Date and time: 25.06.2012 at 18:00

Venue: B102, SOAS, University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Organised by Kurdish Society at SOAS and KSSO

Seminar abstract
A parliamentary committee, made up by three members of each of the four parties represented in Turkey’s parliament and presided over by Mr Cemil Cicek, the parliamentary speaker, is working on the country’s first “civilian constitution”.

Turkey’s current constitution was drawn up under military rule in 1982 and has been criticized for its anti-democratic, militaristic nature and the continued denial of the fundamental rights of the country’s minorities, including the Kurds.

The Kurdish representatives, NGOs in Turkey demand for a democratic, civil and pluralistic, universal and neutral constitution which should acknowledge Turkey’s minority and national identities, equal citizenship for all, rights for education in mother tongue and political status that includes the right of the Kurdish region to govern itself.

Mr Hasan Dagtekin, lawyer and deputy chairman of the Party of Rights and Freedoms (Hak-Par) will talk more in details about the expectations of Kurdish people from the new constitution.

You are cordially invited to the Kurdish Studies Seminar on

The Five Stages of American Foreign Policy toward the Kurds

Speaker
Prof  Michael Gunter of Tennessee Technological University

Date and Time: 17 May 2012 at 18:00
Venue: KLT, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Organised by Kurdish Studies and Students Organization (KSSO) andKurdish Society at SOAS (KSSOAS)
Kurdish Studies seminars are open to interested students, academics and people who are interested in Kurdish matters

Seminar abstract

THE FIVE STAGES OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICYTOWARD THE KURDS

One might discern five stages of American foreign policy involvement with the Kurds. The first brief stage followed World War I and American president Woodrow Wilson’s famous Fourteen Points, the twelfth of which held out the possibility of Kurdish independence. This first brief stage ended with the resurgence of Turkey under Ataturk. The second stage occurred during the time of American support for Mulla Mustafa Barzani’s revolt in Iraq during the early 1970s, and ended when U.S. and Iranian aid for this revolt were terminated in 1975 after a deal with Saddam Hussein was reached. The third stage began with the Gulf War in 1991 and led to the creation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for the “good” Kurds in northern Iraq. The fourth stage began with the second American war against Saddam Hussein in 2003, led to what might be called the stage of a de facto U.S.-KRG alliance, and continues today. The fifth or PKK stage overlaps with the third and fourth stages and concerns U.S. support for its NATO ally Turkey against the “bad” Kurds of the PKK.

Further informationwww.ksso.org.ukmc@ksso.org.uk

Dhol & zurna

inger food & bar
DATE: Saturday 7 April 2012
TIME: 19:45- 24:00
LOCATION: pick up from Westminster Pier – King Edward Boat , SW1A 2JH (nearest station: Westminster)
PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE! – King Edward will have to sail away at the exact time as the pier needs to be used by other boats & you will miss the party
TICKETS: £15 – price includes cruise ,finger food & entertainment
Any proceeds will go towards funding of the Kurdish GCSE Campaign – www.kurdishGCSE.org
Organised by Kurdish Studies & Student Organisation (www.ksso.org.uk) and Kurdish Professionals Network (www.kpn.org.uk)
Online tickets available on http://latenewrozboatparty.eventbrite.com/

Dear KSSO members,

KSSO was established in 2005 and since has organized numerous seminars and other events, including campaigning the recognition of the Kurdish identity in the UK, promoting research by/on Kurds, attending different meetings organized by government departments and NGOs.  Now we have started to be involved in education of Kurdish children in London.  In order to achieve our targets, we need to turn KSSO into a recognised structure (charity organization).  This will help us to apply for funding Therefore you are invited to KSSO General  and Networking Meeting on Friday 20 April 2012 at 6:00.m. at Cambridge Education @ Islington, Laycock Street, London N1 1TH.

The AGM will be an interesting and enjoyable get together. As well as dealing with election it will be an opportunity to find out more about what KSSO has been doing over the last years and to make plans for the coming years.  There will also be plenty of time to discuss issues about KSSO’s education, academic, social and cultural events and services. The AGM will also give you a chance to have your say and what you think should happen next. After the meeting there will be a social event at café next to AGM venue.

