Brief Journey into Kurdish Media - Akram Barakat

April 22nd is a significant day for the Kurds. It was the day that the first Kurdish newspaper was born, when Prince Muqdad Midhat Badrkhan published Kurdistan from Cairo in 1898.

This newspaper represented a historic step in laying the foundations for Kurdish journalism. Its founders published 31 issues in four years, both in Kurdish and Turkish, before ceasing publication. However, it remained firmly rooted in the memory of the Kurdish people as the first media beacon, and the day of its publication became a holiday for Kurdish journalism.

Kurdish media in Rojava went through difficult times. For decades, Kurds in Syria were subjected to systematic repression and denial by the Ba'athist regime. They were prevented from exercising their political and cultural rights, and restrictions were imposed on the Kurdish language and any media activity reflecting Kurdish identity was excluded.

Despite these circumstances, journalistic efforts emerged in Rojava from the beginnings of Kurdish journalism, but these efforts were unable to continue for long periods due to political repression. Since the 1960s, Kurdish media has been limited to party-run newspapers, which consist of periodicals distributed within a narrow circle and lacking the elements of professional journalism.

Kurdish journalism in Rojava underwent a radical transformation during the 1980s and 1990s, with the rise of political activism and the emergence of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement. New Kurdish magazines and publications began to appear, such as the Arabic-language magazine "Voice of Kurdistan," which was published in 1986 and played a major role in spreading national and revolutionary awareness. The newspaper "Barxdwan," published in both Kurdish and Arabic, also contributed to the coverage of political and military news related to the Kurdish movement.

In 1996, the Arabic-language magazine "Sorgol" was founded in Beirut, providing a platform for Kurdish intellectuals to reach Arab public opinion, attracting democratic and progressive writers.

The satellite channel MED-TV, launched in 1995, marked a pivotal moment in the history of Kurdish media, helping to spread political awareness in Rojava, even though it was broadcasting from abroad. This was followed by the establishment of ROJ-TV, which played a pivotal role in covering the March 12, 2004 uprising, helping prevent the Ba'athist regime from carrying out massacres against the Kurds.

With the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, the need for an independent Kurdish media outlet that would express the voice of society and keep pace with the revolutionary movement emerged, especially in light of regional and international media manipulation. During this period, Kurdish media was able to become a true voice reflecting the will of the people and their demands for freedom and democracy.

Ronahi newspaper was founded as the first Kurdish newspaper published in Rojava. It reached the largest readership in both Kurdish and Arabic, and contributed to the establishment of a professional journalistic cadre dedicated to imparting the truth objectively. Another notable milestone was the establishment of Ronahi TV, which has become the Kurds' window to the world.

Conveying the Truth Despite Challenges

Media work in Rojava has not been without sacrifice, as many journalists have lost their lives while conveying the truth to the world. Among them are journalist Mustafa Muhammad, who was martyred during the campaign to liberate Manbij from ISIS in 2016; and Hawar News Agency journalists Dilişan Ibeş, Hogir Muhammad, and Rizgar Deniz, who were martyred while covering the "Jazira Storm" campaign against ISIS mercenaries in 2017. They were followed by journalists Saad Ahmed of Hawar News Agency and Mohammed Hussein Rasho, a correspondent for Ger TV, who were martyred in a Turkish army bombing of a civilian convoy on October 13, 2019, in Serekaniye. Hawar News Agency journalist Issam Abdullah was martyred in a Turkish bombing on November 20, 2022, in the village of Taqal Baqil in the countryside of Derik.

Our correspondents, Jihan Belkin and Nazim Dashtan, were also martyred in a direct attack on their return from covering the battles at Tishrin Dam on December 19, 2024. The latest martyr was journalist Agid Roj, who was directly attacked by a Turkish drone on the dam on February 15. Despite the challenges and obstacles facing Kurdish media in Rojava, such as a lack of professional staff and equipment, the media revolution continues to make significant progress, reaching a more integrated stage. This media not only represents the voice of a free society, but also serves as a shield against attempts to distort the Kurdish revolution.

It is essential to work to overcome current challenges to ensure the continuity of Kurdish media as a true source of information, reflecting the will of the people and keeping pace with their aspirations for freedom and democracy.

Despite all the attacks on free media in North and East Syria, it continues to struggle to convey the voice of society in all its spectrums and components. It has achieved remarkable developments in recent years, including contributing to strengthening the cultural and political identity of the Kurdish people by highlighting heritage, culture, and societal issues, and developing the written and spoken Kurdish language. It has also highlighted the other components of North and East Syria.

The media also played a prominent role in conveying the truth of the revolution in North and East Syria to global public opinion, which helped spread awareness about the issues of the Kurdish people and other components.

During the years of the revolution, several media organizations were established, such as the Free Media Union in 2012, which oversees the work of media organizations in the region, in addition to other organizations concerned with women's and community issues.

Perhaps the most notable achievement of free media during the July 19, 2012 revolution was the development of women-focused media. Media outlets in North and East Syria, in particular, shed light on women's issues, contributing to strengthening their role in society.

However, challenges remain facing free media, such as violations against journalists and economic and political difficulties. Efforts continue to strengthen its role in serving society and revealing the truth.

T/S

ANHA