Festivals Instead of Freedom, Jobs, Justice, and Basic Needs
Dr. Amir Hussein | Exclusive to iKurd.net
Translated by iKurd.net from Kurdish Awene
No Bread? Let Them Eat Festivals
“If there is no bread, let them eat cake.” This sentence has been used throughout history as a symbol of the ruling class’s attitude and its ignorance of people’s living conditions and hunger. It is often attributed to Marie Antoinette, the wife of Louis XVI.
According to the story, when hungry revolutionaries demanded bread, she said, “That’s fine. If there is no bread, let them eat cake!” Since then, this phrase has become a saying used to criticize any government that shows no concern for the crises and hardships facing its society.
And now, in the face of all these existential crises threatening our future, our own rulers are busy organizing various festivals and bizarre exhibitions. It is as if they are telling citizens: “It’s fine if you have problems. Just eat exhibitions and festivals!”
This is the ruling authorities’ wise recipe for dealing with some of the crises currently plaguing our nation:
In response to the political crisis: an eggplant and kuleka [Zucchini courgette] festival, along with two small danula concerts.
In response to the economic crisis: two pomegranate festivals, a cat beauty contest, and a fashion show.
In response to the fuel crisis: two nights of celebrations at Azadi Park and a Muradkhani festival.
In response to the salary crisis: a week of concerts featuring Turkish, Arab, and Persian artists under the title “Living Together Across Different Cultures!”
In response to the rising dollar exchange rate: a VIP festival in the backyard of the dollar bazaar [currency market in Sulaimani city].
In response to the electricity and water crises, theft, and corruption: dance to your heart’s content for six months, then repeat the festivities twice a year.
In response to unemployment and growing frustration among young people: a festival featuring shapqa, three-quarter-length shorts, and hookah, held beside canals and rivers.
In response to injustice and violations of rights and freedoms: two exhibitions and three festivals featuring local pigeons and other birds, along with a gathering filled with fruit and traditional Kurdish food.
Seriously, is this really the recipe for solving the problems of Kurdistan Region that held elections more than two years ago but still has not convened its parliament or formed a government? Meanwhile, its economy is burdened with more than $30 billion in debt.
Most importantly, its people have long dreamed of having a state of their own.
They have sacrificed tens of thousands of lives for that dream, struggled relentlessly for a century, and endured the Anfal genocide and chemical attacks.
Yet now, all political forces, including the opposition, stand with their hands raised in prayer, hoping that the KDP and PUK will simply come together. Meanwhile, the region is boiling like a pressure cooker, has become a battlefield with no clear winners, and is surrounded by dangers and threats on all sides!
In conclusion, festivals, exhibitions, celebrations, and special events are important and necessary. They can be seen as signs of stability and prosperity, but only when they are organized on a sound basis and serve their intended purpose.
When the sole objective is to numb society and cover up all these serious crises, festivals inevitably become fortresses of lies and symbols of deception.
They become nothing more than opportunities for people to forget their problems and temporarily release their anger and anxiety. At that point, festivals, exhibitions, and activities of this kind undoubtedly lose their true message, meaning, and purpose.
This article was originally published in the Kurdish language in Awene Newspaper on October 12, 2026.
The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of iKurd.net or its editorial team.
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