All members are invited to this.  KSSO is keen that all members should be able to attend the AGM.  If you would like further information, including details of disabled access please contact KSSO current MC at mc@ksso.org.uk.

We look forward to seeing you on 20 April.

Best wishes

Current KSSO management committee

KSSO  GENERAL AND NETWORKING MEETING – FRIDAY 20 APRIL 2012
The UK Kurdish Studies & Student Organisation is a non-political body that strives to promote greater awareness of the Kurds, their political and cultural situation in the Middle East and as a significant minority community in the UK.

Aims and Objectives of KSSO

To provide a non-political forum for exploring and discussing issues related to the KurdsTo work with UK educational institutions and university communities to support and promote research on, about or by Kurdish peoplesTo raise awareness of the Kurds through:

Organising cultural and political activities with an educational focus

Building links of friendship and communication with interested organisations and individuals

Encouraging dialogue in an environment where ideas can be exchanged freely and democratically

To give a voice to young Kurdish people within student unions and in UK society generallyTo address, through research, education, social interaction and awareness raising, the social, political and cultural issues facing Kurdish populations

To encourage education and combat marginalisation within Kurdish communities in the UK

Services offered by KSSO

KSSO provides the following services and regular events:

Education

Informing parents and their children on British education system of primary, secondary and higher education.

KSSO provides 1-2-1 mentoring, counseling, liaison between parents/guardians and school, linguistic assistance, mother tongue classes.

Advice and help with university applications (UCAS)Advice and help with choosing university courses

Advice and help with student loan applicationsInformation on scholarship for PhD candidates

Academic

KSSO holds regular academic seminars and lectures on education, identity, ethnicity, nationalism, gender, forced migration, racism, citizenship, human rights and minority rights as well as transnational media.

Social and cultural Events

KSSO hosts regular concerts, parties and days out including Kurdish music, Newroz celebration (Kurdish New Year), social gatherings, student and young parties at universities, secondary schools, summer picnics and museum trip for children at primary schools.

Equal opportunities

KSSO has an equal opportunities policy. KSSO recognises that everyone has a contribution to make to our society and a right to equal treatment. KSSO aims to ensure that individual who would like to nominate /to be nominated  will not be discriminated on the grounds of:

•Race, colour, nationality, ethic or national origin

• Sex and sexual orientation

• Political belief, religion

• Class

• Physical or mental disability or mental health

• Age

Current management committee

Dr Janroj Keles

Ms Ozlem Galip

Mr Ilhan Genc

Ms Newroz Rose Meho

Dr Muhammed Ahmed ( Currently lives in Kurdistan)

Mr Fazel Hawramy

The role of teh management committee

• Giving direction to KSSO

• Accountability – To be accountable for the activities of KSSO including organizing seminars, workshop, cultural events,  provide advice  on British education system including primary, secondary  schools and higher education,  fundraising, establishing mother tongue and supplementary school

• Financial and Resource Management

What should be expected of Management Committee Members?

To attend meetings regularly and to read any documentsTo ensure the organisation is managed well.To take part in organizing events and helping with fundraising.To send apologies when unable to attendTo keep informed about the activities of the organisation.To work with other members of the committee to form an effective governing body.

Procedures for voting

Election is open only to individual members of KSSO

All members are entitled to attend, speak and vote at the meetingAll members are entitled to nominate and be nominated for  KSSO management committee Arrangements for chairing meeting (a member of

KSSO will be elected at the meeting to chair the KSSO general meeting)

Election

KSSO management committee will be elected by a ballot or show of hands at the AGMKSSO would like to call people to come forward to nominate/be nominated for the following positions:

Chairperson

Secretary

Treasurer

Membership secretary

Events manager

Adviser for school and parent matters

Legal advisor for KSSO

Associated person for the Kurdish societies at universitiesAssociated person for external relation including building relationship with Kurdish and non-Kurdish organisations, NGOs  (Liaising KSSO with other relevant organizations e.g. local and national  organizations, educational  and academic organizations).

