Publications

PUBLICATIONS

The Kurdish Institute maintains the largest Kurdish library in the Western world. At present it possesses 6,423 monographs on the Kurds, in 23 languages, several tens of thousands of writings, collections of periodicals and newspapers, photos, videos as well as an archive of sounds and musical recordings. This rich documentation occupies over a third of the Institute's premises as well as a major part of its warehouse, in a Paris suburb. The monographs and principal documents are referenced on a computer data base. The Institute's Library is open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 6 pm. In addition to Kurdish, French and European students and research workers, ordinary individuals wanting information and the opportunity to read about the subject can freely use the Library. Some come from the provinces and abroad to consult its collections, while others consult it by letter.


PUBLICATIONS


Periodicals published by The Kurdish Institute


The Information and Liaison Bulletin, published since 1983, at first in six languages (English, French German, Kurdish, Spanish and Turkish) then in four (English, French German, Spanish). Since 1996, for financial reasons it has only appeared in French and English. To date, 154 ordinary issues and 4 special issues have appeared (a total of 16,072 pages).

Each monthly issue contains a revue of the international press, in the form of press cuttings, preceded by about twenty pages of presentation and comments. The Bulletin is widely distributed in 85 countries to media, documentation centres, NGOs and individuals for whom it is often the only regular source of information on the Kurds. A real chronicle of Kurdish history since 1983, the Bulletin has become a unique data base of Kurdish affairs.

Kurmancî an illustrated linguistic magazine, appears twice yearly in Kurdish with French, English and Turkish translations of the word lists. This magazine makes known the work of the Institute's six-monthly linguistic seminars. 22 issues have appeared so far (a total of 176 pages). A compilation of the first 20 issues in book form, with word lists in Kurdish, English, French and Turkish as well as an index in each of these languages will appear by the end of 1998.

Hêvî, (Hope) a Kurdish language magazine devoted to the arts and essays on the Kurdish language and history. 8 issues appeared, each of 208 pages (a total of 1664 pages). Its publication had to be suspended for financial reasons.

Studia Kurdica, a periodical of Human Science studies was published in Persian, Arabic Turkish and French. 8 issues appeared (a total of 1005 pages). Its publication was suspended through lack of finance.
Books published by the Institute :


  • Le kurde sans peine, a practical course in the Kurdish language by K.A, Bedir Khan, 206 pp., 1989.
  • Kürtçe Grameri, (A Kurdish grammar by Roget Lescot and Emir Djeladet Bedir Khan, translated into Turkish by the Institute). 396 pp., 1989.
  • Mem û Zîn, by Ehmedê Xani, the 17th Century Kurdish national epic, edited and commented by the Iranian Kurdish poet Hejar, a founder member of the Kurdish Institute. 370 pp., 1989.
  • Sivanê Kurd/Le Berger Kurde by Ereb Semo, an autobiographical tale by the Kurdish writer from Armenia, in a bi-lingual French/Kurdish edition translated by B. Nikitine. 326 pp., 1989. This work was in particular aimed at young Kurds living in France, of the second generation.
  • Devletlerarasi Sömürge Kurdistan (Kurdistan, an inter-State colony) by the Turkish sociologist Ismail Besikçi, 354 pp., 1990. Following the banning of this book in Turkey and the sentencing of its author, the Kurdish Institute published his work in France in the interests of freedom of thought.
  • Danezana gerdûnî ya Mafên Mirov (The Universal Declaration of Human Rights). The first translation into Kurdish of the Universal Declaration preceded by the 1789 "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen". Each article of the Declaration is given in Kurdish, Arabic, English and French. First edition 1989, 98 pp. In 1992, in partnership with the Fondation France-Libertés and the FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) and with the support of UNESCO, a fresh edition was printed of 50,000 copies and distributed in Iraqi Kurdistan.
  • Conference Internationale de Paris : Les Kurdes, Droits de l'Homme et identité ulturelle. The Transactions of this important Conference, held on the 14/15th October at the International Conference Centre in Paris. 206 pp., 1989.
  • Paris International Conference: The Kurds, Human Rights and Cultural Identity. 206 pp., 1989. (The English translation of the above Conference's Transactions).
  • Uluslararasi Paris Konferansi, Kürtler, Insan Haklam ve Kültüel Kimlik, Pasis 14-15 Ekim 1989, Istanbul 1992, 206 pp. The Turkish translation of the Transactions. An Arabic translation of the Transactions was published in Iraqi Kurdistan with the Institute's support.
  • International Inter-parliamentary Consultation on the Kurds. Transactions of the Conference on the Kurds held on 27th February 1991 at the U.S. Senate, jointly organised by the Kurdish Institute and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
  • PEINTRES DE L'ANFAL (PAINTERS OF THE ANFAL), a catalogue the exhibition of 8 Iraqi Kurdish painters' at the Monde de l'Art, in November 1993, an exhibition inaugurated by the President of the Republic.


