Jalal Barzanji

Jalal Barzanji (July 1, 1953) is a contemporary Kurdish poet, writer and activist known for his multifaceted contributions to literature and culture, in Iraqi Kurdistan and Canada.

Barzanji served on the board of Writers' Union in Iraqi Kurdistan, fleeing in 1996 due to the Iraqi-Kurdish Civil War. In Canada, he and was appointed as the PEN Canada Writer-in-Exile in 2007. A Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (D. Litt.) recipient of the University of Alberta, he was also inducted into the Edmonton City Hall of Fame in 2015 for contributions in Art and Culture.

Barzanji has published numerous books of poetry in English and Kurdish. His critically acclaimed memoir, "The Man in Blue Pyjamas" was published by University of Alberta Press in 2011. In the memoir Barzanji writes about his imprisonment in 1986–1989, during which he endured torture under Saddam Hussein’s regime due to his literary and journalistic achievements—writing that openly explores themes of peace, democracy, and freedom. For those three years, Barzanji wrote only on scrap paper, smuggled into his cell. He wrote his memoir during his time as the first Writer in Exile of PEN Canada.