The First Culture and Poetry Festival kicked off in Qamishlo with the slogan “Poetry is the Star of Literature”. The opening saw the participation of the Autonomous Administration and Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) executives and members, as well as many politicians, artists, intellectuals and well-known figures.

After a minute of silence, Ebud Mexso, co-chair of the Cizîr Canton Intellectuals Union, said that the 5th congress of the Union decided to hold the Culture and Poetry Festival, and added: “We dedicate this festival to the martyrs of the revolution.”

Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM) co-chair Ruken Ehmed drew attention to “the struggle of the Kurdish people who have been killed and displaced by occupying states for years for a song and a poem.” Ehmed added that “this is a great day, in which poets can express their feelings about their people.”

Mihemed Beşîr, a member of the Cizîr Canton Intellectuals Union and Preparatory Committee, said that the organization of the festival in an emergency situation had a very important meaning.

Beşîr added that the organization of the festival was an indication of people protecting their own culture and language.

The first day of the festival began with Kurdish poems read by poets Hesen Umer, Emîna Teter, Baran Memo, Mihemed Ebdilezîz, Delîl Amûdê, Nalîn Namo, Dilyar Hebîb, Awazên Tekanî (Kawa Kalê), Aras Qasim, Ridwan Yûsiv, Dilyar Osê, Bavê Metîn, Can Yusif, Hisên Elî Hisên and Cemîl Dahir.

Poets Qadir Egîd, Diya Îskender, Mihemed Ehmed Weys, Selah Seyda and Nûra Ibed read poems in Arabic.

70 poets from the Cizîr Canton will participate in the festival, which will continue until Monday, 16 September, and read their Kurdish and Arabic poems. 6 poets will be awarded at the end of the festival.