The Northern and Eastern Syria Literature Council inaugurated the Şilêr Café Library at the Literature Center in the Black neighborhood of Qamishlo, located within the Jazira (Cizîrê) Canton.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the library at the opening ceremony, the following message was conveyed: “In the heart of Qamishlo, we are reviving a place that was once banned. We have filled the walls of silence with books and transformed the tables of fear into spaces for dialogue and reading. Şilêr will become a symbol of cultural diversity.”
The ceremony was attended by writers, independent authors, the culture and literature committees of Jazira Canton, faculty members from the Literature Department of Rojava University, representatives of the Democratic Autonomous Administration, members of the Institution of Martyrs’ Families, and various media outlets.
Raman Hisên, the director of the Şilêr Library, also spoke at the opening, recalling the Kurdish people’s long-standing dream of writing and reading in their own language. Hisên continued: “Today, we have reached the stage of establishing a library. With very limited means, Şilêr Publishing has so far published 870 books in Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, and English. Your presence gives us strength and allows us to take further steps forward.”
Library director and writer Ciger Efrîn added: “A revolution took place here, but the literary revolution has not yet been completed. Today, we want to make literature a part of the revolution as well. Our work has been made possible through the blood of martyrs. We want to guide our youth toward reading and toward Kurdish literature. We have read foreign languages for a long time, now it is time to read in Kurdish.”
After the opening speeches, a group of dengbêj (traditional Kurdish storytellers and singers) from Dêrik performed their songs. Participants saluted Abdullah Öcalan and those present. Afterwards, writer Salihe Heydo and martyr’s mother Ranya Mohammed Said opened the doors of the Şilêr Library to the guests. The visitors then toured the library and examined the books.
Abdullah Öcalan’s works placed on the shelves
Şilêr Café Library features book sections on children’s literature, novels, short stories, poetry, folklore, history, language, theater, women and children, health, religion, law, music, art, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology, and many other fields. The works of Abdullah Öcalan also took their place on the shelves.
The library holds a total of 7,500 books. Among them, 765 are in Kurdish, 70 are in foreign languages, and 7,095 are in Arabic. In addition, Şilêr Publishing has released 870 books in Kurdish, Arabic, and Turkish.
The library aims to promote a culture of reading by opening its doors to readers and seminars. At the same time, it will also serve as a café.