Campaign to make Kurdish an official language in Turkey
Linguists, associations and writers working in and on Kurdish as well as HDP Co-Chair Sancar and DBP Co-Chairs Bayındır and Aydeniz have met in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır in the wake of International Mother Language Day.
On the occasion of February 21 International Mother Language Day, the Kurdish Language and Culture Network and Kurdish Language Platform have launched a petition campaign to make Kurdish an official language* as well as a language of education in Turkey.
The campaign has been announced to the public with a press conference held in Diyarbakır province with the participation of several linguists, associations and writers working in an on Kurdish as well as People's Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Mithat Sancar and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chairs Keskin Bayındır and Saliha Aydeniz.
'Remove the obstacles in the way of Kurdish'
The statement for the press regarding the campaign was read out by Şerefhan Cizîrî, the Spokesperson for Kurdish Language Platform, on behalf of the February 21 Platform launching the petition.
Taking the floor after him, HDP Co-Chair Sancar raised concerns that Turkey has been "turned into a graveyard of languages."
Underlining the necessity to recognize the mother language by the laws, HDP's Sancar briefly stated the following about the issue:
"Humans learn how to speak with their mother languages. Mother language must be recognized with laws.
"Today, there is pressure on several languages, primarily on Kurdish. The policies of the government have turned this country into a graveyard of languages. Kurdish must be recognized as an official language and all obstacles standing in the way of Kurdish must be removed.
"Kurdish children must be educated in their mother language at schools and universities. Mother language is not merely a language, it is also its identity and existence. Mother language has a considerable influence on humans' ideas and thoughts. It is the skin of humans. For this reason, humans' lives and thoughts are shaped through their mother language.
"February 21 is the International Mother Language Day. Today is a historic day to struggle for mother language."
The meeting continued with the statements of other guests.
(RT/SD)
* According to the first sentence of Article 3 of Turkey's Constitution, "The State of Turkey, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity and its language is Turkish." The Article 4 also stipulates that "the provision of Article 1 regarding the form of the State being a Republic, the characteristics of the Republic in Article 2, and the provisions of Article 3 shall not be amended, nor shall their amendment be proposed."
Today marks the first day of Eid al-Fitr for Muslims around the world.
Celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan each year, Eid al-Fitr is a time for visiting family and friends, with sweets and desserts traditionally offered to guests. In Turkey, the holiday is also commonly referred to as the "Sugar Feast" (Şeker Bayramı) due to this custom.
This year, the government extended the public holiday by declaring Wednesday through Friday as official days off, in addition to the first two days of the week. The decision created a nine-day holiday period, prompting many people to travel to their hometowns.
Meanwhile, 301 people, mostly students and activists, who were detained or arrested during protests that erupted after the detention of İstanbul's mayor will spend the holiday behind bars. (VK)
Kurds celebrate Newroz in Diyarbakır with massive attendance
Every Newroz has been a bittersweet time for us, a time we’ve wished for peace. Today, we renew that hope. We want to live in freedom and democratic peace,” says one participant.
Thousands have gathered for Newroz celebration in the Kurdish-populated Diyarbakır province, held under the theme “A Democratic Society for Freedom."
A new stage was installed at the site, replacing the old concrete platform. Banners bearing the Kurdish slogan jin, jiyan, azadî (Women, life, freedom) and other Newroz-related slogans were hung across the stage. Security was tight, with police setting up six separate checkpoints at the venue. Attendees arriving from early morning passed through five layers of screening before being allowed entry.
Police announced that no party flags or banners, including those of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, the largest pro-Kurdish party in Turkey and main organizer of the event, would be permitted within the celebration area.
Öcalan's message missing
Large posters of Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), flanked both sides of the venue. The posters featured photos taken during his Feb 27 call involving the İmralı Delegation. Youths in the crowd also held up additional posters of Öcalan.
As the symbolic Newroz fire was lit, chants of “Bijî Serok Apo” (“Long live Leader Apo”) rang out from the crowd, reflecting ongoing support for the PKK leader.
However, a message from Öcalan could not be conveyed to the celebrations as the authorities left an application by DEM members to meet him before the celebrations unanswered.
In a statement, the DEM Party’s explained, “Contrary to expectations, the İmralı Delegation was not granted access, so Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s message did not arrive for this year’s Newroz. Instead, his most recent photos and audio were shown on the stage screen. With the slogans shouted in the square, the people once again demonstrated their support for the call he made on Feb 27.”
