Dildar Loqman – Activists
In this country, even if you’ve been the best driver for fifty years, a single mistake can strip you of your license and throw you into disgrace — as if your decades of service and reliability never existed.
In recent days, a wave of harsh criticism has been directed at the renowned Kurdish artist Maher Hassan, a man who has dedicated many years of his life to serving Kurdish art. Few can claim they have never laughed at his clever satire or felt moved by his bold, poignant critiques of power. He has long held up a mirror to the ruling authorities, reflecting their failures with wit and bravery.
But following a single visit, all his grace and contributions have suddenly become meaningless — and people have rushed to label and judge him. It’s as if the artist himself had become a political leader or a high-ranking official being welcomed with red carpets. Yet, we must ask ourselves: how many of those passing judgment even understand the full context of what happened?
Perhaps this visit can be criticized, perhaps questions should be asked — that’s fair. People could express their thoughts through satire just as Maher himself does, or raise their concerns with clarity and logic. But what we see instead are toxic and disproportionate online attacks, full of personal insults and demeaning comments — none of which befit the stature and contribution of this respected artist.
To Kak Maher Hassan, we say: Do not let this noise dishearten you. True art begins where flattery ends — and those who fear the truth will always try to drown the voice of honesty with chaos. But you have long stood firm, and many of us continue to stand with you.
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