Malmö welcomes writer, journalist, and women’s rights activist Hêlan Çiya as ICORN resident
At the end of November 2023, Hêlan Çiya arrived in Malmö and became the city’s 10th ICORN resident. Malmö City of Refuge is also currently hosting investigative journalist Azhar Al-Rubaie.
Hêlan Çiya is an Iraqi-Kurdish writer, independent journalist, and a women’s rights activist. She has published her work in both print and online newspapers and magazines, being one of the few independent journalists in the region.
Much of Çiya’s work addresses issues of women’s rights in the Kurdish region of Iraq, highlighting human rights violations against women, including domestic violence, honour killings, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. In addition to this, Hêlan has also reported on the political situation in Iraqi Kurdistan and her commentary has led to wider debates in the media and beyond.
As a result of her professional activities as a female journalist, Çiya faced harassment, intimidation, and threats from various groups and individuals in the community and the region.
During her ICORN residency for the period 2023-2025, Hêlan plans on continuing her work as journalist and, especially women’s rights activist and actively contributing to Malmö’s cultural and intellectual landscape.
Malmö ICORN City of Refuge
Malmö joined ICORN in 2010 and has been a dedicated member of the network ever since. The city welcomes a new writer, artist, or journalist annually, meaning that there are always two ICORN residents in Malmö at any given time.
The current ICORN residents in Malmö are Hêlan Çiya (2023-2024) and Azhar Al-Rubaie (2023-2025). Previous writers, artists, and journalists in ICORN residence in Malmö include Parvin Ardalan, Wali Arian, and Yasmine El Baramawy, amongst others.
