Kurdish PEN Congress held in Oldenburg

The international Kurdish PEN held its three-day long 10th congress in Oldenburg.

The congress brought together over 100 intellectuals and writers from the four parts of Kurdistan and the diaspora. The congress emphasized that there was more urgency for Kurdish national unity than ever before.

On the first day of the congress, guests were introduced and various presentations were made. On the second day, work and activity reports as well as financial reports were read.

The reports were evaluated and accepted after comments and discussion.

Number of executives increased to 15

A good section of the congress was dedicated to discuss the amendment of the Kurdish PEN's charter. It was proposed to amend two articles in the Regulation.

Within this framework, the number of Kurdish PEN executives was increased to a total of 15 members. With the amendment of the second article, it was decided to keep the co-chair system for two terms. The same persons may be re-elected after an interim period. Congress will be held every three years.

Honorary presidents

Berivan Dostki and Serzad Hesen were elected honorary chair persons of the Kurdish PEN.

The congress discussed and made plans for other issues dealt with by members. One of the most important issue was the development of relations with international interlocutors and circles in the field of language and literature. 

Other planned activities are as follows:

- Organizing conferences and meetings in the field of language, literature and culture.

- Carrying out studies, conferences and meetings on the appropriate parts of Kurdistan.

- Monitoring and participating in international peace activities.

- Providing representation in annual PEN congresses held.

In the debates on the general situation of Kurdistan, it was emphasized that the place of women in the elections was made clearer and distinct.

Messages from many PEN organizations were sent to the congress and the German PEN sent representatives.

The Kurdish Institute of Germany and the Kurdish Teachers' Union also sent representatives to the congress.

The congress recognised Kurdistan's multilingualism, multiple dialectics, multi-religiousness and multi-parties reality as a wealth. It was also underlined the importance of including all dialects.

The congress also stated that the division created by the colonists should be turned into an advantage, while the language and dialects should be turned into bridges. However, it was emphasized that differences could be transformed into a means of attaining a more common national identity.

Kurdish literature and politics

The congress's declaration stated that Kurdish literature cannot be handled abstractly from politics, and that the two are intertwined.

In addition, it was stated that Kurdistan's political fate and the current situation, language and literature cannot be evaluated separately.

Drawing attention to the fact that the development of Kurdish language and literature is linked to the development of Kurdish politics, the congress underlined that the culture of war works towards the destruction of the Kurdish people, language, literature.

The mission of the Kurdish PEN is not to assess the war in Kurdistan, but to assess how war affects Kurdish people, language, literature and culture. 

Underlining that Kurdish woman is an enlightenment and literary event in herself, her heroism and resistance against the enemy on the battlefield emphasized the importance of developing a culture of tolerance among Kurds.

After the elections of the executives, panels were held on Kurdish history, language and culture.

Sami Tan and Aslıhan Yıldırım were elected as co-chair of the Kurdish PEN.