|
Cultural situation of Kurds and European
Institutions
8.8.2006
By Vladimir van Wilgenburg, Journalist, Netherlands
|
|
|
|
The European
Parliamentary Assembly [1] released a on the
cultural situation of Kurds on 7 July 2006. The
report consists of a draft resolution and background
information about Kurds (language, literature,
history, current situation in the Diaspora, Turkey,
Iran, Iraq and Syria). It also includes hearings
with Kurdish and non-Kurdish individuals about the
Kurdish question.
The Assembly “encourages Turkey, as a Council of
Europe member state, but also Iran, Iraq and Syria
to acknowledge that the Kurdish language and culture
are part of the heritage of their own country, that
they are a richness that is worth being preserved
and not a threat to be combated and asks them to
take the necessary measures”.
I personally think this report is very well written
and that it shows European integrity towards the
Kurdish issue. If my memory is correct, there were
more European reports about the Kurdish issue and
treatment of religious and ethnic ‘minorities”. |
Vladimir van Wilgenburg, Journalist, Netherlands |
The only problem is that Turkey apparently doesn’t
listen to this reports or that the current
government (AKP) doesn’t have the courage to resolve
this issue. The Kurdish issue consists out of two
main problems: First economical, secondly cultural
and according to Turkey the biggest problem is
terrorism. According to Kurds the biggest problem is
Turkish nationalism (Kemalism). These issues haven’t
been solved yet and the Turkish government
officials, intellectuals and columnists promise to
deal with especially the economic issue. The use of
military power towards “PKK terrorism” is also seen
as a solution of the problem by the Turkish
establishment.
One could wonder if the Turkish individuals see
Kurdish language and culture as a part of their own
heritage. Because they mostly speak about the fight
“against PKK terror” and “economic conditions” [2].
Especially after the death of 15 soldiers in the
Kurdish southeast[3] , nationalistic rhetoric is
most popular again in Turkey.
Siyar Ozsoy, an adviser to the mayor of Diyarbakir,
agrees with me[4]. "Nationalists always use the
rhetoric of anti-separatism as the best pool of
votes. The Kurdish issue is very much manipulated by
Turkish nationalist politicians to mobilise the
Turkish public, especially in times of elections,"
Ozsoy said.
In this article I will discuss the cultural issues.
I later will talk about other problems.
Cultural issues
"If you listen to Kurdish music it means you are an
enemy of the state, or a separatist," said the
26-year-old Kurd Ahmet to Al Jazeera[5].
In the field of culture, The European Parliamentary
Assembly recommended that the competent Turkish
authorities take several measures towards Kurdish
culture[6]:
1. ensuring the protection of the main
Kurdish languages by signing, ratifying and
implementing the European Charter for Regional and
Minority languages with reference to the Kurdish
languages spoken in Turkey
2. ensuring the possibility of education in
the mother tongue, in addition to the official
language, in particular through teacher training;
3. informing Kurdish parents of the different
linguistic possibilities and issue instructions on
how to apply for what is available;
4. encouraging university courses on Kurdish
language and literature;
5. recognising and supporting Kurdish
cultural associations and engaging in a dialogue
with them with a view to co-operation in the
protection of the Kurdish language and culture;
6. putting an end to the unreasonably high
administrative hurdles faced by Kurds in their
cultural activities;
7. paying particular attention to the correct
registration of the Kurds at the next official
census;
8. promoting access to modern mass-media
facilities to Kurdish speakers. Financial support
should come from within the Kurdish community to
enable the development of the written press, radio
and television;
9. setting up further local centres in Turkey
for the promotion of Kurdish culture with a view to
raising awareness of and respect for minorities.
10. The Assembly also urges the governments
of Iran, Iraq and Syria to acknowledge that Kurdish
language and culture are part of the heritage of
their own country, that they are richness worth
being preserved and not a threat to be combated and
asks them to take the necessary measures in the
light of the present resolution, and in particular
in the field of language.
These recommended measures are wonderful and prove
that there haven’t been real changes, but cosmetic
changes. Apparently Turkey still has a problem with
Kurdish culture. “Although the measures [earlier
taken by Turkey] carried symbolic weight, Kurds
said, they were enacted solely to placate the
European Union and did not change official
repression of cultural rights” reported Washington
Post before[7].
A statement of The Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP)
[8] was revealing:” Restrictions on the use of
Kurdish language in broadcasting and education were
weakened last year, following decades of
prohibition. Intended to assuage concerns that the
protection of minority and cultural rights in Turkey
was insufficient to meet EU accession standards, the
reforms nonetheless failed to win Kurdish hearts and
minds. There has been significant evidence that
implementation of the reforms on the ground has been
inadequate or non-existent.”
Earlier the Turkish government and media tried to
portray that Kurds didn’t have any interest into
going to Kurdish language schools. The reason was
something else. The poor Kurds had to pay $75 a
month for tuition in the adults-only
Kurdish-language schools [9].
The KHRP shares this view of mine:” Government and
media reports have suggested the closure of the
schools was due to lack of interest from students.
The prevalent view in the region, however, lays the
responsibility with Turkish authorities, for failing
to provide adequate legislative and material support
to enable the schools to survive”. The KHRP also
talked about bureaucratic delays. I can still
remember a Kurdish teacher in Batman saying: ”Our
door was too small. Therefore we can’t give
lessons”.
Also the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF)
deputy chief urged Turkey on Friday 10 July to teach
Kurdish children in Kurdish[10].
"They are done only for the EU, so that the state
can say, 'Look we are allowing Kurdish to be
spoken,'?" said Celil, a 23-year-old law student who
until recently taught Kurdish classes secretly twice
a week. "Turkey treats these reforms like
'homework.' They should be doing them for their own
people, not because the EU asked for it." [11]
Already in 2003 when I made an article about
Turkey’s ascension process and didn’t know nothing
about the Kurdish issue, I concluded that Turkey
cannot join without a change of mentality. Just as
this Kurdish student said, Turkey needs to reform
for their own people and not because the EU asked
for it. Turkey must acknowledge that Kurdish
language and culture are part of the heritage of
their own country, that they are richness worth
being preserved and not a threat to be combated
(PACE demands). Therefore Turkey must stop with the
limitations on Kurdish language and culture. The old
policies of denial, refusal and assimilation towards
the Kurds, which have been in force since the
foundation of the Turkish Republic must end. Turkey
must listen to Kurdish circles like KURT-KAV, HAK-PAR,
CIRA, YAKAKOP and other Kurdish institutions.
Me and other people like Rasti have fears of
Turkey’s honesty towards it’s Kurdish population. I
fear that Turkey doesn’t want to change, although
this would benefit Turkey. If Turkey doesn’t want to
listen, then the reports and statements of European
institutions are pretty useless. Maybe the EU should
focus on more points then only Cyprus and pressure
Turkey on Kurdish cultural and economical rights.
[1]
Pace Report - The cultural situation of the Kurds
[2]
The New Anatolian - The fight against PKK terror
[3]
Bloggernews - Turkey Considers Options Regarding
Kurdish Rebels in Iraq
[4]
Al Jazeera - Turkey wants to attack PKK bases
[5]
Turkey wants to attack PKK bases
[6]
Pace report - The cultural situation of the
Kurds
[7]
Washington Times - Kurds now spell freedom
[8]
Demand for Kurdish language education remains high
[9]
Washington Times - Kurds now spell freedom
[10]
UNICEF urges Turkey to teach in Kurdish
[11]
Turkey wants to attack PKK bases
Source: http://vladimirkurdistan blogspot.com
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey) wikipedia
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 