Over 70 Kurdish media workers from various European countries gathered in the city of Aalst, Belgium, in response to a joint call to build a structure that could meet the needs of a new phase. As a result of the discussions, they decided to establish the Collective of Kurdistan Press Workers in Europe (Kolektifa Medyakarên Kurdistan li Ewropayê).

The meeting, which began on 19 April, received strong support from the majority of Kurdish media institutions. Planned to last two days and conducted entirely in Kurdish, the gathering focused on the current state of Kurdish media, the ongoing political process, and the role of Kurdish media within it.

Participants emphasized the need for stronger media structures in the face of increasing monopolization, disinformation, and efforts to control the masses, particularly in the era of digital media. It was underlined that Kurdish media must adapt to these new conditions.

The role of the media was defined not only as exposing the truth, but also as transforming and building.

The meeting also highlighted the experience and institutional strength gained by women in the field of Kurdish media.

Journalist Gulistan Ike proposed the creation of an online media academy to help share the experiences gained by the Kurdish people. She also highlighted the importance of turning the Kurdish press into written documentation to ensure their continuity. She said: "We must break free from the cycle of repetition. The media have grown significantly distant from society, and this is a serious problem. Sensitivity toward social issues has weakened. In addition to exposing the truth, the media must play its role in shaping society and transforming mentalities."

The meeting also included criticism of the sexist broadcasts by a media outlet based in South Kurdistan, particularly those promoting polygamy.

On the final day of the meeting, participants shared their views and suggestions on what type of structure should be established. During the second day of discussions, which included more than 40 media workers, various organizational models such as 'association,' 'network,' 'federation,' 'collective,' 'union,' and 'initiative' were debated. Participants also discussed where the central office of the new formation should be located.

There was a shared emphasis on the need for this new entity to develop relations with international press organizations. A common consensus was reached that it should be established with the legal status of an association, and that its headquarters should be based in Brussels.

The name Collective of Kurdistan Press Workers in Europe (Kolektifa Medyakarên Kurdistan li Ewropayê) was chosen by majority vote from a list of proposed names. It will be officially recorded using its Kurdish name.

To carry out the collective’s work under the legal status of an association, a committee of 11 members was proposed and approved by vote. The initially selected nine members, four women and five men, were given the responsibility to appoint two additional members to complete the committee.

The newly formed committee will organize a broader conference where the association will be formally established and publicly announced.

Final declaration

The final declaration of the meeting, prepared after discussions and proposals, reads as follows:

"For centuries, the Kurdish people have been struggling for their freedom. In this struggle, the media of Kurdistan has undoubtedly played a significant role. Since the founding of the Kurdistan newspaper, Kurds have paid a heavy price in their efforts in the field of media but have also achieved significant gains. Today, there are dozens of Kurdish and Kurdistan-based television channels and hundreds of newspapers and magazines around the world.

In addition, Kurds and people from Kurdistan have taken their place in digital media networks in line with the demands of the current age. Alongside these developments, various media organizations continue their work across the four parts of Kurdistan. In this context, efforts to build organizational structures abroad, particularly in Europe, have been made in previous years. However, the lack of a stable structure in Europe has, unfortunately, remained unresolved until now.

In response to both organizational challenges and the specific problems faced by Kurdistan media workers in Europe, representatives of Kurdistan media institutions and organizations, as well as individual journalists and media professionals, gathered on 19 and 20 April in the city of Aalst, Belgium.

At this conference, the current situation of the Kurdish people and the Kurdistan region, as well as the role and condition of Kurdish media and journalism, were discussed in depth. Many valuable criticisms and proposals were shared. As a result, all participants agreed on the need for journalists from Kurdistan living in Europe to unite within a free and independent organizational framework. This structure will enable the collective to fulfill its roles and responsibilities more effectively.

The 19–20 April conference concluded with the adoption of the following decisions and proposals:

- It was agreed to establish a registered association to serve as the organizational structure. This association will be headquartered in Brussels and will be open to members from all European countries.

- The name of the association was chosen, by the majority, to be “Collective of Kurdistan Press Workers in Europe.”

- It was decided that the association would be managed by a committee composed of 11 members.

The following people were selected to serve as members of the committee:

- Amed Dicle, Gulistan Çiya Ike, Hidayet Ibrahim, Diyar Aziz Sherif, Roni Eylem, Niyaz Abdullah, Rojda Delal, Mahir Uzmez, Maxime Demiralp.

- The selected committee has the authority to add two more individuals to complete the executive board.

- Until the founding conference, to be held by autumn 2025 at the latest, the Executive Committee will have the initiative to carry out all responsibilities in accordance with the decisions and discussions of the Aalst Conference.