Institute in Iran Establishes Space for Kurdish Culture

By AZAD KURDI

Urmia city

Rûdaw- ORUMIYEH, Iran -- Wajdi Hatami, the head of the Ahmadi Xani Cultural Institute, says that his is the only Kurdish civil organization in Orumiyeh (Wirme in Kurdish), but that it remains unknown in and outside Iran due to the lack of a Kurdish media outlet in the area.

The institute was established 10 years ago. According to Hatami, the institute’s main goal is to organize cultural activities and conduct social and political research in the Kurdish society of that part of Iran.

The organization doesn’t have an independent source of income nor does it receive funds from the government. It relies on membership fees and volunteers.

Hatami says that although people appreciate such an organization and large numbers participate in their activities, it has not been an easy endeavor.

Wajdi Hatami, the head of the Ahmadi Xani Cultural Institute

“Unfortunately, cultural activities are very difficult in countries where all the power is held by a certain group,” he says.

Last year, Ahmadi Xani brought together all the civil organizations in Iranian Kurdistan. The goal of the gathering, according to Hatami, was to create a union among Kurdish institutions.

“This was not an easy task but it was an important one,” Hatami says. “Over time, we will strive to make this happen whenever opportunities arise.”

Among the institute’s many activities is a Kurdish language course.

“We offer Kurdish language courses without restraint,” Hatami says. “People participate eagerly. The Kurdish language is our identity and it is our duty to promote it among Kurds.”

Despite a population of more than eight million, Kurds in Iran are not allowed to study in Kurdish.

Orumiyeh has a large Kurdish population. Hatami believes Kurds make up 50 percent. Of their situation in the city however, he says, “We can’t say the cultural situation is good or bad. But, I can say patriotism among the Kurds is high. The level of education is inclining. There are currently many graduates with important scientific degrees among the Kurds in Wirme.”

Alongside Kurds, Azeris live in the city. But Hatami says that the Azeris are in complete control of the political and administrative aspects of the city.

“The Kurds have been isolated politically,” he says.

The official television channel of Orumiyeh, which is affiliated with the Islamic Republic, broadcasts only one hour of Kurdish programming a day.

“The one hour program in Kurdish has many shortcomings,” Hatami notes. “People are not satisfied with it.”

Despite calls from Kurdish dissident groups to boycott Iran’s Parliamentary elections in March, many Kurds in Orumiyeh actively participated in the ninth round of the elections.

“In the previous round, the Kurds didn’t have any representatives in parliament,” Hatami says. “In order to fill this gap, the Kurds had to participate actively. So the active participation of the Kurds this time came as a reaction to the previous round. The Kurdish participation in the election was mostly regional, not general.”

http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/iran/4792.html

Kurdistan flag waving over EU capital Brussels

By Roni Alasor / Lorin Sarkisian – Ararat News Publishing (ANP), 31 May 2012, Brussels -The Kurdish national flag has been raised for the first time abroad with an official ceremony attended by over 100 guests. The flag has been lifted in front of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Mission to the EU in Brussels by Carlos Kurdi, Head of the KRG Mission...

In an official ceremony, the Kurdish national flag has been raised for the first time abroad. The flag has been lifted in front of the Kurdistan Regional Government – KRG Mission to the EU in Brussels.

Kurdish political representatives from different parts of Kurdistan, intellectuals and journalists attended to the Kurdish flag ceremony. Among them: Omar Zawitey, Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) Representative in Holland; members of KDP in Belgium; Zana Hawramani, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Representative in Belgium / relations with the European Parliament; Kawa Ahangari, KDP Iran Representative in Belgium; Azad Kurdi KDP- I in Belgium; Hunermend Rahimo Husein, Representative of Party Yeketi Kurd Syria and Member of Syrian National Council; Wezirê Eşo, Kurdish writer and historian from Armenia; Pervine Jamal, Kurdish Bureau in Brussels ; Derwich Ferho, Kurdish Institute of Brussels; Journalists from Kurdistan TV, Kurdsat, Ararat News Publishing (ANP) / AKnews and Rudaw Newspaper.

Many small and colonised nations, even the clans got the right for own states and flags 100 years ago. But the Kurds and all Kurdistani people with different ethnic and religious origin have been divided by big powers after First World War and Kurdistan region were giving to Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria as a ”gift” . Today in 21. Century, over 40 million Kurdistani people are without state and they even didn’t have “authorisation” to raise their flag. But even so, Head of KRG Mission to the EU Carlos Kurdi do believe that it’s “never late” : “Kurdish people have been fighting hundreds of years for freedom, independence and national flag. Many hundred thousand Kurds have been killed; millions have been tortured, imprisoned or had to go into exile, because of their fight for freedom, independence and right for self determination. The world has always been injustice to more than 40 million Kurdistani people. Today we finally have this historic opportunity to raise our flag over KRG Mission. This is another step of international recognition for Kurds. As every nation, Kurds have right for independence, but we still believe we can achieve it in a peaceful way”.

Omar Zawitey, the Representative of KDP-Holland expressed his feelings on this historical for all Kurds day: “As our President Messoud Barzani says, to be a state is our fundamental right and no one can deprive us from it. The same is valid for the Kurdish flag. Like every nation, we have right for flag and independence. Today’s raising of the Kurdish flag in Brussels is advancing us one step closer to our full right to exist as nation in independence. This is a dream for all the Kurds. As our President also often says, we’ve always wanted that every change will happen in peaceful way and no human life will be lost in wars or armed conflicts”.

Wezirê Eşo, Kurdish writer and historian: “Raising Kurdish flag over KRG EU Representation is a historical day and happiness for Kurds from four parts of Kurdistan and the Diaspora. I am 77 years old and I am happy that I could see with my own eyes this flag waving over EU capital. This fundamental right was a dream for us”.

Zana Hawramani, PUK Representative in Belgium / relations with the European Parliament ; “Raising the Kurdish flag in the European capital is a great day and happiness for Kurds from all parts of Kurdistan and all the Kurdistani people. We, Kurds, like every nation have right for our flag as well. No one can take this fundamental right from us”.

Hunermend Rahimo Husein, Representative of Party Yeketi Kurd Syria and Member of Syrian National Council: “This historic day is also good news for all the martyrs who sacrificed their life for Kurdistan and for their children. I hope that this will be a positive step towards independence. All Kurds from four parts of Kurdistan should find a common strategy for freedom for all of us, so that this land will again become a cradle of the world civilization, as it has been thousands of years ago”.

Earlier this year, Belgium, which is hosting EU institutions, NATO and several hundred of international organisations and NGO’s, authorized Kurdish national flag to be raised over KRG Mission to EU in Brussels. Currently there are about 210 foreign embassies / Missions to the EU in Brussels.

Copyright and source : Ararat News – Publishing (ANP).

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