Agenda

6:00   Welcome

6:10    Apologies

6:15    Rreport of KSSO activities (Activities and financial report)

6:30    Nomination and speeches of candidates and elections of KSSO Management Committee

7:00     Any  motions which members wish to debate

7:15     Action plan for the year ahead including programme, fundraising

7:45     Any Other Business

8:00   Set a date for the next AGM

8:15   Social gathering

Speakers: Ragip Duran, journalist, author and scholar (Turkey)
Jody Sabral, Broadcast Journalist (United Kingdom)

Date/Time: 29.03.2012 at 18:00

Venue:  Room B102, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

You are cordially invited to the Kurdish Studies Seminar on

Political Change in Middle East and The Kurds

Speaker: Mr Hemen Hawrami, the head of foreign relations office of Kurdistan Democratic Party

Date and Time: 16.03. 2011 @19:00pm

Venue: Room G50, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Organised by Kurdish Studies and Students Organization (KSSO) and Kurdish Society at SOAS (KSSOAS)

Kurdish Studies seminars are open to interested students, academics and people who are interested in Kurdish matters

Seminar abstract

Since 2011, The Middle East and Northern Africa have been undergoing a remarkable series of socio-political changes.  People from Tunisia to Syria with different social, political, gendered, cultural and religious background are demanding a political transformation through their socio-political mobilization and collective action.  The stateless Kurds in the Middle East are also seeking to change the Turkish, Iranian and Syrian nationalist policies which deny the basic rights of Kurds and use their coercive power to suppress the Kurdish people’s voice. Yet, there is a possibility of change: Turkey has announced its “Kurdish opening” project to solve its Kurdish problem but this attempt ended with mass arrest of Kurdish elected representatives and the political crisis is continuing. Kurds in Syria have intensified their political mobilization recently and seek to be a political actor in Syria. Similarly Kurds in Iran seek the political representation and recognition of their ethnic identity.

Mr  Hawrami will talk about the background of the political development in Middle East, the position of  Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq  as well as  the view of  one of the most influential Kurdish political party: Kurdistan Democratic Party. He will also focus on the regional and international relations of the Kurds in the context of ongoing political changes in Middle East in Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq and the prospects as well as challenges ahead.

Further information

www.ksso.org.uk

mc@ksso.org.uk

The aim of the Kurdish GCSE Campaign Group is to introduce a Kurdish language GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) into the national curriculum. At present there are a significant number of Kurdish speaking individuals who would benefit greatly from such a qualification. We feel it is time that Kurdish was accepted and acknowledged as a modern language that could be taught at secondary schools all across the UK.

Why it is important to have a Kurdish GCSE?
A GCSE is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, commonly taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The grading ranges from A*- G, A* being the highest level and G being the lowest. These grades are usually required to enter courses in higher education. For example, to undertake A Level courses, there is generally a minimum requirement of 5 GCSE pass grades (A*-C). Accordingly, your GCSE grades truly matter because, unlike most other countries, British university offers are made before students have actually completed their final qualifying exams – which in most cases are their A-levels. This means that university admissions departments place enormous importance on GCSE grades. For this reason, having an extra GCSE in Kurdish can facilitate many individuals to enter further education and to build a successful future for themselves.

Who would benefit from a Kurdish GCSE?
According to estimated figures, there are more than three hundred thousand Kurds living in the UK. It is claimed that Northern Kurds (Turkey) make up the majority of the Kurdish population, roughly over 60%. The second largest group of Kurds are from South-Kurdistan (Iraq). The third group of Kurds are from West-Kurdistan (Syria). The final and with the least number of members in the UK are Kurds from East-Kurdistan (Iran). There is also a small minority of Kurdish families from the Ex-Soviet countries of Armenia and Georgia, as well as the Island of Cyprus. Kurdish is spoken by many of the individuals in these communities and is an important part of their identity. It is crucial that this identity is passed on to future generations with pride and with formal recognition from others, particularly at a time when being multilingual equals to a more impressive resume, improved career prospects, wider social networks and even to a status symbol. However, it is startling how many of us refuse to put in the efforts to pass on our mother tongue to our children. Hence, this is why a Kurdish GCSE is important, as it will encourage and allow children to become more in touch with their roots and cultural heritage.

