Xabur FM, one of the achievements of the 19 July Revolution, was established as a response to the denial and oppression policies imposed by the Ba'ath regime against local communities. Through its broadcasts, Xabur FM encourages people to support communal living.

The station was launched in Hesekê by four people committed to media work, three women and one man. One of its founders, Ezîz Çolî, joined the People's Protection Units (YPG) after helping establish the radio and organizing its work into a structured system. Ezîz Çolî was killed in a traffic accident on the Hesekê to Tiwêna road on 25 June 2019. Xabur FM began broadcasting on 14 May 2015, with limited resources, airing programs in both Kurdish and Arabic. Organized under the Free Press Union (YRA), the station adopted the slogan “The Voice of Peoples’ Brotherhood” as it began its journey.

Through its network of reporters, Xabur FM closely follows developments within society. It conveys people’s concerns and criticisms to the relevant parties and works toward finding solutions. During times of attack, it broadcasts from the frontlines, amplifying the resistance of both civilians and fighters.

Broadcasting on 96.30 MHz FM, Xabur FM quickly gained the attention and trust of the people of Hesekê with its wide range of programs on social, political, cultural, artistic, economic, women’s, youth, children’s, and news-related issues. As public interest in the station grew, the number of staff members also increased significantly.

Founded under the leadership of women

The staff of Xabur FM, composed of both Arab and Kurdish members, have developed themselves in every area of radio work, including presenting, program production, news writing, editing, montage, and technical operations. Each member of the station has reached a level at which they can contribute across all fields.

Station director Mirxan Imadi, in an interview with ANHA about the purpose behind the founding of Xabur FM, said: "As is well known, the city of Hesekê lies along the banks of the Khabur River and is home to Arabs, Kurds, Syriacs, Assyrians, and Armenians. The people of this city, coming from different communities, religions, and cultures, live together like the interwoven colors of a mosaic. The Ba'ath regime attempted to destroy this mosaic and turn communities against one another. With the beginning of the July 19 Revolution, we wanted to establish a radio station that could respond to these policies and promote a culture of coexistence."

Xabur FM is embedded within people

Mirxan highlighted the public’s interest in the station and continued: "Xabur FM is both widely listened to and followed on social media. We have listeners and participants in our programs from both inside the country and abroad. It is fair to say that Xabur FM is embedded within people, it listens to their complaints and criticisms and conveys them to the relevant parties. This has enabled the resolution of many issues. Currently, our broadcasts cover only the city of Hesekê and its surrounding rural areas. However, we are working to expand our coverage."

Obstacles and attacks

Mirxan Imadi spoke about the obstacles they faced in their work and stated: "In the beginning, there were many challenges due to limited resources, especially in terms of technical equipment. The fact that the station was located outside the city also made transportation difficult. The attacks by the occupying Turkish state forced us to change our radio frequencies multiple times. Nevertheless, our broadcasts continue, and we are also providing training to further develop our work."

Broadcast schedule

In addition to daily news bulletins, Xabur FM airs a variety of programs, including: Martyrs of Freedom, Xabur’s Evening Breeze, Song Requests, Voice of the Youth, Event (Buyêr), Weekly Agenda (Hesad El Isbui), The Light of Children’s Lives (Roniyê Jiyanê ya Zarokan), a culture program, Durr Etiqa (focused on Arabic poetry and commentary), The Problems of the Middle East, Free Thoughts, Meeting of Religions (Multeqa El Ediyan), Revolutionary Literature, Analysis of the Day, and Morning Hopes.

Founded under the leadership of women

Xabur FM has a team of 12 staff members, seven of whom are women, and the station dedicates significant space to women’s issues. It highlights the struggles women face in all areas of life and draws attention to their efforts.

Rexed Isa, head of Xabur FM’s women’s department and Arabic-language presenter, shared the following insights on women’s broadcasting: "There is a strong program lineup for women, and efforts continue to improve it further. The Women’s Horizon program is broadcast in Kurdish. It focuses on women’s achievements in the revolution, as well as the challenges faced by displaced women. The Arabic version of this program, Afaq El Meraa, addresses similar themes. We also have a program called Women’s Agenda, which discusses current issues related to women through guest interviews. Another program, Nujen, centers on the lives of mothers who have left a lasting mark on life."

Zilan Isa, a staff member at Xabur FM, emphasized the role of women in the field of journalism and said: "Before the Rojava Revolution, women’s participation outside the home, especially in media, was extremely limited, and their voices were suppressed. But thanks to the ideas of President Abdullah Öcalan and the Rojava Revolution, which is also known as the Women’s Revolution, women have broken those chains and claimed their place in every field."

Zilan also noted that many mothers love the programs broadcast by Xabur FM, adding: "To reach a wider audience, we stream our programs live on Facebook. Our station has a strong following. Many mothers have become like family to Xabur FM, joining the programs every day."