School books


The Kurdish Institute, in partnership with the Fondation France-Libertés, the Norwegian Labour Movement (LO) and UNESCO published a series of School text books in Kurdish for primary and secondary schools with a total print of 385,000 volumes, which were distributed in Iraqi Kurdistan with the help of the local Kurdish authorities.
  • Alf û bey niwey, bo polî yekemî sertayî (The new alphabet for beginners classes of primary schools)
  • Xwendinewey niwey, bo poli diwemî sertayî (New reading book for the 2nd year of primary schools)
  • Zanistekan, bo poli sêwemî sertayî (Science for the 3rd year of primary school)
  • Zanyari û perwerdey tendirustî, bo poli sesemî sertayî (Science for the 6th year of primary school)
  • Rêzimana Kurdî, bo poli sesemî sertayî (Kurdish Grammar for the 6th year of primary school schools)
  • Zanyarî gistî, (Science text book for the 1st year of secondary school)
  • Ziman û edebi kurdî (Kurdish language and literature text book for the 2nd year of secondary school)
  • Kimya (Chemistry text book for the 4th year of secondary school)
  • Fizyay, Mikanîk û deng (Physics, accoustics and mechanics text book for the 5th year of secondary school)
  • Fizyay, Kareba û binayî zanî (Physics, electricity and magnetism text book for the 6th year of secondary school)
  • Cebir (Algebra text book for the 5th year of secondary school)
  • Sêgosekakî û sejîmê (Geometry text book for the 5th year of secondary school)
  • Ciyakarî û tewawkar (Geometry text book for the 6th year of secondary school)

Cassettes of traditional Kurdish Music


  • 1 - Arif Cizrewî & Hesen Cizrewî
  • 2 - Dengê Jinên Kurd (Voices of Kurdish Women)
  • 3 - Aramê Tigran
  • 4 - Blûr û dûdûk (Instrumental)
  • 5-6-7 - Mûsikiya Geleriya Kurdistan I, II, III (Anonymous folk music)
  • 9 - Sêxê Zirav (Classical songs)
  • 10 - Mehmedî Nahîd
  • 11 - Perwîzî Kamkar
  • 12 - Seyîd Elî Esxer
  • 13 - Elî Merdan
  • 14 - Ezîzî Sarûx
  • 15 - Nasirê Rizazî
  • 16 - Hesen Zîrek
  • 17 - Taha Tewfiq
  • 18 - Mamlê û Çalak
  • 20 - Koma Zozan

