Hawar (magazine)


Hawar was a Kurdish literature magazine, which was published in Damascus between 1932 and 1945. The magazine was first issued by Jaladat Ali Badirkhan on 15 May 1932. The magazine was the first Kurdish literary magazine in Syria. It was published on a monthly basis. The 57th issue was released on 15 August 1943. The first 23 issues of the magazine were published in both the Latin and the Arabic alphabets, but from the 24th issue onward, only the Latin alphabet was used. The Kurdish alphabet, which was formulated by the publisher Jaladat Ali Badirkhan and also referred to as Hawar alphabet or the Badirkhan alphabet, was used to publish Hawar. The texts which were published emphasized the value of the Kurdish folklore for developing the Kurdish language and personal qualities. Hawar had its most subscribers in Syria and Iraq, but also Lebanon, Iran. Some educational institutions and libraries in Europe and the Middle East also subscribed to the Hawar magazine. Since 2006, the 15 May, the date of the first publication of Hawar in 1932, is celebrated as the Kurdish language day.
Jeladet Ali Bedir Khan said of his purpose for the magazine: "Hawar is the voice of knowledge. Knowledge leads to personal reflection. A person who becomes aware of the inner-self desires freedom and happiness. Self-knowledge also leads to self-expression. This magazine will reflect those expressions in the Kurdish language".