Published on 27 April 2026
I am a Kurdish woman journalist from Diyarbakır, a city where journalism is inextricably linked to political tension, structural violence, and the struggle for truth. As a member of people without a national state, I grew up acutely aware of denial, exclusion, and systematic erasure of identity that has shaped both my personal life and professional trajectory. From an early age, I was compelled to question power, understand its mechanisms and seek truths beyond official narratives.
Initially, I aspired to an academic career in political science, driven by the belief that Kurds must reclaim the authority to narrate their own histories and political realities. After graduating from Salahaddin University in Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, I began working as a translator at Rudaw Media Group in 2015. The war against ISIS transformed journalism, from a temporary path to a defining commitment. Reporting amidst war, displacement, and political change, I moved into editorial and fieldwork roles where witnessing these realities firsthand turned journalism into a space for critical inquiry and public responsibility.
My work is rooted in analytical and investigative journalism, focusing on Middle Eastern politics, Kurdish issues, conflict dynamics, minority rights, and the experiences of women and children in conflict zones. I view journalism not merely as reporting but as an act of interpretation and intervention. I aim to expose structural inequalities, trace historical continuities, and reveal the power relations shaping everyday life. Committed to documenting human rights violations and presenting political complexities, I work across multiple languages including Turkish and Kurdish, to access marginalised voices and challenge dominant narratives.
Practicing journalism in Turkey on Kurdish and human rights issues meant operating under constant surveillance, censorship, and the threat of criminalisation. Covering sensitive topics required courage, rigour, and careful judgment. These conditions strengthened my professional resilience but ultimately made it unsafe to continue, forcing me into exile.
Now in Germany, I continue my work online, expanding my focus to migration, displacement, and diaspora. Exile is not only a geographic relocation but a rupture affecting professional continuity, social belonging, and intellectual production. While rebuilding networks and navigating language barriers remain challenges, exile has also broadened my transnational perspective.
To sustain my work, I seek stronger access to professional networks, institutional support, and collaborative opportunities within the German and European media landscape. I am also open to pursuing vocational training (Ausbildung) in Germany in a field aligned with my skills and long-term development, as a means to achieve financial independence and strengthen my integration.
As a Kurdish woman journalist part of a people without national state, I carry a dual responsibility: to practice journalism and to document, analyse, and make visible realities that might otherwise remain erased. My work is driven by a commitment to press freedom, accountability, and the creation of alternative narratives that challenge dominant power structures and foster a more just and inclusive public discourse.
