Basından
Netherlands delegation to CIREA
11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State
Netherlands delegation to CIREA: Publications which concern Kurdish ethnicity and culture are often confiscated or lead to prosecution since the authorities regard them as threatening the indivisible unity of the state ("Note from the Netherlands delegation to CIREA: Official general report on Turkey, January 2002" Rf. 7838/02") [#7991], [ID 14372]
"The publication of books, periodicals and newspapers in Kurdish has been authorised since 1991.
Newspapers and magazines with a Kurdish slant are, however, often difficult to get hold of and are
frequently not admitted to the state of emergency area. Potential readers sometimes shy away from
buying Kurdish publications because possession can be interpreted as proof of Kurdish sympathies.
The content of Kurdish publications is closely monitored by the government. Publications and
materials which concern Kurdish history, culture or ethnicity are often confiscated or lead to
prosecution .
Since 2000 there has been a broad debate in the context of EU accession on whether Kurdishlanguage
television programmes and education in Kurdish should be allowed. Some senior
government officials, including the head of the intelligence service MIT, have argued in favour.
In a speech on 25 April 2001 the President of the Constitutional Court declared that teaching in the
Kurdish language was unconstitutional 2. The constitutional amendments of 3 October 2001 seem to
be paving the way for radio and television broadcasts in Kurdish. The provisions of Articles 26 and
28 of the Constitution, which stipulated that a language forbidden by law (i.e. Kurdish) could not be
used for expressing and disseminating thoughts or for radio and television broadcasting, have been
repealed as a result of these changes. Subordinate legislation in this area had not yet been adapted at
the end of 2001.
However, Article 42 of the Constitution, which provides that no language other than Turkish shall
be taught as a mother tongue to Turkish citizens, has not been amended; consequently, no room is
being afforded for freedom of Kurdish-language education. The campaign for Kurdish-language
education launched by the Kurds at the end of 2001 is therefore strongly disapproved of by the
authorities. A number of campaigners have meanwhile been arrested for giving support to the PKK.
The authorities see the call for Kurdish-language education as a veiled PKK attempt to gain a better
foothold in Turkey.
Consequently, television and radio broadcasts in Kurdish are still banned under subordinate
legislation. For some years, however, a blind eye has on occasion been turned to radio broadcasts.
The playing of Kurdish music is allowed, yet many songs are banned for their (political) content.
In February 2001 for the first time the Minister for Culture gave permission for a Kurdish-language
film to be shown nationwide.
Following a ruling of the Unity of Law Division of all Civil Appeals Courts on 4 March 2000
Kurdish names can be entered in the population registers. On 31 March 2001 Prime Minister
Ecevit took action against the use of Kurdish place names in correspondence from local
authorities. All places have been given Turkish names in the last few decades but the Kurdish
designations are frequently used in popular speech.
The Kurdish Institute of Istanbul, a private institution which conducts research into the Kurdish
language, has more or less been tacitly tolerated for years. However, in November 2000
proceedings were commenced against the Institute and its director, Hasan Kaya, for allegedly
providing instruction in a language which, according to the Education Law, cannot be taught. Kaya
testified in court that no instruction was being given but that research was simply being conducted
into Kurdish. He quoted a report by the education inspectorate stating that it was impossible to give
language instruction in the rooms available. At the end of December 2001 Kaya was acquitted by
the criminal court, but the case was then referred to the State security court to check whether the
Anti-Terror Law had been contravened."
