The Kurdish Culture and History Festival was organized by the Kurdistan Information Office, the Cultural Department of the City of Rome, the solidarity platform Rete Kurdistan, the Italian “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan” campaign, and the cultural association Ararat. The central aim was to showcase Kurdish culture in all its facets—embedded in the context of resistance, democratization, and the struggle for freedom.
Opening with literature about the Kobanê resistance
The event kicked off with the presentation of the book “Rain of Clouds” by author Deniz Bilgin. The work, which tells stories of fighters from the Kobanê resistance, was translated into Italian by Nayera El Gamal. The presentation was accompanied by contributions from Saadiya Kouti from the administration of the municipalities in northern and eastern Syria and teacher Francesca Patrizi.
The first evening concluded with a documentary film about Dr. Alina Sanchez (Lêgerîn), a doctor and internationalist who was active in Rojava and died in an accident in 2018.
Dance, poetry, and Kurdish cuisine on the second day
The second day of the festival focused on Kurdish folk dances, a poetic-musical reading, and a culinary journey of discovery. The highlight was the presentation of the poetry collection “Autumn with poems by guerrilla fighters.” Musician Ernesto Ranieri accompanied the reading with live music.
In the evening, the documentary film “Naharina” by Catalan director Ferran Domènech was shown. The film focuses on everyday life in Rojava and the implementation of the concept of democratic confederalism.
Panel on the situation in Turkey and Öcalan’s imprisonment
The third day of the festival began with a saxophone concert by Nicola Alessini. This was followed by a discussion among renowned guests on the political situation in Turkey and the international campaign for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.
Among the participants were Massimiliano Smeriglio, cultural representative of the city of Rome, Öcalan’s lawyer Arturo Salerni, former senator Giovanni Russo Spena, well-known comic artist Zerocalcare, Il Manifesto journalist Chiara Cruciati, Piero Bernocchi, spokesperson for the COBAS trade union, and Michela Arricaler, lawyer and co-chair of the Center for Research and Development for Democracy (CRED).
The speakers emphasized the importance of political dialogue in Turkey and called for Öcalan’s immediate release. They said Öcalan’s contribution to the peace process is significant not only for Kurdistan, but also for other societies in the region and beyond.
Closing ceremony with music and Kurdish cuisine
The festival ended with a serving of specialities from Kurdish cuisine. The musical finale was provided by the group Karkum Project with a live concert.