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Kurdischer Politiker deckt Intoleranz auf

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Veröffentlicht 25. Februar 2009 - Aktualisiert 29. Januar 2010
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human rights Turkey
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Ein kurdischer Politiker hielt gestern (24. Februar 2009) seine Parlamentsrede in Kurdisch, seiner Muttersprache und setzte sich so über das türkische Gesetz hinweg. Die Live-Übertragung aus dem Parlament wurde zwar sofort unterbrochen, aber trotzdem löste der Zwischenfall viel Aufregung aus, was die begrenzte ethnische Toleranz in dem potentiellen EU-Beitrittsland illustriert.

The leader of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, Ahmet Türk, spoke in Kurdish for half his speech, in what the Turkish press described as an incisive linguistic challenge at the heart of Turkey's ongoing language politics. 

Türk recalled that UNESCO made 21 February 'International Mother Language Day,' insisting that everyone should be free to use their native language. 

"No one opposes the fact that Turkish is the official language of Turkey. What we want is the lifting of the ban on the use of Kurdish. This is a humanitarian demand. As today is International Mother Language Day and due to the ban on Kurdish, I will continue my speech in Kurdish," he said, beginning to do just that. 

The state-owned TRT 3, which was broadcasting the parliamentary group gathering live, immediately stopped its broadcast when Türk switched to Kurdish. TRT 3 said it had cut off Türk's speech because Turkey's constitution states that Turkish is the country's official language. 

In his remarks in Kurdish, Türk mentioned the suffering of the Kurds after their mother tongue was banned. 

"The military seized control of Parliament in 1980. Many Kurdish youngsters were put in prison. People who did not speak Turkish wanted to speak their mother tongue with their children in prison. However, as they were not allowed to do so, their children had to leave with broken hearts," he said. 

The daily Zaman recalls that public use of Kurdish was prohibited following a military coup between 1980 and 1991. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has recently taken significant steps in a bid for reconciliation with the Kurdish population, the daily adds, citing among these the dedication of one of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation's (TRT) channels to broadcasts in Kurdish, fulfilling a long-sought after demand of the country's Kurds. 

Also, as a goodwill gesture, in early January, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered his congratulatory message for the launch of TV channel TRT 6 in Kurdish, saying: "May TRT 6 be beneficial for Turkey". 

Stellungnahmen: 

Nihat Ergün, deputy chairman of the AK Party's parliamentary group, called Türk's speech a "provocation", and said messages should be delivered in a common language under under parliament's roof. 

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Secretary-General Cihan Paçaci blasted Türk's move, adding that the government was responsible for the incident. "When a Kurdish channel was launched through the initiative of the government, the path was cleared for such incidents. Türk's move is certainly not approved of," he noted. 

Kurdish politicians would feel free to speak Kurdish in a country where the prime minister uses the language, he added, alluding to Erdogan's recent gesture regarding the launch of a TV channel in Kurdish. 

MPs from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)  also deplored the use of Kurdish in parliament. "The speech was delivered under the roof of parliament. Turkish is spoken in parliament. We denounce Türk's move and call on related bodies to do what is necessary," they said. 

Ömer Laçiner, editor-in-chief of the socialist Birikim  monthly, said that although Türk may have acted against the law, it is a legal right for individuals to speak in their mother tongue. 

Galip Ensarioglu, chairman of the Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DTSO), saw no offence in Türk's initiative. "Speaking in Kurdish will not harm the sacredness of parliament. We should not make problems over this issue," he stated. 

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Hintergrund : 

Around a fifth of Turkey's population are ethnic Kurds, but speaking Kurdish in public was banned until the 1990s as it was seen as a threat to unity. The Kurdish language is still banned in all state institutions and official correspondence. 

The European Commission's latest progress report on Turkey lists a variety of concerns over the Kurdish issue. Under the chapter freedom of expression, Brussels notes that the Turkish Criminal Code criminalises offences against public order, and anti-terror law has been applied to prosecute and convict those expressing non-violent opinions on Kurdish issues. Turkish judges and prosecutors apply a wide interpretation of the provision on "incitement to violence" or "public interest", in particular on Kurdish-related issues, the report says. 

The chapter on freedom of assembly notes that the Kurdish Newroz Spring celebrations in March 2008 resulted in violence against demonstrators in several provinces, in particular Hakkari, Yuksekova and Van. Three citizens died during the course of the Newroz demonstrations in Van. 

The report also stresses that Turkey has made no progress on ensuring cultural diversity and promoting respect for and protection of minorities in accordance with European standards. In the field of education, it is noted that educational programmes teaching the Kurdish language are not allowed. Children whose mother tongue is not Turkish cannot learn Kurdish in the Turkish state school system, and there are currently no opportunities to learn it in the private school system either. 

In the field of cultural rights, the report points out that all broadcasts, with the exception of songs, must be subtitled or translated into Turkish. These restrictions make broadcasting in languages other than Turkish cumbersome and commercially unviable. The police and the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) strictly monitor broadcasts in Kurdish. 

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