Free media is the memory of new era of Kurdish journalism

1970 is considered new era in the history of the Kurds in which the freedom of Kurdistan has been launched in all parts of Kurdistan and abroad, making sustainable advance at all levels on political, military, social, cultural and scientific under supervision leader Abdullah Ocalan, this period was different from all the Kurds uprisings and made the Kurdish press at new era.

Turkey

The first step: SERXWEBÛN (Independence)

The building block for the new phase was laid with the publication of the Serxwebun Newspaper, which means independence. The first issue of the newspaper was published on September 6, 1978 in Northern Kurdistan. In the issue titled “The Road to the Kurdistan Revolution,” he published the manifesto of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK in the city of Amed in Northern Kurdistan.

Four issues of Serxwebun Newspaper were published in Northern Kurdistan until 1982, and were distributed secretly in Kurdistan. In January 1982, the newspaper’s issues moved to Europe legally.

The newspaper has been published monthly in the Turkish language for the past 46 years, and is considered the longest published in the history of the Kurdish press. On June 27, 2021, the newspaper began publishing in the Kurdish language alongside the Turkish language.

Contemporary history of Kurdistan

Serxwebun Newspaper made its mark in the history of the Kurdish press through its content and method, starting with the Helwan resistance and the prison resistance in 1982, and continuing with the August 15 jump and the heroic epics of the Kurdistan liberation movement, which resonated in the world, and the Imrali resistance in addition to cultural and political topics and the struggle for... societal freedom.

The entire archive of the newspaper was uploaded to the website serxwebun.org. Therefore, Serxwebun became familiar with the history of contemporary Kurdistan’s freedom.

Free media page

Thus, Serxwebun Newspaper ((Independence), from its publication to the present day, has been a monitor of the truth and the beginning of free media. With the development of the struggle of the Kurdistan liberation movement, the free media also developed.

On June 15, 1988, the magazine Vejîna Civakî (Resurgence of Society) was published, and it was closed shortly after its publication. On April 22, 1990, the newspaper Halk Gerçeği “The People’s Truth” was published, which was considered the first step towards free media.

Despite the attacks, arrests, pressures, and genocidal policies against the Kurds, the legacy of free media continued in various ways and means, and more than 50 newspapers were issued under different names.

Kurdish newspapers

In addition to the newspapers that were published in the Turkish language, on February 22, 1992, Welat (The Homeland) newspaper was published for the first time in the Kurdish language. This newspaper was subjected to many attacks, and the newspaper continued to publish under different names such as “Our Homeland, Freedom of the Homeland, and Xwebûn.” On August 15, 2006, the Azadiya Welat newspaper published “Hurryat al-Watan” on a daily basis in the city of Amed in Northern Kurdistan, and with this step the Kurdish press moved to Kurdistan.

Magazines

As for magazines, on November 15, 1990, Ozgur Halk (Free People) magazine was published as a political, theoretical and cultural magazine. The magazine received its share of attacks, but it did not stop its activity. In the same year, it published several magazines, including the youth magazine Ciwanên Welatparêz, in addition to the cultural magazine Rewşan (Education). After the years 2000, the magazine Demokratîk Modernîte (Democratic Modernity) was published, which describes the philosophy of leader Abdullah Ocalan and includes international writers.

Agencies

After the year 2000, Northern Kurdistan took advanced steps. On April 4, 2002, the Dijlah News Agency (DİHA) was established, which is the first Kurdish news agency to start in Northern Kurdistan. As a result of pressure from the Turkish authorities, the agency was closed on October 29, 2016.

On March 8, 2012, the first women’s news agency, JINHA, was established in the city of Amed. JINHA is the first news agency in Turkey whose members are all women. Which worked to reach women's voices and advance them, and as a result of pressure from the Turkish authorities, the agency was closed, and now continues under the name JIN NEWS.

In addition to agencies, many radio and television stations were opened in many cities such as Amed, Merdin, Riha, Van, Aden, Mersin. However, they were closed by the Turkish authorities, but their journey continues.

The first satellite television

  Free media has taken important steps in Europe, and one of the most important historical turning points in the path of free media is the opening of the first Kurdish television channel, MED TV. Through it, the first Kurdish television experience was launched in 1995, and it received the honor of being the first Kurdish television channel. At the request of the Turkish occupation state, Med TV's satellite license was withdrawn on April 23, 1999. A new channel called Medya TV was opened in its place, but it was also closed by the French authorities. In the same year that Medya TV was closed, a new channel called Roj TV was opened in Denmark. Turkey exerted great pressure on Denmark because of the Roj Tv satellite channel, and because of these pressures, the channel was closed in 2003, and after Roj TV, many other television channels were opened, such as Nûçe Tv and Stêrk Tv.

In addition to these Kurdish satellite channels, Aryen TV satellite channel was opened for the Kurdish community in eastern and southern Kurdistan and continues to this day. MEDYA Haber satellite channel was also opened in Turkish. And Çira TV satellite channel, with the aim of conveying the voice of the Yazidi community.

