Today, Dakok Support Center proudly celebrates Kurdish Language Day, a powerful reminder of the resilience, beauty, and significance of the Kurdish language as a mother tongue. On this day, we pay tribute to a language that has carried the hopes, identity, and culture of millions of Kurds across generations — often in the face of hardship and suppression.
Why Kurdish Language Day Matters
Kurdish Language Day is observed every May 15th, marking a key moment in the cultural and linguistic history of the Kurdish people. The date commemorates the publication of the first Kurdish-language newspaper, Kurdistan, in 1898 by Miqdad Midhat Bedirxan in Cairo — a groundbreaking step in modern Kurdish media and literature. Since then, May 15th has become a symbolic day to honor the right to speak, write, and learn in Kurdish, and to preserve it as a living, evolving mother language.
The Kurdish Language: A Pillar of Identity
Spoken by over 30 million people across Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, and the Kurdish diaspora, the Kurdish language is central to Kurdish identity. It belongs to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family, and is made up of several dialects:
- Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish)
- Sorani (Central Kurdish)
- Pehlewani and Zazaki, among others
Each dialect carries a rich oral and written tradition, with poetry, music, folklore, and modern literature forming the cultural fabric of Kurdish life.
Despite centuries of linguistic repression — including bans on speaking or teaching Kurdish in many regions — the language has endured. In recent decades, especially in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Kurdish has seen a renaissance, with widespread use in education, media, and government.
Language as Resistance and Resilience
Kurdish Language Day is more than a celebration — it is an act of resistance and affirmation. For generations, Kurdish people have fought for the right to speak their language freely. From underground schools to smuggled books and radio broadcasts, the preservation of Kurdish has been a community effort driven by deep cultural pride.
Language is not just about communication — it is about identity, history, and future. Every Kurdish word spoken, every story passed on, and every child taught in Kurdish strengthens the foundation of a people determined to preserve their roots.
Dakok’s Role in Supporting Kurdish Language and Culture
At Dakok Support Center, we are deeply committed to nurturing the Kurdish language and empowering communities to embrace their heritage. Through our education programs, cultural initiatives, and community engagement, we work to:
- Support Kurdish literacy for children and adults
- Encourage the use of Kurdish in creative expression
- Provide safe spaces where Kurdish identity can be freely celebrated
We believe every person has the right to speak and learn in their mother tongue, and we stand with those who continue to defend that right every day.
A Message of Pride and Hope
This May 15th, let us all raise our voices in Kurdish — not just in celebration, but in recognition of the generations who preserved it for us. Let us teach it to our children, write it into our future, and share it with pride.
Zimanê me, nasnameya me ye — “Our language is our identity.”
Happy Kurdish Language Day from all of us at Dakok Support Center.
May our mother tongue continue to flourish, today and for generations to come.
