Jazira Intellectuals Union condemns ban on artists’ participation in Saqqez Festival

In a statement, the Jazira Intellectuals Union expressed its condemnation and dissatisfaction over the denial of passage to a number of artists through the Fish Khabur crossing in Southern Kurdistan, which hindered their participation in the 20th Saqqez International Kurdish Theatre Festival, despite their earlier smooth crossing through the Semalka crossing. This resulted in the absence of their theatrical works from the festival stage and deprived audiences of performances that had been highly anticipated.

The union explained that this measure did not affect specific individuals alone, but rather struck at the core of cultural and artistic action, describing it as a violation of the artist’s right to movement and the right of culture to reach its audience.

It noted that the ban was imposed under what it described as unjust bureaucratic pretexts and procedures, which contradict the humanitarian values upon which art and theatre are founded, as spaces for dialogue and bridges of communication between peoples.

The statement stressed that the participation of works such as Paranoia and Shahnaz was not symbolic, but represented an important artistic and cultural presence within the framework of shared Kurdish theatrical interaction, and that their forced absence constituted a real loss for the festival in its current edition.

In the same context, the Jazira Intellectuals Union saluted the administration of the Saqqez International Kurdish Theatre Festival in Rojhalat Kurdistan, praising its role in bringing together Kurdish theatre practitioners from various parts of Kurdistan over twenty editions and in consolidating theatre as a unifying cultural act.

The union also renewed its support for the continuity of the festival, called for strengthening its independence and distancing it from all restrictions on creative freedom and cultural exchange, and urged the relevant authorities to reconsider crossing and movement procedures, and to treat artists and intellectuals as bridges of cultural communication rather than security obstacles.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that facilitating the movement of artists and intellectuals represents an investment in humanity and shared memory, and reaffirmed the union’s commitment to defending freedom of creativity and the causes of art and literature, free from any political considerations.

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ANHA