The Newspaper That Changed Kurdish History Forever

On April 22, 2026, the Kurdish community celebrates Kurdish Journalism Day, marking 128 years since the historic launch of the newspaper “Kurdistan” in Cairo.

Founded in 1898 by the Bedir Khan brothers, Miqdad and Abdul Rahman, this publication served as the foundational pillar for Kurdish media and national identity.

Over the course of fourteen years, 31 issues were published despite relentless opposition from Ottoman authorities, who forced the newspaper to move its printing operations between Cairo, Geneva, London, and Folkestone.

Written primarily in the Kurmanji dialect with Arabic script, the four-page paper was distributed for free with a mission to combat illiteracy, promote education, and advocate for Kurdish self-rule and women’s rights.

Its enduring legacy continues to inspire journalists today as a symbol of cultural preservation and the struggle for intellectual freedom.