Arab Writers Union launches first ‘Kurdish Days’ forum in Damascus

Damascus, April 19 (SANA) The Arab Writers Union (AWU) held its first “Kurdish Days” forum in Damascus on Saturday, highlighting Kurdish language, history, heritage, and poetry, with the participation of writers, intellectuals, and cultural figures.

AWU President Ahmad Jassem al-Hussein said at the opening ceremony that the event reflects a broader vision of cultural diversity and national unity in Syria. He added that the forum is part of a national vision that sees Syria as a country for all its people, open to diverse cultures, stressing that acceptance of others is essential to building the nation. He said the Union is open to publishing literary works in Kurdish.

Basma Sheikho, an AWU executive office member and forum coordinator, credited the Syrian revolution’s achievements with enabling the event. Kurdish politician Abdul Karim Omar welcomed the forum as a practical application of Presidential Decree No. 13, which restores cultural rights and strengthens unity on the basis of equality.

Key lectures included Ahmad Muaz Yaqoub, head of SANA’s Kurdish Bulletin, who spoke on language as identity, tracing Kurdish roots to the Indo-European family and citing Ibn Wahshiyya’s classical references, and researcher Khalis Musawwar, who addressed Kurdish historical origins in the Zagros and Taurus regions.

The heritage segment featured activist Salah Surakji presenting living traditions, including folk music, crafts, and social customs, while director Yasser Hamza Ali screened “On the Threshold of Childhood,” a documentary on working children in the city of Qamishli during the war.

In the poetry session, cultural activist Mohammad al-Sulaiman highlighted Kurdish poetry’s role in preserving identity, honoring classical pioneers such as Mulla Ahmed al-Jaziri and Ahmed Khani, and modern voices including Sherko Bekas. Poets Radwan Yousef and Hozan Karkand recited works with Arabic translation by Jihad al-Ahmadiyya, concluding with buzuq music by Shukri Subar.

Speaking to SANA, al-Hussein said coexistence remains central to Syria’s social fabric. Sheikho described the forum as a practical application of Presidential Decree No. 13.

Events continue today with a Heritage Day featuring artistic performances at Khan As’ad Pasha al-Azem.

Presidential Decree No. 13 of 2026, issued on January 16 by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, affirms Syrian Kurdish citizens as an integral part of the Syrian people and recognizes their cultural and linguistic identity as part of Syria’s unified national identity.