Renowned Kurdish writer Fattah Amiri dies at 78

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Renowned Kurdish writer Fattah Amiri from the Kurdish city of Bukan in western Iran (Rojhelat) passed away on Saturday at the age of 78 after a battle with illness.

Amiri, a distinguished Kurdish novelist, was born in 1946 in Bukan in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province. He passed away on Saturday evening.

Among his works and most celebrated contributions are the novels Hawara Bere, Mirza, and Zindaxew. 

He began producing some of his most notable contributions in his forties, showcasing a mature perspective shaped by years of experience and reflection.

Amiri stated that his first novel, Hawara Bere, was inspired by the music of the same name often played at Kurdish weddings. This melody, deeply embedded in Kurdish culture, motivated him to craft a story that reflects the richness and struggles of his people's traditions and social dynamics.

 “I asked the person playing that melody on the shamshal  [traditional Kurdish flute], “What is that tune? I’ve never heard it before.” He replied, “That is Hawara Bere.” At that moment, I realized it was a profound and compelling tale,” Amiri said in an Interview with the Rojhelat-based Hajeh News outlet in 2019.

The story mirrors a shepherd's unspoken love for a wealthy landlord's daughter, whose social status makes his feelings seem unattainable. Unable to express himself with words, he channels his emotions into the melodies of his shamshal, capturing his longing and despair.

In Hawara Bere, he placed significant emphasis on language and derived 800 words that were not found in the Henbane Borine, a famous Kurdish dictionary written by Abdulrahman Sharafkandi, more famously known as Hazhar. It was the first Kurdish-Persian dictionary published in Iran.