Conference marks ninth anniversary of the 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum
A conference titled “The Kurdish Quest for Independence and Regional Peace” was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in coordination with the Culture and Media Department of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and organized by the Kurdish Institute in Lausanne.
The conference marked the ninth anniversary of the Kurdistan independence referendum, held in 2017 under the leadership of President Masoud Barzani. The event opened with the Kurdish national anthem, “Ey Reqîb.”
Şeyhmus Özdemir, secretary of the Kurdish Institute in Lausanne, delivered the opening remarks and welcomed participants. Messages by President Barzani concerning the referendum and footage from the referendum period were also shown during the conference.
A documentary featuring renowned Kurdish artist Şivan Perwer was then presented, focusing on Kurdish history and the struggle of the people of Kurdistan.
A panel discussion was held as part of the conference, moderated by Sirwe Ibrahimi. The panel included Dr. Salar Osman, head of the KDP’s Culture and Media Department; Nejat Zanyar, president of the Kurdish Institute in Lausanne; and Nazile Afkhami, vice president of the institute.
The panel addressed several topics, including Kurdistan’s place and role in the modern world, lessons from the 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum, and the future of the Kurdish question and Kurdistan in the Middle East.
Dr. Salar Osman presented a paper on the referendum and its historical significance. He described President Barzani as a leader seeking to correct what he called historical injustices and said the referendum represented a major historical process connected to both reality and democracy.
Osman also said the 2017 referendum should remain a source of pride for Kurds and freedom advocates, while emphasizing President Barzani’s role and leadership in the referendum process.
Nazile Afkhami presented a paper on Eastern Kurdistan and political solutions. Nejat Zanyar discussed the Kurds and international law, focusing on the importance of understanding international law in relation to the Kurdish question.
The presentations were followed by discussions on the issues raised during the panel.
Nvar Maley, a young Kurd raised in Europe, spoke about patriotism among Kurdish youth as a foundation for Kurdistan’s independence. He also discussed the current situation of the Kurds and the importance of moving toward a brighter future. He emphasized the importance of bringing different sides together around the experience of the Kurdistan Region, describing it as an experience of governance.
In another part of the conference, Aso Piroti presented a discussion on education and culture in politics. He said the Kurdistan Regional Government and the experience of the Kurdistan Region could serve as a unifying framework for different groups.
Representatives of Kurdish political forces and organizations in the diaspora, as well as members of the Kurdish community in Switzerland, attended the conference and delivered messages.
The conference concluded with a series of academic discussions on the Kurdish question, the 2017 referendum, international law, and the future of Kurdistan.