''Hawar'' (meaning ''The Cry'' in English) was a

Kurdish literature Kurdish literature ( or ) is literature written in the Kurdish languages. Literary Kurdish works have been written in each of the six main Kurdish languages: Zaza language, Zaza, Gorani language, Gorani, Kurmanji, Sorani, Laki language, Laki and S ...

magazine, which was published in

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

between 1932 and 1943. The magazine was first issued by

Celadet Alî Bedirxan Celadet Alî Bedirxan (; 26 April 1893 – 15 July 1951), also known as Mîr Celadet, was a Kurdish diplomat, writer, linguist, journalist and political activist. He held a master's degree in law from Istanbul University, completed his stud ...

on 15 May 1932. The magazine was the first Kurdish literary magazine in Syria and it was intended to publish it on a monthly basis, but its publication was interrupted several times. The first 23 issues were published between 15 May 1932 and the 27 September 1935. The issues number 24 - 26 appeared between 1 April 1934 and 18 August 1935. The remainder was published between April 1941 and August 1943, and the French, who governed Syria and Lebanon at the time, supported its publication. The 57th and last issue was released on 15 August 1943. The first 23 issues of the magazine were published in both the Latin and the Arabic alphabets, but from the 24th issue onward, only the Latin alphabet was used. The

Kurdish alphabet Kurdish is written using either of two alphabets: the Latin-based Bedirxan or Hawar alphabet, introduced by Celadet Alî Bedirxan in 1932 and popularized through the Hawar magazine, and the Kurdo-Arabic alphabet. The Kurdistan Region has agr ...

, which was formulated by the publisher Celadet Alî Bedirxan and also referred to as '' Hawar alphabet'' or the ''Bedirxan alphabet'', was used to publish ''Hawar''. The texts which were published emphasized the value of the Kurdish folklore for developing the Kurdish language and personal qualities. Hawar had its most subscribers in

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

and

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

, but also

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. Some educational institutions and libraries in Europe and the Middle East also subscribed to the Hawar magazine. Since 2006, the 15 May, the date of the first publication of Hawar in 1932, is celebrated as the Kurdish language day. Celadet Alî Bedirxan said of his purpose for the magazine: "Hawar is the voice of knowledge. Knowledge leads to personal reflection. A person who becomes aware of the inner-self desires freedom and happiness. Self-knowledge also leads to self-expression. This magazine will reflect those expressions in the Kurdish language".

References

Defunct literary magazines Defunct magazines published in Syria Kurdish-language mass media Magazines established in 1932 Magazines disestablished in 1945 Mass media in Damascus Monthly magazines 1932 establishments in Mandatory Syria {{Asia-lit-mag-stub