Two Evenings with Bachtyar Ali: Love and Hatred in Times of Ruin
At two events in Berlin and Cologne, Kurdish novelist Bachtyar Ali will explore love and hatred in literature and society and ask whether love can become a force of resistance in times of war, violence, and polarization.
Date & Time
Wednesday, October 21 – Friday, October 23, 2026
6.30-9.00
Location
Berlin & Cologne
Melchiorstraße 3, 50670 Köln & Charlottenstraße 53/54, 10117 Berlin
Participants
Max. 90 people
Cost
Donationbased
The Amargi Evenings with Renowned Novelist Bachtiyar Ali
This October, The Amargi welcomes renowned Kurdish novelist Bachtyar Ali for two special evenings in Berlin and Cologne, exploring love and hatred in literature, society, and our troubled political age.
Through two distinct conversations, Bachtyar Ali and moderators from The Amargi will discuss whether love can become a form of resistance—and how literature confronts hatred, war, polarization, extremism, and social rupture.
Berlin: Love in the Time of Ruins
Speaker: Bachtyar Ali, renowned Kurdish novelist
Moderator: Sara Kermanian, The Amargi
Date: 21 October 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Venue: Evangelische Akademie zu Berlin, Charlottenstraße 53/54, 10117 Berlin
The evening in Berlin will be accompanied musically by Raman Salah and Kamyar Naqshbandi (Kamo). Raman brings traditional Kurdish rhythms to life on the daf, while Kamyar explores the expressive sounds of the oud, drawing on Kurdish and Middle Eastern musical traditions.
Cologne: Hatred in the Time of Ruins
Speaker: Bachtyar Ali, renowned Kurdish novelist
Moderator: Mahtab Mahboub, The Amargi
Date: 23 October 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Alte Feuerwache Köln, Melchiorstraße 3, 50670 Cologne
The event in Cologne will be musically accompanied by Nûrê Dlovanî & Zelal. With violin, piano and a voice, they bring together Kurdish, Armenian, Turkish and German songs, shaped by classical clarity and oriental ornamentation. Their music responds to the spoken word and echoes what remains between the lines.
Bachtyar Ali speaks Kurdish, but there will be an English translation.
Admission is by donation. A donation of 5–25 euros is recommended. All proceeds and voluntary donations will directly support the independent work of The Amargi.
Registration:
Registration is required. Places are limited, and advance registration helps us arrange translation equipment:
https://form.jotform.com/Amargi_fundraising/registration-Bachtiyar-Ali-event
If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please let us know so we can offer the place to someone else.
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