In a significant national and cultural endeavor aimed at uniting scattered Kurdish literary voices in the diaspora, the city of Düsseldorf, Germany, will host the first congress of the Kurdistan Diaspora Writers’ Federation (KDWF) tomorrow, Saturday, July 25, 2026.
This landmark event, named in honor of the prominent Kurdish intellectual Hejar Mukriyani, is being held under the direct patronage and support of President Barzani and in the presence of Shifa Barzani, General Supervisor of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation (KDC).
The congress aims to preserve the authenticity of Kurdish literature and unite writers from all four parts of Kurdistan and the former Soviet states under one common umbrella.
Guided by the theme “Towards an Authentic and Contemporary Kurdish Literature in the Diaspora,” this event is more than a standard literary gathering; it is a strategic project to mobilize the capabilities of the Kurdish diaspora in service of the nation.
The concept and direct supervision of the project are led by Shifa Barzani, with the goal of ending the isolation of Kurdish writers, enabling them to play an influential role on the international stage, preserving national culture, and acting as a bridge to introduce Kurdish literature to the world.
A key highlight of this congress is the choice of the name “Hejar Mukriyani,” a symbol of unity and a rejection of the borders imposed between the parts of Kurdistan.
Mukriyani left a massive legacy in the fields of culture, language, translation, and philosophy.
Furthermore, President Barzani’s patronage continues the historic tradition established by the late Mulla Mustafa Barzani when he founded the Union of Kurdish Writers to support the Kurdish literary voice.
The Federation has issued a clear statement that it is not affiliated with any ideology or political party, and its doors are open to all independent writers.
The ultimate goal is to serve literature and culture, support youth, and advance toward a standardised Kurdish language.
While participation from within Kurdistan is limited in this cycle due to regional circumstances and technical challenges, the Federation is committed to building robust ties between writers in the homeland and the diaspora.
History and Origins of the Federation
Harman Ahmed, Media Spokesperson for the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation (KDC), detailed the founding stages of the KDWF.
According to Ahmed, in late 2023, in the German city of Essen, Kurdish intellectuals and writers established their own representative organization.
December 26, 2023, marked the historic announcement of the manifesto of the Kurdistan Diaspora Writers’ Federation—a culmination of deep discussions among dedicated writers.
Harman Ahmed, who participated from the initial discussions, views this as a moral and national duty, ensuring that the creative efforts of Kurdish writers abroad are no longer scattered or forgotten.
The founding committee—consisting of Serdar Jaf, Sediq Shirnakhi, Hawraman Ali, Harman Ahmed, Ibrahim Yusuf, Ghazi Hassan, and Bobby Asar—successfully structured the Federation across regional centers including Europe, the Americas, Asia, Russia, and the Arab world.
The Federation plans to establish an Australia center following the congress.
Digitally, the Federation emphasizes modern technology. On April 22, 2024—coinciding with the 126th anniversary of the first Kurdish newspaper—the Federation launched the “Diaspora” website in both Kurmanji and Sorani dialects.
The site now serves as a platform for hundreds of writers, with future plans to include other international languages, alongside the publication of magazines and books for diaspora writers