Media Department Students Attend a Literary and Cultural Event at Erbil Youth Hub

On Thursday, November 12, 2026, a group of second-, third-, and fourth-year students from the Media Department at Cihan University–Erbil attended a literary and cultural event at the Conference Hall of the Erbil Youth Hub in Erbil. The students participated under the supervision of Assistant Lecturer Ahmed Jamal Hama Karim.

The event was organized by Mali Wafayi, Erbil Youth Hub, and Kurdistan Chronicle to introduce the novel Concert for the Deaf by novelist Hiner Saleem. The participating students included Sarkar Hussein and Yousif Ahmed from the fourth year, Mohammed Sarmad from the third year, and Raed Mohammed, Mohammed Ayad, and Dilzar Zrar from the second year.

At the beginning of the event, Rebin Fattah, Director of Mali Wafayi, discussed the translation and publication of Concert for the Deaf. He explained that the novel was written by Hiner Saleem, translated by Rebin Fattah, and published by Mali Wafayi. He also highlighted the various stages of collaboration with the novelist to produce a literary work that would meet readers’ expectations and earn their appreciation.

Following this, Hiner Saleem discussed the motivations behind writing the novel and shared some of the ideas and experiences that inspired the work. The discussion also highlighted the important questions raised by the novel, particularly those concerning freedom, identity, language, art, and human responsibility.

The event attracted a large number of writers, intellectuals, and literature enthusiasts, including Miran Abraham and Jan Dost, two well-known Kurdish novelists. In addition, several literary critics presented their analyses and observations on the novel, focusing on its content, narrative techniques, language, and the human and national messages it conveys.

At the end of the event, participants shared their observations and opinions about the novel. A literary and cultural discussion followed, providing a valuable opportunity for the novelist, translator, literary critics, and readers to exchange ideas and perspectives.