CULTURE

Latest News

• Last synagogue in Amed in danger of collapsing 

  The synagogue in Çermik, built in 1416, is in danger of collapsing. It is the last Jewish place of worship in the province of Amed and is being used as a warehouse despite being a protected monument.
• Project on gender violence between German and Rojava universities 

  The Department of Social Sciences of the Emden / Leer university and the Jineoloji department of the Rojava University ended a semester of work on gender violence.
• Remembering Murray Bookchin on his 100th birthday 

  Today marks American political philosopher and activist Murray Bookchin's 100th birthday.
• Artists in Europe launch campaign 'The time for Freedom is now' 

  Kurdish artist collectives living in Europe started an action in different countries within the scope of the "Dem dema azadiye" initiative (The time for Freedom is now). The artists launched their actions in Basel, Switzerland.
• Kurdish Language Platform lists demands 

  The Kurdish Language Platform (Platforma Zimanâ Kurdî) held a press conference to urge the Turkish Language Association (TDK) to work on Kurdish.
• Celebrating Murray Bookchin on his 100th anniversary 

  Online launch of the book "Enlightenment and Ecology: The Legacy of Murray Bookchin in the 21st Century".
• Academics protest seizure of book on Öcalan they edited 

  Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley and Dr Federico Venturini, protested the confiscation by the German authorities of the Arabic translation of the book they edited, Your Freedom and Mine: Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdish Question in Erdoğan's Turkey.
• Radio channel Dengê Çira Şengalê back on air  

  The Yazidi radio channel Dengê Çira Şengalê is back on air after technical problems.
• Germany seizes scientific book as photo of Öcalan is on cover 

  The Düsseldorf Customs have confiscated 500 books because the photo of Abdullah Öcalan is depicted on the cover. The editors of the book on the Kurdish question are renown scientists Thomas Jeffrey Miles and Federico Venturini.
• Nazê Nêrgiza Hewşê selected best clip of 2020 

  Diyarname.com jury members selected Hunergeha Welat's music video "Nazê Nêrgiza Hewşê" as the most successful clip of the year.
• Poetry Festival kicks off in Qamishlo 

  The 25th poetry festival organized by the Syrian Kurdish Poetry Festival Committee began today at Qamishlo Qelaa Library.
• The genocide mentality continues with naming of Tunceli Museum  

  The military barracks from where the Dersim Genocide was executed was turned into a museum. DAM said, "Naming this building as Tunceli Museum shows that the mentality of that time continues.”
• Mausoleum of Nebi Huri in occupied Afrin converted into mosque 

  The Turkish State Foundation Administration has converted the Mausoleum of Nebi Huri in the Hellenistic site of Cyrrhus in occupied Afrin into a mosque. All the precious mosaics in the ancient complex were stolen.
• Koma Çiçek Botan releases new song: "Battle of Women" 

  A new music video called "Cenga Jinê" about the "Cenga Heftanin" [Battle of Heftanin] resistance in Heftanin has been released.
• Employee of Bahar Cultural Center in Batman remanded in custody 

  Bahar Cultural Center employee Zilan Kaya was remanded in custody in Batman.
• 11th Hamburg Kurdish Film Festival opens online on 19 December 

  The 11th Hamburg Kurdish Film Festival will be held online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Rojava Film Commune awarded 2020 AFIELD Fellowship 

  The 2020 AFIELD Fellowship was awarded to Rojava Film Commune.
• Poems for Hard Times, by Sinn Féin former leader Gerry Adams 

  Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has published a poetry book entitled Poems for Hard Times.
• Thousands of years of history will be submerged in Amed 

  After flooding the 12,000-year-old ancient city Hasankeyf with the highly controversial Ilisu dam project, the Turkish state insists on damaging cultural heritage in North Kurdistan.
• The epic victory of Kobanê published in a book 

  The epic resistance of YPG and YPJ forces against ISIS gangs in Kobanê was published in a book titled "Kobanê Resistance Diary". The book written by Sefkan Kobanê, one of the commanders of the resistance, sheds light on how victory was achieved.
• Composer Felix: Artists have responsibility towards social issues 

  Mexican-American composer Nathan Felix has released a chamber opera titled Öcalan, inspired by the Kurdish leader.
• Elementary school in Rojava wins painting competition in Germany 

  An elementary school in Amûdê, Northeast Syria, has won the painting competition of the Essen Advent calendar.
• Kurdish writer sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison 

  Kurdish writer Gulgeş Deryaspî who was detained in operation in Bitlis one and a half years ago, has been sentenced to a prison term of 6 years and 3 months.
• "We paid a great price for education in mother tongue" 

  As the Kurds were banned from speaking in their mother tongue for years due to the Ottoman occupation and the persecution of the Baath regime, Rojava people say the achievement made in education in mother tongue, for which a great price was paid.
• Woman in Edirne killed by the man she was divorcing  

  Mehmet Emin Karaaslan murdered Nilay Karaaslan in Edirne while in the process of divorce.