Avesta Publishing House receives AAP International Freedom to Publish Award

The Association of American Publishers recognized Avesta Publishing House for its courage in defending freedom of expression.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:30:09 GMT

The Association of American Publishers announced on Wednesday that Avesta Publishing House, a Turkish firm known for publishing Kurdish‑culture works, has been awarded the International Freedom to Publish Award for 2026.

What happened

The award, which recognises a non‑U.S. publisher for “courage and fortitude in defending freedom of expression,” was presented to Avesta Publishing House. Avesta previously received the same honour in 2005.

What the reports add

Both the Winnipeg Free Press (via the Associated Press) and News18 reported that Avesta has endured repeated government censorship, including the burning of a warehouse, bans on several titles and a 2023 designation of its website as “terrorist propaganda.”
The Winnipeg Free Press noted that the award follows a series of recognitions for publishers facing repression, citing past winners such as Venezuela’s Editorial Dahbar and Hong Kong‑based Gui Minhai.
News18 highlighted recent political context in Turkey, mentioning President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pardon legislation for Kurdish militants and the Kurdish Workers’ Party’s decision to lay down arms.

What was said

“AAP first recognised Avesta’s extraordinary contributions a little over 20 years ago, and despite continuous threats and intimidation since that time, their commitment to publishing has only grown stronger,” Maria A. Pallante, president and CEO of the AAP, said in a statement. (winnipegfreepress.com, news18.com)

“Receiving AAP’s Freedom to Publish Award for the second time provides an enormous boost to our mission of encouraging Kurdish literature, research and culture, casting a bright light that will illuminate our way forward on the long road ahead,” Avesta founder Abdullah Keskin said. (winnipegfreepress.com, news18.com)

How it came about

Avesta Publishing House was founded in 1995 with the aim of spotlighting “lost cultures,” and it has since issued hundreds of titles in multiple languages, many centred on Kurdish literature. Over the years the firm has faced government scrutiny, from the burning of a warehouse to the temporary shutdown of its website after Turkish authorities labelled it as extremist content in 2023. A spokesperson for Avesta said the company has not yet observed any easing of governmental pressure, though it remains hopeful for improvement.

Key facts

Avesta Publishing House won the Association of American Publishers' International Freedom to Publish Award for 2026. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Avesta previously received the same award in 2005. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Maria A. Pallante, AAP President and CEO, praised Avesta’s decades‑long commitment to free expression. (news18.com)