Ceremony honors the literary legacy of Muhammad Mawlood.
A statue honoring renowned Kurdish storyteller, writer, and journalist Muhammad Mawlood was officially unveiled in Shaqlawa during a large cultural ceremony attended by government officials, writers, intellectuals, and community members.
The event also featured the introduction and distribution of a collection of Mawlood’s literary works, celebrating his lasting contribution to Kurdish literature and journalism.
Speaking at the ceremony, Omed Khoshnaw praised the organizers and emphasized the importance of honoring literary figures who served the Kurdish language and culture.
Khoshnaw described Shaqlawa as a longstanding center of culture, coexistence, and intellectual life, adding that preserving the memory of influential writers sends an important message to younger generations about the value of literature and history.
Born in 1927 in Shaqlawa, Muhammad Mawlood — widely known by the name “Mem” — became one of the pioneering figures in Kurdish storytelling and journalism. Although he first began writing poetry, he later gained recognition for his short stories and literary work. His first published story, Hunger Is Stronger, appeared in 1951.
Mem also played a key role in establishing the Erbil branch of the Union of Kurdish Writers and later served as editor-in-chief of Erbil magazine. Known for promoting honesty and humanitarian values, he left behind a literary legacy that continues to influence Kurdish culture today.
Following his death in 1987, his personal library was preserved in the Erbil Educational Museum as part of the region’s cultural heritage.
Officials said the creation of the statue in central Shaqlawa serves as a tribute to Mawlood’s lifelong contributions to Kurdish literature, journalism, and intellectual life in the Kurdistan Region.