Operating from Sweden allows Rojhelat TV to broadcast without the direct censorship of the Iranian government. It is part of a larger network of Kurdish satellite stations—including others like Kurdistan TV and various news outlets—that emerged in the mid-1990s and early 2000s to create a "transnational Kurdish public sphere".
However, the shift from satellite to internet-based streaming (IPTV) suggests that Rojhelat is preparing for a future where physical dishes are obsolete. As long as there is a desire in Eastern Kurdistan to speak Kurdish and challenge the status quo, will likely remain a persistent, albeit controversial, fixture in the media landscape.
While politics dominates prime time, offers a diverse schedule designed to preserve culture and entertain. Typical programming includes: rojhelat tv
: During major events, such as the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, Rojhelat TV has played a crucial role in disseminating information from inside the region to the outside world, often bypassing state-controlled media narratives. 🌍 The Role of Diaspora Media
For this reason, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has explicitly named Rojhelat TV as a "hostile network" contributing to "insecurity" in the region. Operating from Sweden allows Rojhelat TV to broadcast
Rojhelat TV was founded in 2004 by a group of Kurdish entrepreneurs and media professionals. The channel's name, "Rojhelat," translates to "Eastern Sun" in Kurdish, symbolizing the channel's mission to bring light and awareness to the Kurdish people. Initially, the channel faced significant challenges, including limited funding and infrastructure. However, with the support of the Kurdish government and international organizations, Rojhelat TV was able to overcome these obstacles and establish itself as a reputable and influential media outlet.
: Airing interviews with families of political activists and victims of state repression. ⚖️ Challenges and Impact As long as there is a desire in
is much more than a collection of news anchors and studios. It is a digital fortress for a minority identity. To an outsider, it may look like a simple satellite channel with a political bias. But to millions of Kurds in Iran, it is the sound of home—a forbidden voice telling stories that the state refuses to hear. Whether one views it as a resistance media or a divisive propaganda tool, its impact on the struggle for Kurdish rights in Iran is undeniable.
Operating a channel hostile to the Iranian government is risky. Tehran views as a "terrorist-affiliated" outlet. Consequently, the Iranian regime employs sophisticated electronic warfare to silence it.
The channel is intimately tied to the , commonly known by its Kurdish acronym PAK (Partiya Jiyana Azad a Kurdistanê). PAK is a Kurdish political party active in Eastern Kurdistan (Iranian Kurdistan) and is closely allied with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey and the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria. All three organizations fall under the ideological umbrella of the Democratic Confederation Movement , inspired by the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.