Many prominent Kurdish politicians have attended the celebrations, including DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, and Sebahat Tuncel.
Leaders from Iraq's Kurdistan region, Nechirvan Barzani, president of the regional government, Massoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), as well as Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), send messages to convey their greetings.
Newroz is the traditional New Year celebration observed by various cultures in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Persians and Kurds. For Kurds, it holds particular significance as a symbol of freedom and resistance, rooted in the legend of Kawa the Blacksmith, who is said to have led a revolt against a tyrannical ruler, liberating the people.
'We are the Kurdish people'
Among the attendees was 55-year-old Sakine Y., who wore a traditional dress despite rainy conditions and helped tie a yellow-green-red scarf around her friend’s head. “Today, we see the photos of Kemal [Kurkut, killed by police during 2017 Newroz], Selahattin Demirtaş, and most importantly the İmralı Delegation on display. These are our realities. We’re not just here to celebrate. Newroz is joy, it’s resistance, it’s fire,” she said. “It might rain and we’ll be covered in mud, but we’re here in our traditional clothes. We are the Kurdish people, we forget neither our past nor our present.”
Ahmet T., a 22-year-old student, attended with friends and emphasized the emotional significance of the day. “Every Newroz has been a bittersweet time for us, a time we’ve wished for peace. Today, we renew that hope. We want to live in freedom and democratic peace,” he said. “To my friends resisting in İstanbul, I say: don’t be afraid. Peace is for all of us, not just the Kurds. Together, we will overcome this oppressive order.”
Barzani calls for Öcalan’s freedom
KDP leader Masoud Barzani expressed support for Turkey’s new peace process and called for Öcalan’s release.
“I hope Abdullah Öcalan will be freed soon. We support the peace and resolution process in Turkey. Peace is the only path to solving these issues. I also hope the suffering of Kurds in Syria ends quickly,” Barzani said.
YNK leader Bafel Talabani's message read, “On this Kurdish Newroz, which coincides with the resistance in Kirkuk, the Jerusalem of Kurdistan,I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the people of Kurdistan, wishing everyone peace, comfort, and happiness. Newroz is a message of renewal, unity, solidarity, and fraternity in the Kurdish struggle for freedom and independence.
"May this Newroz inspire peace, organization, and support for the Kurdish cause everywhere. The Kurdish people are a people who deserve an honorable life. Let us join hands for lasting peace and work toward the victory of Kurdistan. May your Newroz be blessed, joyful, and proud.”
Özel: ‘No tyrant could ever break our unity’
In his message, CHP leader Özgür Özel emphasized unity and shared struggle: “Dear people of Diyarbakır, my beloved brothers and sisters. As we celebrate Newroz, the harbinger of spring, we continue to resist the tyrants of our time, like the legendary Dehak. These ancient lands are a cradle of coexistence, where different cultures, languages, and faiths thrive together in solidarity and hope. No oppressor, no Dehak, has ever broken our brotherhood, and none ever will.
"We are committed to building a country where no one feels excluded, where everyone lives with equal rights in peace. Guided by our belief in democracy, justice, and freedom, we will together create a Turkey where all are equal citizens. May the warmth of Newroz, like today’s fire, illuminate our hearts and strengthen our hopes for the future. With these sentiments, I wish all my brothers and sisters in Diyarbakır a happy Newroz. Newroz pîroz be!” (ED/TY/VK)
Çalışmalarını ağırlıklı olarak Diyarbakır ve çevresindeki Kürt illerinde sürdürmektedir. Meslek hayatında, Gazete Duvar, MLSA, 5Harfliler, Kadın İşçi, 9. Köy ve Fikir Gazetesi gibi pek çok...
Çalışmalarını ağırlıklı olarak Diyarbakır ve çevresindeki Kürt illerinde sürdürmektedir. Meslek hayatında, Gazete Duvar, MLSA, 5Harfliler, Kadın İşçi, 9. Köy ve Fikir Gazetesi gibi pek çok platformda haberleriyle yer aldı. Dicle Fırat Gazeteciler Derneği'nde (DFG) medya ve basın sorumlusu olarak görev aldı. Bağımsız gazetecilik anlayışını benimseyen Evrim Deniz, kadın emeği, insan hakları ve toplumsal adalet gibi konulara odaklanmaktadır. Şu anda Bianet’in Diyarbakır muhabiri olarak görev yapmaktadır.
