Human Rights Association expresses support for MP's use of Kurdish language in Turkish parliament

The Human Rights Association (IHD) has supported the efforts of Urfa deputy Omer Ocalan to use the Kurdish language in the Turkish parliament. The Green Left Party deputy recently held a 13-minute press conference in Kurdish at the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey).

In a statement, IHD emphasized that one of the main obstacles in the unresolved Kurdish question is the restrictions and bans on the use of the Kurdish language in official and social spheres.

The statement pointed out that these restrictions on the Kurdish language reflect a political environment in Turkey that aims to maintain a monist mentality and the dominance of a particular culture. It further stated, "Languages spoken in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey other than Turkish are mentioned as '...' in the minutes of the parliament, which means that non-Turkish words were expressed by the speaker in this section. The same situation exists in the press statements made in the Parliament. This confirms that the existence of the Kurdish language is still not recognized in the Turkish Parliament, as well as in the educational, social and cultural environment in Turkey".

IHD emphasizes that the solution of the Kurdish question can only be achieved when the Kurds are able to exercise the rights that are enshrined in the basic human rights documents. The association reiterates the urgent need for a legal, social and cultural solution to this human rights problem in accordance with human rights law.