His Excellency Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President, Ankara, Turkey 
His Excellency Bulent Ecevit, Prime Minister, Ankara, Turkey 
Mr. Ömer Izgi, Chair of the Parliament, Ankara, Turkey 

Your Excellency, 

It is with grave concern that we have been observing the developments around the recent campaign launched by some students and parents demanding the introduction of Kurdish language in schools as an optional education medium. 

As the highest-ranking leaders of the Republic of Turkey, you seem to be reacting to this campaign with harsh and repressive measures. The campaign petitions have been turned away and people who signed them were branded as separatists. Some of the students were expelled from their universities and subjected to detention, arrest and beatings. IN the meantime, the campaign is gaining momentum throughout Turkey and receiving a great deal of support. 

Education in mother tongue is a fundamental human right. In Turkey there are about 20 million people whose mother tongue is Kurdish. Despite the suppression of their national identity for several decades, the Kurdish people are now claiming these legitimate rights would not solve but aggravate the problems. 

The European Union is well aware of this fact. For this reason, several conditions have been put forward before Turkey’s accession negotiations can start. One of the medium term conditions is the provision of education in Kurdish language. 

Please hear the voices of your country’s intellectuals, human rights activities and non-governmental organisations. The recognition of Kurdish people’s right to their language, culture and national identity is an essential element in the process of democratisation of your country. 

In view of the above, we can call upon you 

· To consider this campaign as an opportunity for starting a public discussion of the issue; 
· To ensure that petitions are accepted; 
· To release the students who were detained and arrested; 
· To end the disciplinary proceedings against these students and allow them to return to their studies; 
· To repeal the laws which criminals demanding education in one’s mother tongue and 
· To bring about legislation to regulate education in Kurdish as a mother tongue. 

We urge you to consider and revise your policies regarding this fundamental human right. It is only through securing and protecting fundamental human rights that a firm basis of a peaceful co-existence can be established. 

Signer: 
Danielle Mitterand (President of »France-Libertés« ), Martin van Bruinessen (Prof. Dr. Historian and Autor), Mehmet Emin Bozarslan (Kurdish Linguist Litareteur), Sivan Perwer (Kurdish Musician), Fettah Timar (President of KOMKAR in Europe), Tove Skutnabb-Kangas (Dr.phil., University of Roskilde, Denmark, 

