UOD, June 18, 2025, University Press Office (UNPO) | The University of Duhok has started a major national initiative to standardize Kurmanji orthography in the Arabic alphabet, positioning itself as a pioneer in cultural preservation, linguistic research, and digital integration. The initiative came cooperatively with the University of Zakho. The three-day special meeting, which began on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at the Convention Center at the University of Duhok, brought together leading linguists, university scholars, cultural organizations, and government representatives to collaboratively shape the future of the Kurdish language.

The Kurdish Orthography Guide for Kurmanji Dialect in Arabic Alphabet initiative is part of the University’s strategic plan to strengthen its academic leadership role in the Kurdistan Region while contributing to cultural heritage preservation and digital literacy across the educational sector.

Strategic Significance of the Initiative

In his opening speech, Dr. Dawood Sulaiman Atrushi, President of the University of Duhok, underlined the strategic importance of developing a unified orthography for Kurdish written in the Arabic alphabet, emphasizing its relevance for:

• Modern digital platforms
  
  
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) language processing
  
  
• Educational curricula in schools and universities
  
  
• Cultural continuity for future generations
  
  

Broad Participation from Academic and Cultural Institutions

The event brought together an impressive roster of participants, including:

• University of Duhok
  
  
• University of Zakho
  
  
• Kurdish Academy
  
  
• Kurdish Writers’ Union
  
  
• Xani Agancy
  
  
• Representatives from the Kurdistan Region’s education and cultural sectors
  
  

Additionally, a preparatory session was held earlier on June 5, 2025, at the same venue, attended by:

• Ms. Amina Zikri, Member of the Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
  
  
• Governorate of Duhok representatives
  
  
• Representatives of Duhok Polytechnic University, Nawroz University, and Akre University for Applied Sciences
  
  

Towards Digital Kurdish and AI Integration

One of the key outcomes expected from this initiative is to produce a standardized Kurdish orthography guide that is compatible with AI platforms, enabling:

• Automated translation systems
  
  
• Voice recognition tools in Kurdish
  
  
• Digital publishing and academic research platforms
  
  

This directly supports UOD’s vision for embracing artificial intelligence in language technology and elevating Kurdish to the global digital stage.

Enhancing Academic Cooperation and Cultural Identity

By aligning this linguistic project with Duhok University’s academic internationalization strategy, UOD continues to enhance its partnerships with Kurdish cultural institutions and global linguistic research centers, further positioning it as a regional hub for cultural and digital innovation.

For more about the initiative, visit:
🔗 Kurdish Orthography Initiative News

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT

University Press Office, June 18, 2025

Reported by: Hussein Ismael Mohammed

Photography by: Mohammed. A. Tahar

The News Keywords:

• Kurdish orthography Arabic alphabet
  
  
• University of Duhok Kurdish language
  
  
• Kurdish language AI integration
  
  
• Kurdish linguistic research Kurdistan
  
  
• Digital Kurdish alphabet project