The Kurdistan Regional Government’s representative office in Austria hosted a ceremony entitled “Biji Nemsa – Long Live Austria” at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Austria’s acceptance of Kurdish refugees from Iraq.
The evening commemorated a significant chapter in Austrian-Kurdish history. Following the collapse of the Kurdish movement in Iraq in 1975, thousands of politically active Kurds were forced to flee to neighboring Iran. The Austrian federal government subsequently agreed to accept 96 Kurdish refugees, including students and young families. The first group arrived at Vienna International Airport on March 31, 1976.
#VÎDEO – Kurdên ji Başûrê Kurdistanê berî 50 salî bar kir Awisturyayê
💢 Di 50 saliya koçê de merasîmek tê lidarxistin
🎙 Hevkara me Mey Dost bi Nûnerê Hikûmeta Herêma Kurdistanê ya Awisturyayê Mistefa Remezan (@KRG_Austria ) re diaxive pic.twitter.com/cC4G8QUQgO
— RudawKurdi (@RudawKurdi) May 6, 2026
The event was attended by representatives from politics, diplomacy, and the Kurdish community in Austria. Speakers included Dr. Heinz Fischer, former President of the Republic of Austria; Minister Safeen Dizayee, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government; Dr. Hisham Al Alawi, Iraqi Ambassador to Austria; and Dr. Mustafa Ramazan, representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Austria.
#VÎDEO – Sefîn Dizeyî: Awisturyayê di rojên teng de piştgiriya Kurdistanê kiriye
Di 50 saliya koça Kurdên ji Başûrê Kurdistanê ya ber bi Awisturyayê ve de merasîmek hat lidarxistin
Berpirsê Ofîsa Pêwendiyên Derve ya Herêma Kurdistanê Sefîn Dizeyî:
🎙 ❝Awisturyayê di rojên… pic.twitter.com/Eb6T2frAPJ
— RudawKurdi (@RudawKurdi) May 6, 2026
A central part of the program was dedicated to personal recollections of this history. Dr. Obaid Afandi and DI Fatima Khanakah shared their experiences during a panel discussion. Their remarks highlighted the significance of Austria’s swift and unbureaucratic support for the refugees. This support enabled many to continue their education, learn the language, and build a new life within Austrian society.
The program also included archival footage from 1976, an excerpt from the film “Biji Nemsa” (2016), live Kurdish music, and a ceremony of gratitude featuring Dr. Heinz Fischer and Dr. Mustafa Ramazan. The ceremony expressed the Kurdish community’s gratitude for Austria’s humanitarian support and its lasting impact on the lives of the Kurdish families who were welcomed.
The arrival of Kurdish refugees in 1976 is considered a key starting point for the development of the Kurdish diaspora in Austria. The event underscored the deep ties that have developed between the Kurdish community and Austria over the past five decades.
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