content tagged with language rights

New Book: Kirmanckî-Zazaki with Kesa/Turtle

New Book: Kirmanckî-Zazaki with Kesa/Turtle

The book promises to be an alternative for those who wish to learn the language with the Zazaki grammar in simple tables, sample sentences for the words, and summary texts on important issues.

19 December 2022

Kurdish Language Platform: Our language is our existence

Kurdish Language Platform: Our language is our existence

The Kurdish Language Platform slams Minister of National Education Selçuk, who answered a Parliamentary question by saying, “No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue to Turkish citizens at any institution of education."

‘No language other than Turkish shall be taught,’ says Education Minister

‘No language other than Turkish shall be taught,’ says Education Minister

Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk has answered the Parliamentary question of HDP MP Sıdık Taş about education in the mother language. The Minister has referred to Article 42 of the Constitution.

Application to add Kurdish to Women’s Emergency Support App

Application to add Kurdish to Women’s Emergency Support App

Lawyers from the Diyarbakır Bar Association have applied to the Ministry of Interior and said that “an application developed to protect women needs to offer services in the languages existing and spoken in the country.”

‘Baku Turkish’ spoken in Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır, according to Ministry

‘Baku Turkish’ spoken in Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır, according to Ministry

The Ministry of National Education of Turkey has prepared an introductory book on Diyarbakır, making no mention of Kurds or Kurdish. The language spoken in the province is similar to ‘Baku Turkish’ in Azerbaijan, according to the book.

Women’s Emergency Support App has 6 language options, but not Kurdish

Women’s Emergency Support App has 6 language options, but not Kurdish

HDP MP Kılıç Koçyiğit has asked why the Interior Ministry’s Women’s Emergency Support (KADES) application does not have the Kurdish option while it is now offering services in Turkish, Persian, Arabic, English, Russian and French.

Investigation into banned Kurdish theater play

Investigation into banned Kurdish theater play

In a statement released by the Governor’s Office of İstanbul, it has been indicated, “No matter in which language, Turkish or Kurdish, terror propaganda is forbidden by our laws and such initiatives cannot be permitted.”

14 October 2020

İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu slams ban on Kurdish theater play

İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu slams ban on Kurdish theater play

İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu has spoken about the ban on “Bêrû”, a Kurdish theater play to be hosted by the Municipality’s City Theaters: “It is a play by Dario Fo. It has been performed in Turkish. It will now be performed in Kurdish. What is the difference?”

14 October 2020

Sub-governor’s office bans Kurdish theater play to be hosted by İstanbul City Theaters

IT WOULD BE A FIRST IN 106 YEARS

Sub-governor’s office bans Kurdish theater play to be hosted by İstanbul City Theaters

İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s City Theaters were going to host a Kurdish theater play, in a first in 106 years of history. Hours before the play, the Sub-Governor’s Office has banned the play. The theater group will take legal action.

14 October 2020 Ferid Demirel

In a first in 106 years, İstanbul City Theaters will host a Kurdish theater play

BY FERİD DEMİREL

In a first in 106 years, İstanbul City Theaters will host a Kurdish theater play

Supporting private theater groups having financial difficulties due to pandemic, the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İMM) City Theaters will host “Bêrû”, a theater play in Kurdish by the Teatra Jiyana Nû theater group, in October.

23 September 2020 Ferid Demirel

Trustee appointed to Batman, road signs in Kurdish removed from province

Trustee appointed to Batman, road signs in Kurdish removed from province

Appointed a trustee by the Ministry of Interior, the Municipality of Batman has renewed the traffic icons in the province. The road signs of “pedestrians first” are no longer in Turkish-Kurdish language pair, but now solely in Turkish.

University to Offer Hebrew and Syriac Courses in Mardin

University to Offer Hebrew and Syriac Courses in Mardin

The Department of Living Languages in Mardin Artuklu University is set to launch two courses to teach Hebrew and Syriac. Assistant Prof. Mehmet Sait Toprak said their aim was to train researchers who could conduct scientific studies in their own languages.

31 August 2012 Nilay Vardar

The Ambiguous Status of Kurdish After TRT 6

While the Ministry of Justice is preparing to allow “languages besides Turkish” to be spoken in prison, the language is still considered potentially criminal. A politician faces a fine for allegedly using Kurdish to spread propaganda.

15 January 2009

Mothertongue a Right not a Threat

Still perceived as a threat by the army and others, education in one's mothertongue is the right of children and benefits their development.

26 September 2007 Erhan Üstündağ