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No longer a voiceless nation
Saturday, 16 May, 2015
On the other side of the ongoing war with Islamic State (ISIS), Kurdish social media users are emerging as a new generation embracing democracy and freedom. Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram and others are proving to be a resourceful platform for Kurdish people globally. Through them, activists and ordinary people have initiated a nationwide discourse on the very question of what it means to be “Kurdish,” shaping both the Kurdistan Region’s government and its domestic policies.
We are no longer a voiceless nation. Social media have allowed like-minded Kurds to join together for like-minded causes.
We are seeing the surge in social networking become apparent on the main Kurdish news outlets, many of which boast of hundreds of thousands of followers. For instance, the recent Rudaw-initiated nationwide fundraiser for Peshmerga families was widely discussed on various social networking sites. In a week, nearly 1 million people were reached using the Hashtag #RanjiShahidan.
The positive aspect of the various sites mentioned above is that they generate a platform where people can debate and exchange ideas with little fear of intimidation. This is the very ability that Kurds did not have access to previously — discussing, critiquing, challenging and re-shaping the narrative of events that should be studied. This is important because it reforms and redefines not only the policies of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) but also the international perception of the Kurdistan region.
One example of Kurdish networking in actions was seen over Parwas Hussein. She became a sensational singing icon when she participated on Arab Idol, insisting on showcasing both her Kurdish heritage and ability to sing in Arabic. In criticism, one of the judges on the pop-show, Ahlam al-Shamsi, told Hussein that “There is no Kurdistan” and recognized her as an Iraqi. That led to a storm on social networking sites, forcing Ahlam to apologize to me on Twitter.
The point is this: Kurdish people are no longer voiceless. The narratives of Kurdish people are being portrayed not by Orientalist writers or foreigners, but by our own people. We’re in charge of the decision-makers on what picture emerges of Kurdish people, we are the storyteller.
For most of Kurdish history, the lack of sympathetic ears to our cause has been alarming. But that has radically changed. One of the positive aspects of social networking sites (SNS) is the potential and capacity to bring together people and bridging geographical gaps.
What is remarkable here is the significant number of foreign fighters who have joined Kurdish forces in the canton of Kobane, an autonomous Kurdish-designated territory in Rojava that is fighting against ISIS and its ilk. The logistics of transporting them there were facilitated using social networking sites, speaking volumes for what the various networking sites can achieve.
Just as important is the ability to challenge various media outlets, no matter how large, through your blog, Twitter or Facebook. That is true even if your audience is relatively a handful of Facebook friends (an average of 60) or small Twitter follower-base. The point is, you can generate an audience: SNS provides you with both the potential and ability to expand your influence, amplifying your voice globally.
Perhaps what is really behind the increased Kurdish SNS use is the large wealth of information accessible and available online. The source of information is not limited to Kurdish media outlets or TV channels, which arguably is one of the most prominent ways of promoting democracy — access to information unhindered.
I think in the future we will see an increased number of Kurdish people come up with various initiatives to promote justice, equality, democracy and social services using SNS.
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Saturday, 16 May, 2015
On the other side of the ongoing war with Islamic State (ISIS), Kurdish social media users are emerging as a new generation embracing democracy and freedom. Social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram and others are proving to be a resourceful platform for Kurdish people globally. Through them, activists and ordinary people have initiated a nationwide discourse on the very question of what it means to be “Kurdish,” shaping both the Kurdistan Region’s government and its domestic policies.
We are no longer a voiceless nation. Social media have allowed like-minded Kurds to join together for like-minded causes.
We are seeing the surge in social networking become apparent on the main Kurdish news outlets, many of which boast of hundreds of thousands of followers. For instance, the recent Rudaw-initiated nationwide fundraiser for Peshmerga families was widely discussed on various social networking sites. In a week, nearly 1 million people were reached using the Hashtag #RanjiShahidan.
The positive aspect of the various sites mentioned above is that they generate a platform where people can debate and exchange ideas with little fear of intimidation. This is the very ability that Kurds did not have access to previously — discussing, critiquing, challenging and re-shaping the narrative of events that should be studied. This is important because it reforms and redefines not only the policies of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) but also the international perception of the Kurdistan region.
One example of Kurdish networking in actions was seen over Parwas Hussein. She became a sensational singing icon when she participated on Arab Idol, insisting on showcasing both her Kurdish heritage and ability to sing in Arabic. In criticism, one of the judges on the pop-show, Ahlam al-Shamsi, told Hussein that “There is no Kurdistan” and recognized her as an Iraqi. That led to a storm on social networking sites, forcing Ahlam to apologize to me on Twitter.
The point is this: Kurdish people are no longer voiceless. The narratives of Kurdish people are being portrayed not by Orientalist writers or foreigners, but by our own people. We’re in charge of the decision-makers on what picture emerges of Kurdish people, we are the storyteller.
For most of Kurdish history, the lack of sympathetic ears to our cause has been alarming. But that has radically changed. One of the positive aspects of social networking sites (SNS) is the potential and capacity to bring together people and bridging geographical gaps.
What is remarkable here is the significant number of foreign fighters who have joined Kurdish forces in the canton of Kobane, an autonomous Kurdish-designated territory in Rojava that is fighting against ISIS and its ilk. The logistics of transporting them there were facilitated using social networking sites, speaking volumes for what the various networking sites can achieve.
Just as important is the ability to challenge various media outlets, no matter how large, through your blog, Twitter or Facebook. That is true even if your audience is relatively a handful of Facebook friends (an average of 60) or small Twitter follower-base. The point is, you can generate an audience: SNS provides you with both the potential and ability to expand your influence, amplifying your voice globally.
Perhaps what is really behind the increased Kurdish SNS use is the large wealth of information accessible and available online. The source of information is not limited to Kurdish media outlets or TV channels, which arguably is one of the most prominent ways of promoting democracy — access to information unhindered.
I think in the future we will see an increased number of Kurdish people come up with various initiatives to promote justice, equality, democracy and social services using SNS.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