Video cassettes published by the institute
  • The Voice of Kurdistan, a 60 minute documentary film tracing the principal events of Kurdish history, particularly in Iraq up to 1978, with the backing of a great number of archived documents. This international version, in English, is aimed at Human Rights Defence associations and organisations, at schools and factory committees, to inform the general public of the Kurds' situation.
  • La Voix de Kurdistan, the French version of the same documentary, for French-speaking countries(France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec and some African countries)
  • Dengê Kurdistanê, the Kurdish language version of the same documentary, aimed at a Kurdish public in Western Europe and also the population of Kurdistan. Barely three weeks after its appearance, pirated copies of this film were already in circulation in the principal towns of Kurdistan.
  • Newroz 84, a documentary film in Kurdish, lasting 52 minutes, covering the Kurdish New Year (March 21) celebrations organised by the Paris Kurdish Institute. Traditional Songs and Dances, instrumental music, poems. An entertainment film.
  • Kurdistan, koloniya dawîn ? A documentary directed by Ahmed Alaudin, on the situation of the Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Transcaucasia and Europe. A very great number of interviews with Kurdish artists and intellectuals enrich this 56-minute film, the English language version of which was broadcast by the British Channel Four network. The Kurdish version, produced by the Kurdish Institute, has several times been broadcast by Iraqi Kurdistan TV stations.
  • Sîvan li Kurdistan (Sivan in Kurdistan): music concerts given, in April 1991 by the very popular Kurdish singer, Sivan Perwer, member of the Institute, to refugees from Iraqi Kurdistan, on the routes of their exodus. These concerts, were filmed in Beta cam by a team from the Kurdish Institute. 65 minutes long, in colour, in Pal and Secam versions. Extracts from this film have been broadcast by ARTE on three occasions in their programme "Brutes".
  • Cîran (The Neighbour), a 2 Act comedy in Kurdish, on squabbles between neighbours in the Caucasus, played by the Kurdish Theatre of Tbilissi (Georgia) and filmed by a team from the Institute; 107 minutes, in colour, in Pal and Secam versions.
  • Siyabend û Xecê (Siyabend and Khajê). A love story, based on a Kurdish legend, acted by the Tbilissi Kurdish Theatre (Georgia), filmed by a team from the Institute; 70 minutes, in colour, Pal and Secam versions.
  • Mala min ne mala te ye (My house is not your house), a 2-act comedy in Kurdish, acted by the Tbilissi Kurdish Theatre (Georgia), filmed by a team from the Institute; 92 minutes, in colour, Pal and Secam versions.
  • Kaniya Dilan (The fountain of hearts), a melodrama, written and directed by Mahmut Baksi, 35 minutes, in Pal and Secam.
  • Keça Kurd Zozan (Zozan, a Kurdish girl) a documentary by Mahmut Baksi, on the Kurdish children of immigrants to Sweden, produced for the Swedish TV. The Kurdish version, directed by the author, a member of the Institute's Board, 79 minutes, Pal/Secam.
  • Welatê me Kurdistan (Our country, Kurdistan), a documentary by Mahmut Baksi, on the Kurdish places and countryside, produced with the support of the Swedish Ministry of Culture, aimed at the children of Kurdish immigrants to Sweden, 30 minutes, Pal/Secam.
  • Sinco qîza xwe dide mêr (Sinco gives his daughter in marriage), a comedy in Kurdish acted by the Tbilissi Kurdish Theatre (Georgia), filmed by a team from the Institute; 72 minutes, in colour, Pal and Secam versions.
  • Xesû (The mother in law), a comedy in Kurdish, acted by the Tbilissi Kurdish Theatre (Georgia), 77 minutes, in colour, Pal/Secam .
  • Zarîna Çiya, (The cry from the mountain), a tragedy in Kurdish, acted by the Tbilissi Kurdish Theatre (Georgia), 58 minutes, in colour, Pal/Secam .
  • Yilmaz Güney û welatê wî (Yilmaz Gümey and his country) a documentary in Kurdish on Güney's life and work. 112 minutes, Pal/Secam.
  • Yilmaz Güney ve Ülkesi (Yilmaz Gümey and his country) a documentary in Turkish on Güney's life and work. 112 minutes, Pal/Secam.
  • Participation in commercial film Shéro, a French-Italian co-production, directed by our member Hiner Saleem, in Iraqi Kurdistan, This, the first film shot in any Kurdish region following the exodus of April 1991, was shown at the Venice Festival, where it was very well received.
  • A documentary entitled "Leyla Zana, the Kurdish 'La Passionaria'" was produced from the Institute's archives, in French and English versions. Awarded a prize at the Limoges Festival, this film has been broadcast by several European television stations.

Posters published by the institute
  • Poster advertising the celebration of the inauguration of the Institute.
  • Homage to Yilmaz Güney (Biranîna Y. Gûney).
  • Newroz 1994
  • Halabja, "Hiroshima Kurde", for an exhibition of painting.
  • Painters of the "Anfal"1 , "Memoire de Kurdistan"
  • Painting Exhibition of 1983.


Books published with the institute's support
  • I Kurdi, dramma di un populo dimentico, by Felice Froio, Mursia Publishing, 1991, 178 pp.
  • La République de Mahabad (1946) by William Eagleton, éditions Complexe, 1991, 178 pp. The translation into French of the classic work The Kurdish Republic of Mahabad, made by the Kurdish Institute and given without charge to the publishers as an encouragement.
  • Los Kurdos, Historia de una resistencia, by Manuel Martorell, Espasa-Calpe publishing, Madrid, 1991, 180 pp.
  • Turquie: sur les chemins kurdes, (Turkey: on the Kurdish roads) by Laurent Girault, édition Albin Michel Jeunesse, Paris, 1991, 62 pp.
  • Ma vie de Kurde (My life as a Kurd) by N. Zaza, édition Labor et Fides, Geneva, 1993, 260 pp.
  • Ma route à travers le Kurdistan irakien, récit d'un ingénieur néo-zélandais, A, M. Hamilton, édition Harmattan, Paris 1994, 280 pp. The translation into French of the classic work Road through Kurdistan (which ran to three editions in English) by Thomas Bois, which was preserved in the Institute's archives, offered free of charge to the publishers, L'Harmattan, by way of encouragement.
  • Ecrits de prison de Leyla Zana, (Leyla Zana's Prison writings) by the winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Peace Prize for Freedom of Spirit, Paris 1996, éditions de Femmes, 116 pp. Translation into French made by the Kurdish Institute.
  • La Prison N°5, onze ans dans les geôles turques de Mehdi Zana, préface de Elie Wiesel, postface de Kendal Nezan, éditions Arléa Paris 1996 130 pp. (Mehdi Zana's Prison N°5, eleven years in Turkish jails, translated into French by the Kurdish Institute).
  • Anthologie de la poésie populaire kurde (Anthology of Kurdish popular poetry) by Gérard Chaliand, éditions de l'Aube, Paris, 1997,137 pp.
  • Artères solaires, poèmes, by Seyhmus Dagtekin, éditions Harmattan, Paris 1997, 138 pp.
  • Memê Alan, épopée kurde traduit en français par Roger Lescot, préface de Kendal Nezan. (A Kurdish epic poem translated into French), to be published by Gallimard.