JIN TV

As the women's freedom struggle escalated, women's media also expanded. JIN TV was opened as the first satellite channel with a female staff. It broadcast on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2018, and is concerned with women’s issues and defending their rights in four parts of Kurdistan and the world.

First agency

The first Kurdish news agency in the history of Kurdish journalism was established in Germany under the name “Dam” in 2000, later the Mesopotamia News Agency (MHA) in Frankfurt. After the Mesopotamia News Agency was closed by the German police, the pressures exerted against the Kurdish media took on an international character. This time, the employees of the Mesopotamia News Agency took the initiative to establish the Furat News Agency (ANF) in Belgium in 2005.

The Ozgur Polîtîka newspaper was also published in Europe, published in Kurdish and Turkish, and the Newaya Jin newspaper, in addition to publishing various magazines.

The audio media in Europe faced great pressure, such as Voice of Kurdistan Radio, Dengê Kurdistan, Al-Watan Welat, Mezopotamya and other radio stations, and they were able to deliver free voice to every village and city throughout Kurdistan

South Kurdistan

In southern Kurdistan, the Kurdish press began with the publication of the newspaper Welat (Al-Watan) in Hawler, but it was closed as a result of pressure from the Kurdistan Democratic Party. In 2011, the newspaper Çetir was published, and the newspaper later turned into an agency company.

Under the umbrella of the Çetir company, Roj News Agency was established on October 1, 2014 and sheds light on the reality of society in Southern and Eastern Kurdistan and Iraq.

Revolution Square and Free Media

Rojava and North and East Syria have a long history of free media, and it rose further with the outbreak of the July 19th Revolution.

In 1986, Voice of Kurdistan magazine was published in Arabic, and it is considered the longest-running magazine in the history of free media after Serxwebun Newspaper. Sorgul magazine followed, and to monitor the reality of Middle Eastern society, the “Democratic Middle East” magazine was published and continues to this day.

With the outbreak of the July 19th Revolution, the free media took important steps in all the visual, audio, and print levels. On October 14, 2011, it published the Ronahi newspaper, which contributed to raising the voice of truth embodied in the nation’s democratic approach, and Mazgin magazine for children followed suit.

On October 20, 2011, the RONAHÎ TV satellite channel began broadcasting, and began broadcasting for three hours a day. Within a short period, the broadcast hours reached 10 hours, and in 2014 it began broadcasting 24 hours a day.

On March 1, 2013, Hawar News Agency (ANHA) was founded by a group of Kurdish journalists. The agency began its work in a house built of mud and clay, and through its neutrality and the credibility of its news bulletins, it transformed into the most important media institution in North and East Syria, and began publishing in 6 languages (Kurdish), Arabic, Turkish, English, Spanish and Russian).

Hawar News Agency ANHA took it upon itself to spread the democratic nation project that emerged in the Middle East, as well as conveying the voice of the people’s resistance to the world. Hawar News Agency correspondents fulfilled the responsibilities that fell upon them in the field of conveying the truth, despite all the circumstances, difficulties and obstacles, and for that they made great sacrifices.

On October 20, 2012, the first radio station was established in Rojava called Judi FM, which broadcast its programs from the city of Qamishlo. Later, on November 19, 2012, Kobani FM Radio was established, and on April 1, 2013, Rojava FM Radio began broadcasting its programs, and in Afrin, which is now occupied by the Turkish occupation, Afrin FM Radio was established on June 10. 2013.

  During the years 2014-2015, many radio stations were established, such as Darbasiyah FM, Washokani FM, Sawt al-Khabur, Voice of Life in Arabic, and Rojava FM. In 2017, the women's radio station, Radio Star, began broadcasting in Tirbespiyê district.

On May 24, 2015, Asayo Jinê magazine was published in Arabic. On May 20, 2023, Women’s Horizons magazine was published in Arabic and included cultural and social topics related to women.

On November 27, 2017, Nefel Company opened and prepares many programs for many television channels.

What has the free media achieved?

In its 46th journey, the free media achieved a historic turning point in the history of Kurdish journalism. In addition to the opening of television channels and agencies, a broadcasting policy that brings together all Kurdistan society has emerged. It contributed and was able to convey the voice of the people who were considered to have been eradicated from existence, and which authoritarian regimes tried not to hear to public opinion, and the struggle of free media.

Through its publications, the free media promoted patriotism, and introduced the geography of Kurdistan and the history and culture of the Kurds to the entire world. Through its publications, the free media was able to remove the borders drawn by the enemy and bring the Kurds together.

Along with the Kurds, the free media was able to become the voice and identity of cultures and languages that have been marginalized throughout the ages, and thus it became a source for different cultures, nations, and beliefs, and therefore it was called free media.

T/ Satt.

ANHA