KS in Poland

The Section of Kurdish Studies in the Department of Iranian Studies in the Institute of Oriental Studies of Jagiellonian University was established in 2008 due to the growing interest in Kurdish culture and language that has been observed over the last years in Poland and especially in Krakow.

Since 2003 when Krakow hosted the fine art exhibition entitled Outlook of contemporary Kurdish works and particularly after the first Krakow International Conference on Kurdish Studies that took place in 2004 along with the Polish-Kurdish Student Forum, this old city has become the center of little known in Europe but fascinating Kurdish culture. As a result of many interesting ventures emerged a group of people deeply interested in Kurdistan history culture and reality. The group consisting mostly of students and young scholars was keen on getting new information about Kurdistan carrying out research and presenting its results to the Polish public.

This group of young enthusiasts gathered around prof. Andrzej Pisowicz who was the first person in Poland to lecture on the Kurdish language - Kurmanji and Sorani dialects. They closely cooperated with the Kurdish Center for Information and Documentation (established in 2003 as the successor of the Polish-Kurdish Friendship Association established in 1992). Between 2005 and 2008 many cultural events were organized including Shevbuherks – evenings with Kurdish culture 2005/2006, Days of Islam 2006, meeting with Kurdish poetry, photo exhibitions 2007, 2008, 2009, and panel discussions devoted to the current situation of the Kurds and Kurdistan such as The Kurds between PKK, Ankara and European Union (2008) organized with the participation of the Kurdish Initiative in Europe and TEVKURD from the Turkish part of Kurdistan, the ZNAK Foundation and the Kraków Public Library. Finally in 2008 the Philology Faculty Council of the Jagiellonian University endorsed the Oriental Philology Institute (now Institute of Oriental Studies) application to establish the Section of Kurdish Studies.

The main aim of the SKS is to develop knowledge of the Kurdish culture and language as well as the current political and social situation of the Kurds. The Section activity is based on research, lectures and organizing events that can bring the Kurdish culture closer to the Polish public. The scholars associated with the SKS help Polish journalists, businessmen and students from other institutes and universities willing to go to Kurdistan by informing and organizing logistics. They also cooperate with the Znak Foundation, as well as with other institutions as advisers and translators.