Long term impact of having a Kurdish GCSE
Kurdish people first migrated to Britain in large numbers in the late 1970s, mostly from disputed territories of Kurdistan (Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria) where they fled the oppression of their language and culture. From figures and sources that have been gathered from across the UK, there are over 20,000 businesses, in various trades, owned by Kurdish individuals. In fact, many British firms are now involved in trade with Kurdish people. Since 2005, especially in North-London, a growing number of Kurds, who overcame language barriers, integrated and went into higher education to pursue successful careers in various business sectors. This triggered and empowered many Kurdish individuals to move from the labour sector and into the service sector, running their own firms in law, accountancy, housing, insurance and into more creative sectors such as journalism. At present the Kurdish business community is an expanding group, which makes a substantial contribution to the UK economy and society. It is the belief of this campaign that a Kurdish GCSE will empower more individuals as such to enter further education and therefore expand their contribution to their wider community.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/198205166938090/

Speakers:

Professor Khatchatur Pilikian

Professor Mary Davis

Rıza Dalkılıç, Vice-president of Turkey’s Human Rights Association (HRA) (via skype)

Date/time: 3rd February 1012/ 18:00
Venue:Junior Common Room (SOAS main building, Russell campus), SOAS – School for Oriental & African Studies, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Organised by Kurdish Society at SOAS and Kurdish Studies and Student Organisation

For further information

mc@ksso.org.uk

www.ksso.org.uk

You are cordially invited to Jashn-e sadeh celebrations with Persian and Kurdish music

Date: Monday 30 January 2012

Time: Doors open from 7pm. Concert starts at 7.30pm

Venue: Khalili Lecture Theatre (KLT), SOAS University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG, UK

In this concert, Peyman Heydarian on santur will be accompanied by a wonderful singer, Suna Alan, plus a special guest performer on ney, and we are pleased to announce that we also have a talented daf player Sara Fotros who joined us recently.

The programme starts with a short description of the ancient “Sadeh” celebrations and will be followed by Persian and Kurdish classical music performed by our wonderful musicians and singer.

In the first part we shall perform Persian classical music in dastgah-e segah mode, including modulations from the main mode to derivative modes, chaharmezrab (metric pieces) and other instrumental and vocal pieces. There will be a 20-minute break, after which we shall continue with Kurdish instrumental and vocal music in dastgah-e shur mode. Further to Persian and Kurdish pieces, there will be a few Azari and Armenian pieces as well.

Ticket prices are £15 Regular / £10 Students and Unwaged / £6 SOAS students

If you wish to purchase your tickets online and pay in advance (no booking fee), please go to our event page at www.thesantur.com

If you wish to reserve a place and pay at the door, please write to
events.santur@yahoo.com, stating the names of all persons requiring tickets. Confirmation will be sent by return.
Admission with advance booking/purchase only.

Event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/events/295072290529985/

Our next event:
Future direction of Iranian music (talks and music performances)
Date /Time / Venue: Friday 24 February 2012 at 7pm @ SOAS
http://www.facebook.com/events/271174689603244/

About Jashn-e Sadeh:
Legends of how man learned to make fire are as numerous as there are ancient nations. The most striking is the Iranian legend, preserved, among other writings, in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh. To put it in short: Fire was accidentally discovered when a flint-axe, thrown by King Hushang to kill a snake, missed and struck a rock and threw a spark. That sparked the idea to kindle fire by striking two pieces of flint together. This theory is confirmed by archeologists to be the most probable means of its discovery in the early stone stage.
Hushang, the Iranian legend says, celebrated the discovery by throwing a feast, a feast that has been kept alive through ages. It is held every year on 10 Bahman (30 January), almost mid-winter. It is called “Sadeh,” meaning “century” because according to one popular tradition, it falls on the hundredth day from 21 October, the beginning of winter among ancient Iranians. Another explanation is that it is 50 nights and 50 days away from Nowruz. Or, it is the contracted form of the Avestan “saredha,” Persian “sard,” meaning “cold, winter.”