded with several academic and political discussions and debates concerning the 2017 referendum, international law, Kurdistan’s role in the region, and the future prospects of the Kurdish cause.
The Swiss Federation’s Letter to Political Institutions
As part of the activities related to the 9th anniversary of the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum on September 25, 2026, the Kurdistani Diaspora Federation – Switzerland delivered an official letter from the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation to a number of political centers and members of the Swiss Parliament.
The letter highlighted the September 25, 2017 referendum and the immense significance of that event in the modern history of Kurdistan. It also drew attention to the ongoing Kurdish issue and the broader political situation in the region.