In 1979, I had the privilege of meeting several Kurds, who were primarily from Turkey. Together we established Australia's inaugural Kurdish association, of which I served as the president and secretary for approximately six years.
My journey as a broadcaster commenced in 1982, when I contributed written pieces to a program broadcast in English on Sydney's 2 SER FM. This program was operated by Australians, including some with an Arabic background who were supportive of the Palestinian cause. Contributors included Caroline Graham, Therese Taylor, and Abdullah Moughrabi. Subsequently, I initiated a weekly community radio program that blended Kurdish and English, with invaluable support from both Australian and Kurdish friends. This program ran for around 18 months.
Our next goal was securing a slot on Radio 2 EA. Given the limited number of Kurdish speakers in the country and the opposition that some held toward Kurdish politics, we faced challenges. Nonetheless, we managed to secure a trial broadcasting period. Following Radio 2 EA's relocation to Bondi Junction in Sydney in 1988, the Kurdish Program's airtime expanded to 45 minutes per week. As Radio 2 EA evolved into the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), establishing its radio and TV operations in Artarmon, North Sydney, the Kurdish program further extended to one hour per week and reached listeners in Melbourne and Wollongong.
Growing SBS
My official title at SBS was Head of the Kurdish Language Program, and I acted as the coordinator, journalist, and broadcaster for the program during this phase. From May 2013 onward, the Kurdish Language Program expanded to a two-hour weekly slot, now reaching towns across Australia.
SBS has now established itself as a highly regarded broadcasting entity within Australia, boasting a diverse range of radio and television programs. Its financial backing stems from federal government allocations and advertising revenue. With SBS broadcasting in more than 70 languages, the allotment of airtime is generally tied to the number of speakers of each language, as indicated by official census data conducted every five years. The 2011 Census recorded 4,985 Kurdish speakers in Australia, a number that increased to 6,185 in 2016 and nearly 10,000 in 2021.
From 1984 until mid-2014, Chahin Baker led SBS Kurdish, with his involvement extending an additional two years following his retirement. Chahin juggled this role part-time alongside his permanent position within the NSW Department of Education and Training. He received invaluable support from numerous individuals, including Kurdish correspondents across Europe, Turkey, and the Kurdish Region of Iraq, as well as members of Australia’s Kurdish community.
Despite its limited airtime, SBS Kurdish has managed to conduct over 1,000 interviews over the past three decades, including conversations with prominent figures like Masoud Barzani, Jalal Talabani, Nechirvan Barzani, Abdulla Hesenzade, Abdullah Ocalan, Ibrahim Ahmad, Kemal Burkay, Hemreş Reşo, Hemîd Derwish, Fuad Aliko, and many others. Interviews also extended to various politicians and intellectuals from major Kurdish parties and individuals from all corners of Kurdistan.
Notably, the program featured non-Kurdish speakers as well, encompassing Australian representatives, Syrian and Iraqi ambassadors, and activists from non-governmental organizations engaged in Kurdish-related activities. Contributors and correspondents who enriched the Kurdish Program include Hatice Kamer, Shehên Heme Nûrî, Ahmet Cantekin, Dilbixwîn Dara, Kameran Omer, Nûreddîn Zengene, Siûd Kiliç, Canî Dîlan, Rêbwar Fettah, Mihemed Sanrî, Ibrahîm Seydo Aydogan, Hêvîdar Zana, and many more.
Following Chahin's retirement, Roza Germian and Mayada Kordy Khalil took over the program's helm. Presently, Mayada heads SBS Kurdish, delivering two broadcasts each week on Fridays and Sundays.
Bridging Australia and the global Kurdish community
SBS Kurdish is a pioneer among Kurdish-language programs, operating independently of any specific political party affiliation. Its content caters to Kurdish speakers globally, encompassing matters pertinent to Australia and beyond. The program, presented in both Kurmanji and Sorani, encompasses news, current affairs, interviews, immigration-related discussions in Australia, as well as culture and language. This content is sourced from SBS's newsroom, international agencies, and Kurdish resources, maintaining a strict adherence to objectivity and journalistic professionalism.
Effectively acting as a bridge between Australia and the global Kurdish community, SBS Kurdish is accessible via live radio broadcasts and online streaming worldwide, with social media frequently leveraged to inform Kurdish speakers about the program’s schedule and content.
Shahin Bekir Sorekli, a Kurdish writer and journalist born in Kobani, Syria, now resides in Australia. Between 1982 and 1983, he hosted a weekly Kurdish-English program on 2SER FM Radio in Sydney. In 1984, he founded SBS Kurdish, starting with Radio 2EA, and served as Editing Producer/broadcaster until his retirement in 2015.
