Centre for Kurdish Progress

28/04/2026

🖇️ Our Panel Discussion on Turkey’s Peace Process with the Kurds is underway, generously hosted by , who has tirelessly championed conversations to promote Kurdish issues at the heart of Westminster in the UK Parliament, with a brilliant panel of academic experts from London, the Netherlands and Turkey.

14/04/2026

🔥 AGIRÊ JIYAN – LIVE IN LONDON 🔥

We’re excited to spotlight an unmissable night of Kurdish music and culture as Agirê Jiyan take the stage in London.

📍 Islington Assembly Hall
📅 Saturday 7 March 2026
⏰ Doors open: 7:00PM

One of the most influential Kurdish bands of their generation, Agirê Jiyan are known for blending traditional Kurdish sounds with contemporary music and powerful lyrics rooted in identity, resistance, and hope. After nearly a decade-long hiatus, their reunion marks a historic moment — including their first UK performance since returning. (Islington Assembly Hall)

This is more than a concert — it’s a celebration of Kurdish culture, memory, and resilience.

🎟️ Tickets from £49
🔗 Book now via the link in bio

📢 Don’t miss out! Purchase your tickets for an unforgettable night!

28/03/2026

📣 Panel Discussion: Turkey’s Elusive Peace Process with the Kurds

The Kurdish question remains one of the most protracted unresolved conflicts in the Middle East, with repeated peace initiatives failing to deliver a durable settlement. This panel brings together leading researchers and practitioners to assess the current moment and prospects for renewed dialogue.

Speakers:

Dr Mashuq Kurt (Chair) — Royal Holloway, University of London
Sociologist and anthropologist specialising in Kurdish studies, diaspora communities, and youth political engagement.

Reha Ruhavioğlu — Kurdish Studies Center (KSC), Diyarbakır
Researcher and analyst focusing on Kurdish public opinion and peace process dynamics in Turkey.

Roj Girasun — Rawest Research
Public opinion researcher on Kurdish political sociology and youth political attitudes.

Revşen Berfin Coşkun — KU Leuven
PhD researcher working on Kurdish identity, intergenerational change, and youth engagement.

📍 Committee Room 12, House of Commons
🗓️ Tuesday 28 April | 18:00–20:00
🔗 RSVP via link in bio

25/03/2026

📸 Full house tonight at the UK Parliament celebrating Newroz with MPs, Peers and the Kurdish community!

25/03/2026

🖇️ Our Annual Parliamentary Newroz Reception at the UK Parliament is underway!

With many thanks to the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kurds, Steve Race MP , Kurdish New Year celebrations have returned to the heart of Westminster in the presence of parliamentarians, community representatives and civil society organisations!

Newroz pîroz be! 🔥

24/03/2026

A huge thank you to the Speaker of the House of Commons for kindly hosting us at the Speaker’s House for our annual Newroz Reception — and for helping make it such a full house 🌿✨

We are grateful to MPs Feryal Clark, Kate Osborne, Catherine West, and Dawn Butler for joining us and contributing to such a meaningful evening.

Most importantly, thank you to the Kurdish community and all our friends and supporters who came together to celebrate Newroz — a moment of renewal, resilience, and solidarity.

Newroz pîroz be! 🔥

23/03/2026

20/03/2026

From the Centre for Kurdish Progress to all our friends, supporters, and communities celebrating — Happy Newroz! 🌿

As we welcome the Kurdish New Year, we celebrate a moment that symbolises renewal, hope, and resilience. Newroz is more than a cultural tradition — it is a powerful expression of identity, resistance, and solidarity across generations and communities.

May this Newroz bring strength, peace, and new beginnings to everyone celebrating around the world.

Newroz pîroz be! نەورۆز پیرۆز بێت 🔥

08/03/2026

🔔 Coming up next week! The Centre for Kurdish Progress is pleased to host a panel discussion examining the evolving landscape of Kurdish peace efforts amid significant regional transformation.

The discussion will explore recent political developments in Iran, Turkey and Northern Syria, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and their implications for Kurdish actors and broader regional stability.

The event will take place on 11 March 2026 (19:30–21:00) in the Boothroyd Room at Portcullis House, UK Parliament. The discussion will be followed by audience Q&A.

🎟️ RSVP in bio!

Speakers:

Professor Michael M. Gunter
Michael M. Gunter is Professor of Political Science at Tennessee Technological University and Secretary-General of the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC).

Elif Sarican
Elif Sarican is a writer and editor at The Amargi. She is editor of She Who Struggles: Revolutionary Women Who Shaped the World, highlighting the political thought and praxis of women across global movements. Her work centres on feminist internationalism and gendered dimensions of resistance.

Sara Kermanian
Sara Kermanian is an Associate Researcher in the Department of International Relations at the University of Sussex. Her research interests lie at the intersection of International Relations and political theory, with a focus on theories of time, [geo]political imaginations, non-Western imperialism, authoritarianism, sovereignty and subjectivity, and auto-reductive resistance. Her geographical focus is on Middle East, particularly when related to Kurdistan, Turkey, and Iran.

Simon Dubbins
Simon Dubbins is Director of International at UNITE the Union, one of the UK’s largest trade unions. He leads the union’s global solidarity and international policy work, focusing on labour rights, democratic participation, and transnational worker justice.

02/03/2026

Will you join us for the Newroz celebrations in Finsbury Park? Book your tickets online via the link below:

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