Kurdish press from Kurdistan newspaper to 1970 -1

The Kurdish press will enter its 126th year tomorrow, and this day was approved for the publication of the first Kurdish newspaper in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, in 1989 under the name “Kurdistan”, and this newspaper would later become the beginning of the Kurdish press.

The Kurdish press had always been present before the publication of this newspaper, whether written or oral, but in terms of journalistic work, the “Kurdistan” newspaper was the first.

During the last years of the Ottoman Empire, the Kurds tried to organize themselves and express their opinion through tribalism, religion, and uprisings. After the failure of these uprisings and their exile, the Kurds began to search for new means of communication, and accordingly, intellectuals and writers who were displaced from their countries began to publish their writings in Cairo and Istanbul.

"Kurdistan" newspaper

The Kurdistan newspaper appeared after the Badrakhan family migrated from Bhutan to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, where Miqdad Medhat Badrakhan began printing the newspaper on April 22, 1898. From that date, the Kurdish press began, and April 22 became Kurdish Press Day.

The newspaper was published in Aramaic letters, and published secretly in Kurdistan, and most of its topics dealt with the geography of Kurdistan, the Badrakhanid family, poetry, articles, and stories.

Due to the prevailing political and military circumstances at the time, issues of the newspaper were published in countries; London, the Swiss capital, Geneva, and Folkestone in southern England, where 31 issues were issued, including two missing issues, and the newspaper stopped publishing in 1902.

Although the newspaper was published on a small scale, April 22 was designated as Kurdish Press Day.

march non-stop

The journey of the Kurdish press began after the publication of the Kurdistan newspaper. As a result of World War I (1914-1918), the Middle East witnessed many political and military conflicts. During the Ottoman period, the Kurdish press was subjected to a lot of pressure, but despite that it continued its activity in various places. Multiple newspapers were published in Egypt, Istanbul, Amed, Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah.

Simultaneously with the issuance of the newspaper “Kurdistan”, another newspaper called “Omid” was published in Egypt, and it was printed and published on a semi-monthly basis. Likewise, the newspaper Kürt Teavûn ve Terakkî Gazetesî (Kurdish Movement for Support and Development) was published in Istanbul. What distinguishes this newspaper is that it was published in the Kurmanji and Sorani dialects for the first time, so it was considered a pioneer newspaper in this regard.

Şark ve Kürdistan (East and Kurdistan), Roji Kurd, and Yekbûn (Unity) newspapers were also published in Istanbul. In addition to the newspaper Sarbasti, which continued to be published for 12 years, and was the longest published at that time, in addition to the newspaper Peyman (Al-Ittifaq) in the city of Amed, and Bangî Kurd (The Kurdish Call) in Baghdad.

Specific period

Most of the newspapers published at that time were by Kurdish associations, intellectuals, well-known families, and students, and were published in both languages. Turkish, Kurdish, and others in Arabic, most of which were distributed in the cities of Kurdistan. The prevailing policies regarding the Kurds and the division of Kurdistan affected the publications of these newspapers, so they remained fragmented and narrow.

"Hawar" and a new stage

Following World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, balances changed, and changes occurred in the Kurdish press as well, after many nation-states were established, and Kurdistan was divided between Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria, which increased repression and pressures against the Kurdish press.

During World War II and after, newspaper publications were subject to French hegemonic policies. However, despite the pressures, the Kurdish press continued its work.

At this stage, most newspapers and magazines were published by Kurdish associations and organizations in addition to parties.

On May 15, 1932, the Kurdish press began a new phase, when the Hawar magazine was published in the Syrian capital, Damascus, by Mir Jaladat Badrakhan, and it used Latin letters instead of Aramaic for the first time. While in Southern and Eastern Kurdistan it continued in Aramaic letters.

Hawar magazine was influenced by French policies, and in 1942, Ronahi newspaper was published as a continuation of Hawar newspaper, and its bulletins included for the first time daily news and war news.

Attempts by students and intellectuals in Northern Kurdistan

In Northern Kurdistan, the Turkish state pursued racism and genocide, and obstructed attempts to develop the media. Despite this, Kurdish intellectuals and students were able to continue media activity, as many of them, such as Musa Antar, Adeeb Karahan, Yaşar Kaya, and Medit Sarhad, published several magazines, such as Dîcle Kaynağı (The Source of the Tigris) magazine, and Şark Mecmuası (Al-Sharq Magazine), İleri Yurt (New Homeland).

In Southern, Northern and Eastern Kurdistan, many Kurdish parties and organizations issued numerous newspapers, and most of their publications were partisan. With the establishment of the Republic of Mahabad, which lasted 11 months, the Kurdish press took important steps, and many newspapers and magazines were published, such as “Hawari Nashtman,” “Hilali,” and “Hawari Kurdi,” in addition to the opening of the Kurdistan Press.

After World War II and between the years 1945-1970, Kurdish press bulletins were adopted by parties, organizations, intellectuals, and students. This period in the history of the Kurdish press was considered a narrow and ineffective period.

T/ Satt.

ANHA