Under the patronage of the President of the University of Zakho, Dr. Nadhim S. Abdulaziz, the proceedings of the 7th International Conference of the Zakho Center for Kurdish Studies, entitled "Kurdish States and Emirates in the Medieval and Modern Eras," commenced at the University of Zakho on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Professor Dr. AbdulSalam N. Abdullah, Director of the Zakho Center for Kurdish Studies, began the opening speech by discussing the center's regular activities, particularly international conferences, workshops, and lectures. He also highlighted the importance of this conference, as it addresses a significant historical issue concerning the Kurdish nation. Concluding his speech, he wished the attendees an enjoyable stay and delightful moments throughout the event.

In his speech, the President of the University of Zakho emphasized the significance of the conference, as it focuses on Kurdish history, culture, language, and its various dialects. The chair of the scientific committee, Dr. Nizar Ayoub, spoke about the submission and evaluation process of the research papers. He stated that the committee received 186 abstracts, and after evaluation, the scientific committee selected 81 papers to participate in the conference proceedings.

The conference witnessed international participation and attendance by researchers from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Algeria, and Sweden. The research papers presented at the conference were diverse and featured studies in Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and English.

The conference sessions, then, commenced on the first day and are scheduled to continue over two days.