Top Kurdistan Region officials on Tuesday congratulated all journalists in Kurdistan on the 127th anniversary of the first publication of Kurdistan newspaper by Mikdad Midhat Bedir Khan in 1898 in Cairo, which is also the founding anniversary of the Erbil-based Kurdistan Journalist Syndicate.
April 22 is the Kurdish Journalism Day.
— Kurdistan Chronicle (@KrdChronicle) April 22, 2025
On this date in 1898, the first Kurdish-language newspaper was published in Cairo, Egypt. Named “Kurdistan,” the newspaper published a total of 31 issues in four years. pic.twitter.com/5pqB0mvt36
Read More: Kurdistan Newspaper and Its Role in Promoting Kurdish Identity and Language
“Journalism, communication, and media play a vital role in raising national awareness and in the protection and enrichment of the Kurdish language. At the same time, Kurdish media and journalism serve as a powerful tool for introducing our people’s just cause to the world,” President Masoud Barzani said in a statement.
He also underlined that the media plays an important role in preserving the culture of coexistence and strengthening the values of peace and tolerance in Kurdistan.
"لە یادی ڕۆژی ڕۆژنامەگەريی کوردی و دەرچوونی یەکەم ژمارەی ڕۆژنامەی (کوردستان) لەلایەن میر میقداد میدحەت بەدرخان و ساڵیادی دامەزراندنی سەندیکای ڕۆژنامەنووسانی کوردستان، پیرۆزبایی لە گشت ڕۆژنامەنووسانی کوردستان دەکەم و هیوای سەرکەوتنیان بۆ دەخوازم"https://t.co/9qHDw6fAgY
— Kurdistan Regional Government (@Kurdistan) April 22, 2025
Furthermore, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani
reaffirmed the KRG’s commitment to freedom of press.
“I hope that Kurdistan’s journalists continue to elevate their profession, play an effective role in raising public awareness, and ensure the delivery of accurate and truthful information. They should be partners and supporters of the authorities in promoting reform and preventing mistakes and shortcomings,” he stated.
Read More: Kurdistan Commemorates Kurdish Journalism Day
Additionally, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani underlined that we should “continue to encourage journalists to uphold professionalism, impartiality, and integrity, avoid sensationalism and harmful discourse, and prioritize the public interest and social harmony.
“On this day, we honor the martyrs of journalism in Kurdistan and all those who have made sacrifices in the pursuit of truth and public service. We also acknowledge the efforts of both local and international organizations in monitoring freedom of expression in Kurdistan, and we affirm our commitment to using their insights to further improve the media and journalism sector in our country.”
