The ninth edition of the International Şehîd Herekol Book Fair in Qamishlo, northeastern Syria, sent a strong message about cultural diversity and women’s perspectives. There was particularly strong interest in the Jineology Academy’s stand, whose books on the role and history of women in society attracted numerous visitors.
The fair opened on October 20 under the motto “Books are the key to civilization” and will run until October 26. The venue is Freedom Park in the city center. Participating publishers and organizations come not only from various regions of Syria—including Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia—but also from Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, and Belgium.
The fair reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region, with books in Kurdish, Arabic, French, English, Turkish, Armenian, Syriac, and Russian on display. In addition to classic literature and political works, there are also children’s books and new publications by Kurdish authors.
Jineology Academy with a strong presence
One of the most visited areas of the fair is the Jineology Academy stand. This year, the academy is presenting eleven of its own publications in several languages. These include documentation of the second Jineology Conference of North and East Syria, introductory works on women’s studies, and books on historical and social perspectives of women.
Speaking to ANF, Academy spokesperson Zehrîban Hisên highlighted the growing visibility of female voices in the cultural life of the region. “The fact that more and more women are writing and publishing is a clear sign of the changes brought about by the Rojava Revolution,” she said.
Zehrîban Hisên
The works presented attracted great interest not only among women, but also among men, young people, and students. Titles such as Bingeha Dîrokî û Siberoja Jin (Historical Foundations and Future of Women) by Şervîn Nûdem, Jineolojî Ders Notları (Jineology Lecture Notes) by Zozan Sima, and Jineolojî’ye Giriş (Introduction to Jineology) are among the most sought-after books.
The works of Jineology researcher and journalist Nagihan Akarsel, who was killed in 2022 in Sulaymaniyah in southern Kurdistan by an assassin working for the Turkish intelligence service MIT, are also represented. Her books, including the poetic works Nisan (April) and Kül Kokusu (The Smell of Ashes), are an integral part of the academy’s program.
Impulses from Öcalan’s letter
The academy received additional attention thanks to a letter from Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish leader imprisoned in Turkey, which was published in June. In it, he described Jineology as the further development of an “unfinished project.” According to Zehrîban Hisên, the letter triggered “a noticeable impulse” and further increased interest in Jineology. In his letter, Öcalan also referred to international feminist thought leaders such as Simone de Beauvoir and Virginia Woolf, whose ideas on the social role of women are also echoed in Jineology.
Cultural memory of the region
The book fair has been organized annually since 2017 in honor of the Kurdish author Hasan Çavuş, known as Herekol. The writer died in his hometown of Dêrik in 2016 after spending around 15 years in Turkish custody. His work is symbolic of cultural resistance and literary self-assertion.
With its thematic focus on Kurdish literature, multilingual publications, and socio-political debates, the Martyr Herekol Book Fair remains an important forum for free intellectual exchange in the region.