The famous Kurdish singer Sivan Perwer will be honored at a meeting at the UK House of Commons on June 2, 2025.

Hosted by the Centre for Kurdish Progress, the event will celebrate Perwer’s decades-long artistic and political contributions to Kurdish culture. Senior Members of Parliament will present Sivan Perwer with a special award of recognition for his work.

“Sivan Perwer’s powerful music and poetry have long served as a voice of resistance, cultural pride, and hope for millions of Kurds around the world,” the Centre for Kurdish Progress said. “Exiled for his art, Perwer has become a global symbol of resilience and the transformative power of culture in the face of oppression.

“We are deeply honoured to present this award to Sivan Perwer, a legendary figure whose music and message have inspired generations of Kurds and friends of Kurdistan around the world,” Ibrahim Dogus, Founder of the Centre for Kurdish Progress, told Kurdistan Chronicle.

“Sivan’s lifelong dedication to Kurdish culture, language, and the struggle for justice through art is nothing short of extraordinary. This event is a tribute not only to his immense talent, but to his enduring role as a voice for the Kurdish people and a beacon of hope in difficult times.”

Sivan Perwer, born Ismail Aygun in 1955 in Viransehir, is a renowned Kurdish singer, poet, and writer.

Known for his politically charged Kurdish folk music, he fled Turkiye in 1976 and spent 37 years in exile before visiting Turkiye again during the previous peace process.

According to the BBC, his music has become a symbol of Kurdish national identity. He has helped to define a people without a state.