The Kurdish Institute has also contributed to certain recent works on the Kurds published either in English or in French.
  • The Kurdish Culture and Identity by P. Kreyenbroek and C. Allison; pub. Zed Books, London, 1996, 170pp.
  • After Such a Knowledge What Forgiveness, My Encounters with Kurdistan by J. Randall; pub. Vhps Virginia (USA), 1997, 356 pp.
  • Kurdistan in the Shadow of History by Susan Meiselas; Random House, U.S.A. 1997, 408 pp.
  • Kurdistan - Iraq, text and photographs by François-Xavier Lovat; pub. 3C Comunic, Paris 1997, 102 pp.
  • The Kurdish Challenge by Chris Kutchera, pub. Bayard, Paris 1997, 352 pp.


Music CDs published with the institute's support
  • Musique de Kurdistan Gulinar, by Issa; Published by AAA
  • Sivan, Chants du Kurdistan (Kurdistan Songs), published by Auvidis
  • Radio France's Collection OCORA published a double CD on the Zikr music of the Qaderi Kurds, Kurdistan: Zikr and Sufi Songs.
  • Mashké, Iranian Kurdish Music, published by the Arts Council, London.
  • Chants et Musique du Kurdistan (Songs and Music of Kurdistan), Groupe Koma Zozan, published by Arion.
  • Chants d'exile du peuple Kurde (The Kurdish People's Songs of Exile) by Temo, published by Ocora-Radio-France.
  • Chants de Kurdistan, de Soran à Hawraman (Kurdistan Songs, from Soran to Hawraman); a series of three CDs published at Al-Sur by our member Barzan.


Books written by members of the institute
  • L'Irak: 1970-1990, déportations des chiites, (the deportation of Shiites), Ali Babakhan; Lebanon, 1954, 238 pp.
  • La Question Kurde, Etats et Minorités au Moyen-Orient, (The Kurdish Question, States and Minorities in the Middle East) by Hamit Bozarslan; éditi. Sciences Po, Paris, 1997, 352 pp.
  • Le Malheur Kurde, (The Kurdish Tragedy) by Gérard Chaliand; édit. Seuil, 1997, 214 pp.
  • Les Kurdes d'Irak, leur histoire et leur déportation par Saddam Hussein (The Iraqi Kurds, their History and their deportation by Saddam Hussein), Ali Babakhan; Lebanon 1954, 352 pp.
  • Mémoire de Kurdistan, recueil de textes kurdes, (Remembering Kurdistan, a collection of Kurdish texts) by Joyce Blau; edit. Findalky, Paris, 1984, 224 pp.
  • Mésopotamie, Paradis des jours anciens, (Mesopotamia, the Paradise of days past) by Issa Yousif; édit. Harmattan, 1996, Paris, 196 pp.
  • Parfums d'enfance à Sanate, un village chrétien au Kurdistan irakien (Flavour of childhood in Sanate, a Christian village in Kurdistan) by Ephrem-Issa Yousif; édit. Harmattan, 199, Paris, 140 pp.
  • The Legal Concept, by Dr. Fuad M. Hussein, pub. by Luna, Amsterdam, 1985, 72 pp.
  • Kört Gözüyle Yilmaz Güney, by Mahmut Baksi; published by Zêl yayinlari, Istanbul 1994, 126 pp.
  • Gundikê Dono, roman en kurde (Gundikë Dono, a novel in Kurdish), by Mahmut Baksi; Stockholm 1988,108 pp.
  • A people without a Country by Gérard Chaliand, Kendal Nezan etc., Zed Press, London 1993, 258 pp.