Hazhar Pen Award Festival Opens in Sanandaj, Celebrating Kurdish Literature
Named after the renowned Kurdish poet and scholar Hazhar Mukriyani, the award recognizes outstanding works by Kurdish writers, as well as research contributions in linguistics, literature, and related disciplines.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The international Hazhar Pen Award Festival, the largest celebration of Kurdish literary and academic achievements, officially opened Wednesday at Kurdistan University in Sanandaj, western Iran. The two-day event brings together scholars, writers, and cultural figures to honor excellence in Kurdish literature and the broader humanities.
“The Hazhar Pen Award is the first and largest Kurdish book award in the world,” said Yadgar Karimi, the festival’s secretary, in an interview with Kurdistan24. “It opens the door for research and work across all fields of the humanities.”
Named after the renowned Kurdish poet and scholar Hazhar Mukriyani, the award recognizes outstanding works by Kurdish writers, as well as research contributions in linguistics, literature, and related disciplines. According to Karimi, the award is unique among international prizes due to its broad focus, which is not limited to literature but extends to interdisciplinary studies and diverse humanities subjects.
“The judging process is not constrained by categories such as literature or history,” Karimi noted. “Winners are selected based on the judges’ evaluations and the merit of their work.”
Established to preserve the legacy of Hazhar Mukriyani, the award is regarded as a symbol of intellectual and cultural vitality, encouraging greater attention to Kurdish language, literature, and art.
Born in Mahabad on April 13, 1921, Hazhar—whose real name was Abdurrahman Sharafkandi—played a significant role in Kurdish cultural and political life. He was an early member of the Society for the Revival of Kurdistan (Komeley Jiyanewey Kurdistan) and was later appointed, along with his fellow poet Hemni Mukriyani, as one of the official poets of the short-lived Kurdistan Republic of Mahabad in 1946. He passed away on Feb. 21, 1991, and is buried in his hometown.
As the festival unfolds, the Hazhar Pen Award continues to shine as a beacon for the preservation and celebration of Kurdish heritage, inspiring a new generation of thinkers and writers across the region.
