The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Culture and Youth has acquired the entire library, archives, and manuscripts of late scholar Dr. Aziz Gardi for 136 million dinars, preserving over 18,000 cultural resources for public benefit and future generations.
Government Initiative Preserves Literary Scholar’s Cultural Legacy
The Ministry of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Regional Government issued a clarification regarding the preservation of the late master and writer Aziz Gardi’s library and manuscripts, emphasizing government efforts to protect the cultural wealth of this great writer. Following Dr. Gardi’s passing, the ministry immediately mobilized efforts to preserve his works and honor the great contribution this departed master had dedicated his life to serving Kurdish literature and libraries.
The ministry announced that the Prime Minister’s Office and the ministry itself expressed readiness to purchase all of Dr. Gardi’s cultural assets and establish a dedicated library and museum for his memorabilia. They also proposed to the heirs to purchase the deceased master’s house and appoint several family members as government employees in the library and museum.
However, due to disagreements among the heirs, the ministry chose an alternative path. Despite this, the ministry, as part of the government and with cooperation from the Prime Minister’s Office, remains committed to ensuring that the departed master’s cultural and intellectual heritage and manuscripts are considered “public property,” while preserving the ownership rights of those works under Dr. Aziz Gardi’s name.
Complex Legal Resolution Leads to Cultural Preservation
One month prior, a public announcement regarding the sale of Dr. Aziz Gardi’s library was published through newspapers. The Ankawa Primary Court, on August 17, 2025, in an open session, made a decision regarding the sale of Dr. Aziz Gardi’s library. Disputes existed among Dr. Gardi’s heirs regarding the valuation, with disagreements over pricing leading to court intervention.
Arian Salahuddin, Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Regional Government, reported that there were conflicts among the master’s heirs who could not agree on the price. Consequently, the court determined 136 million dinars as the value, and upon the Prime Minister’s directive, the Ministry of Culture and Youth purchased the library and manuscripts.
Following Dr. Gardi’s passing, the Ministry of Culture and Youth remained in contact with all heirs and formed a committee to protect the cultural assets left by the departed master. The ministry made extensive efforts to purchase his house as well, intending to maintain it as a museum in its original location to serve citizens and function as an archive for future generations honoring Dr. Gardi’s legacy.
Unfortunately, the heirs sold the house to other parties, necessitating the relocation of the library collection. The ministry attempted to preserve the complete cultural environment where Dr. Gardi worked, recognizing the importance of maintaining the physical space where his intellectual contributions were created.
Establishment of Public Cultural Resource Center
According to Arian Salahuddin, the library will be designated a special location and transferred to the Zeitoun Library, which is currently undergoing renovation. This strategic placement ensures that Dr. Gardi’s collection will be integrated into a modern, accessible facility designed to serve researchers, students, and the general public effectively.
The Ministry of Education of the Kurdistan Region announced that in the near future, this rich archive and library, containing more than 18,000 sources and different titles, will be placed in service of the public interest. A dedicated library named “Dr. Aziz Gardi Library” will be established, and his manuscripts will also be published and distributed to preserve and share his intellectual contributions.
Dr. Aziz Gardi, a Kurdish writer and translator, passed away on June 6, 2022, at a hospital in Erbil. Born as Aziz Ahmad Abdullah in 1947 in Erbil, he lived in the Bahrka district near Erbil city and never married, dedicating his entire life to scholarly pursuits.
From childhood, Dr. Gardi was passionate about reading and began studying Kurdish and foreign literature from an early age. The first of his works was published in 1968-1969, a book on rhetoric. Subsequently, he wrote books on comparative literature, Kurdish broadcasting, classical Kurdish poetry guide, and several other works. He earned his master’s degree in 1994 and his doctorate in 1999, establishing himself as one of Kurdistan’s most distinguished literary scholars.
