Kurds across the Middle East on Tuesday commemorated the 127th anniversary of the first Kurdish-language newspaper Kurdistan, published on 22 April 1898 in Cairo by Miqdad Madhat Bedirkhan. The day, now observed annually as Kurdish Journalism Day, serves as both a celebration of press tradition and a defiant call for freedom of expression in a region where Kurdish journalists continue to face systemic repression.
Despite being launched in exile under Ottoman pressure, the publication marked a critical step in shaping Kurdish national consciousness. Today, political leaders and journalists alike say that its legacy endures—not only as a milestone in Kurdish history, but also as a symbol of ongoing resistance against denial, censorship, and violence.
“We remember with respect, compassion, and gratitude all press martyrs,” said Tayip Temel, deputy co-chair of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party’s Press Commission, listing killed journalists such as Musa Anter, Nagihan Akarsel, and Gurbetelli Ersöz. “They not only bore witness to a history of resistance but became part of that history themselves.”
Kurdish Journalism Day was launched in 1973. From the exiled pages of Kurdistan in late 19th-century Egypt, to the contemporary struggles of Kurdish journalists across Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, the fight for a free Kurdish press has since remained central to the broader struggle for Kurdish cultural and political rights.
Kurdish journalists have historically served as frontline chroniclers of their people’s plight. Suppression of the Kurdish language and identity, from the Ottoman Empire through to today’s nation-states, has made journalism not only a professional pursuit but a form of activism. Kurdish journalists have risked arrest, exile, and assassination for telling their people’s stories in their own language.
Marking the day, Bafel Talabani, president of Iraq’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), extended his congratulations to journalists and reaffirmed his support for freedom of expression:
“As always, I remain committed to supporting and expanding the space for freedom of writing, criticism, and expression—fundamental pillars for the development of our Region. All cases involving journalists must be handled in accordance with the Journalism Law.”
The call for legal protections and institutional backing was echoed by Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid. In his statement, he underscored the role of Kurdish journalists in documenting history and promoting unity and coexistence.
“Guaranteeing press freedom and protecting journalists’ rights are vital for fostering solidarity and strengthening the national spirit,” he said.
Similarly, Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), highlighted the need for an enabling environment for journalism to flourish:
“To advance and promote Kurdish journalism, the government must enforce the law and ensure journalistic freedom. At the same time, media organisations and journalists must uphold journalistic ethics and strive for greater professionalism.”
Kurdish Journalism Day comes at a time of heightened concern for press freedom in the region. In Turkey, Kurdish journalists are routinely detained under anti-terror laws for covering political developments or expressing dissent. In Iran and Syria, Kurdish media outlets often operate underground or in exile. Media workers are not safe even in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where Turkish intelligence has been known to target Kurdish activists abroad.
But the commemoration also carries a powerful message of perseverance. The original newspaper Kurdistan—forced into exile from Cairo to Geneva, London, and even Folkestone—paved the way for a more organised, politically conscious Kurdish media. Today’s celebrations honour a transformation from tribal oral tradition to modern journalistic resistance.
“This journey, which began in exile, now lives on in every Kurdish journalist seeking truth,” said the DEM Party’s Temel. “Kurdish Journalism Day is not just a celebration. It is a vow to continue the fight for truth and identity.”
Across the four regions of historical Kurdistan—Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran—journalists, intellectuals, and citizens alike are marking this day with reflection, tributes, and renewed demands for press freedom. As digital platforms become increasingly vital for advocacy and awareness, many hope the message of 22 April will reach even further.
In a region where Kurdish identity has long been under threat, the Kurdish press remains a voice that refuses to be silenced. And for the people of Kurdistan, that voice continues to speak volumes.
