Celebrating 'Kurdistan'
Marking the 126th anniversary of the first Kurdish newspaper
ERBIL — Monday marked the 126th anniversary of the publication of the first Kurdish newspaper, “Kurdistan,” by Mikdad Midhat Bedir Khan in Cairo, Egypt.
“Kurdistan” emerged as a pioneering nationalist and intellectual endeavor, with its inaugural issue released on April 22, 1898. The newspaper ran for four years, publishing a total of 31 issues. Initially featuring articles in Kurmanji, a Kurdish dialect mainly spoken in Turkey and Syria, later issues included a number 0f pieces in Turkish.
The last issue was published on March 14, 1902, in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Kurdistan” often criticized the Ottoman authorities, leading to its ban within the empire. Nonetheless, it continued to circulate clandestinely and was subsequently printed in various European cities including Geneva, London, and the English town of Folkestone.
The Kurdistan Regional Government officially recognizes April 22 as the start of Kurdish journalism, a field that has significantly expanded over the years.
Despite technological advancements and improvements in journalistic practices, challenges remain. Kurdish journalists continue to face issues such as difficulty accessing information, arbitrary arrests, and violations of journalistic freedoms which hinder the full realization of press freedom in the region.