Draw Media

Every four years, the World Zoroastrian Congress features different Zoroastrian voices from around the world, but this year there have been recent erroneous reports published in Kurdish media, by organizations, and by individuals about certain activities at the Congress.

According to a press release which has been sent to Draw Media by the organizers of the (World Zoroastrian Congress) to state the facts and to make the correct information publicly available.

In the press release they mention that, at the opening ceremony of the Congress, a procession of about 40 invited and preselected mobeds and mobediyars (religious priests) from around the world filed onto the stage to offer benediction and prayers. But one of the attendees by the name of Awat Darya, who was not invited to participate since she is not a mobed or mobediyar.

Later, the Rudaw Media Network reported Awat’s claims with the following: “Awat was holding the rank of asrawan before, but in this conference, she has been promoted to two ranks above that, to the rank of mobed. According to Awat Darya herself, this is the first time a Kurd has been awarded this rank.”

The World Zoroastrian Congress is upset about Awat behaviours and says “this statement by Ms. Awat is a blatant lie”.

The World Zoroastrian Congress is an international gathering of Zoroastrians from all over the world. It has been held every four years with the first one in 1960. This year’s Congress was held in New York City, July 1-4, 2022, and was attended by approximately 1,200 people.

Here is the full text of the press release