more signer

Aakjaer, Kjeld	Trade Union-Denmark
Akay, Veysel	Lawyer
Akin, Müslüm
Al-Dahoodi, Dr. Zuhdi	Writer
Askin, Sultan	Representative of the ÖDP in Munich
Astare, Kemal	Writer
Ates, Nuh	Dipl. educationist / Writer
Ates, Süleyman	Teacher, Member of the committee for multicultural politics in NRW with the GEW
Aydin, Abdulhadi	1. Chairman the Kurdish community in Fulda inc.
Aydin, Mahmut	Teacher
Aydin, Osman	Writer
Aydin, Sahin	Chairperson of the PDS in Bottrop / Gladbeck II
Babaoglu, Tuncay	Writer / Publisher
Balci, Sevki
Baur, Prof. Dr. Rupprecht S.,	Lecturer at the University of Essen
Bayrak, Mehmet	Writer
Beer, Angelika	Member of the Parliament - Germany
Beig, Michel	Student
Bektas, PD Dr. med. Hüseyin,	Doctor
Benker, Siegfried	City council party leader the B ' 90 / the Green in Munich
Bilgin, Sakir	Teacher
Bingöl, Sidar	President of KOMKAR in Netherlands
Blüm, Dr. Norbert	Member of the union - CDU
Boyik, Eskerê	Writer
Branscheidt, Hans	President of the Medico international
Bucak, Sertaç	President of the international association for human rights of the Kurds - IMK
Büchner, Bodo	Lawyer
Budzinski, Dr. Manfred	Study leader in the Ev academy bath Boll
Buldan, Nejdet	Ex-Mayor of the city of Yüksekova
Buro, Prof. Dr. Andreas	Peace-political speaker of the committee for fundamental rights and democracy
Canisius, Renate	Mayoress of the city of Cologne
Cefer, Eli	Writer
Cem, Munzur	Writer
Christina, Holte	Assistant Tanzwerk inc.
Ciftci, Ali	Owner of the publishing house APEC - Sweden
Dagdelen, Murat
Demir, Abdulkerim	Member the foreign adviser of the city of Fulda
Demir, Salih	Chairman of KOMKAR  Sweden
Demirel, Abdullah	President of the „Kurdish Culture Center Ffm“
Demirel, Molla	Writer
Drillisch, Antje
Dubberke, Dr. Mathia
Düchting, Johannes	Writer
Düker, Monika	Member of parliament of the country - NRW - B ' 90 / the Green
Dürre, Abdurrahman	Writer
Elturan, Dr. Burhan,	Lecturer at the University of Indiana - USA
Emin, Husoyê	Chairman of the Hevalti/Bottrop
Eppler, Dr. Wolfgang	Scholar at the Institute of Data Processing and Electronics (FKZ)
Erkiner, Engin	Writer / Publisher
Erol, Erman	Social education worker, Office worker with the city of Nuremberg
Eser, Bube	Writer
Eskin, Bediye	Interpreter
Eşo, Wezirê	Kurdish office in Brussels
Exner, Váklav	Member of the parliament of the Czech republic - KSCM
Faki, Dr. med. Resul	Doctor, Chairperson of the union of Kurdish doctors in Germany
Fatê	Singer
Fenkstein, Wolfgang	Linguist
Ferrari, Sylvia	Teacher
Frahm, Pernille	MEP, -Member of European Parlament, DK
Frank, Ren	Jurist
Galletti, Dr. Mirella	Writer, Lecturer at the University of Bologna - Italy
Gehrcke, Wolfgang	Member of the union - PDS
Gergeri, Mahmud	Teacher
Ghazi, Ali H.	Politician and author
Goldmann, Hans-Michael	Member of the union of the FDP, speakers for ship trip and harbours of the FDP - Bundestag faction
Graf, Verena	Secretary general the LIDLIP, International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples
Gröther, Manfred
Güler, Dr. med. Şükrü	Doctor Med.
Gülmüs, Sükrü	Responsible of the web-page Nasname
Habasch, Husein	Writer
Haco, Ciwan	Singer-songwriter
Hasan Hüseyin Yildirim	Teacher
Haußmann, Sybille	Member of parliament of the country - NRW - B ' 90 / the Green
Hermann, Peter	Evangelic social work for young persons in Bavaria
Hêvî	Welfare organization for Kurdistan
Hoff, Prof. DR. G.R.	Lecturer at the University of Berlin (FU)
Horstmeier, Kai	TV-Journalist
IMAZ	Institute of migration research, Intercultural education and Didactics of the second languages at the university Essen
Informatiecentrum vor syrische Koerden
Insan, Casim	Film maker
Institut für Interkulturelle Erziehungswissensachaft Berlin - London	Institute of Intercultural education in Berlin and London
Iordanidou, Charitini	Lecturer at the University of Essen
Isik, Haydar	Writer
Jelpke, Ulla	Member of the union - PDS
Just, Dr. Wolf-Dieter,	Ecumenical asylum BAG in the church, Ev academy Mülheim
Just, Ingrid	Assistant the Ecumenical asylum BAG in the church, Evangelic academy Mülheim
Kadir, J.	Historian
Kameran, Faysal	Office worker with the city of Munich
Kaplan, Cahit	Teacher
Kara, Sabah	Writer
Kartal, Şexo	Singer-songwriter
Kauz, Alexander, (RIB e.V.)	Writer
Kaya, Mahmut
Kaya, Nizamettin	Interpreter / Engineer
Khosravian, Yervand	Chairman of the Armenian National Culture Center
Kilinc, Mahmut	Ex-Member of Turkish parliament
Kisabacak, Mustafa	Dipl. political economist
Kizilhan, Dr. Ilhan	Lecturer at the University Constance (Peace Conflict Studies)
Kizilocak, Hüseyin	Journalist
Kocadag, Çeko	Writer
Komela Ahmedê Xanî	Ahmedê Xanî Association - Delft the Netherlands
Korell, Jürgen	Detective
Kraus, Sandra Helli	educationist
Krikken, Wanter	Historian
Kulturkreis KAÇKAR, Glatten	Association for Caucasian culture and languages
Kurij, Seyidxan	Journalist
Kutlay, Ayhan	Teacher
Lange, Herbert
Link, Marianne
Lipkowski, Dr. Eva	Vice-Dean of the FB 3 of the university Essen
Loeff, Wouter	Student
Luchtenberg, Prof. Dr. Sigrid	Lecturer at the University of Essen
Lunnen, Wendy	Personnel specialist
Merk, Heidi	Country minister retd of the country of Lower Saxony
Moradi, Dr. Golmorad	Writer
Necmeddin Baker	Sculptor
Nestvogel, Prof. Dr. Renate	Lecturer at the University of Essen
Nudem, Amed	Chairperson of the association of the Kurdish democrats in Rogaland - Norway
OEK	Group of the Greek municipalities in the FRG. inc.
Özcan, Sevket	Social education worker
Özdemir, Cem	Member of the Parliament - Germany
Özdemir, Kazim	Teacher
Özgüden, Dogan	Editor the Info-Türk
Özgür, Muzaffer	Journalist
Özkan, Resat	Journalist
Pappas, Kostas	Chairman of BAGIV - Federal study group of the immigrant's groups in the FRG. inc.
Phillipson, Dr. phil. Robert	Lecturer at the Copenhagen Business School-Denmark
Pillath, Dieter	Sociologist
Rainer, Dr. Michael	Cactus radio in Münster
Rosemarie, Dr  Neumann	Lecturer at the University of Essen
Roth, Claudia	Member of the union and federal chairperson the B ' 90 / the Green
Roth, Florian	Chairman of the B ' 90 / the Green in Munich
Said Aziz, Hama	Businessman
Sakelariou, Jannis	MEP, -Member of European Parlament, Germany-
Saleh, A.	Student
Saribas, Dr. Gülistan	Doctor Med.
Saydam, Abubekir	Manager of the international association for human rights of the Kurds - IMK
Saydan, Hasim	Sculptor
Schmalstieg, Dr. h.c. Herbert	Chief burgomaster of the city of Hannover
Schrader, Laura (Coordinamento Comitati per il popolo Kurdo)	Journalist
Schroeder, Dr. Christoph	Lecturer at the University of Essen, Teaching course of Turkish, linguist
Schultheiß, Wielske
Schwall-Düren, Dr. Angelika	Member of the union - Germany- SPD
Seidel, Eberhard	Journalist with tageszeitung
Şêrîn Perwer	Singer
Simo, Dr. med. Omar	Doctor
Studt, Heiner
Tank, Necati
Tanrikulu, Mehmet	Teacher
Tasche, Johan	Engineer – Den Haag
Taskale, Hasan	Teacher
Telek, Nezif	Writer
Thomas, Christine	Lecturer at the University of Essen
Tigris, Amed	Teacher
Tolan, Kemal	Writer
Topal, Riza	Sculptor
Urbach, Stephan	Lawyer
Uzun, Kemal	Teacher
Van Bommel, Harry	MEP, -Member of European Parlament - Netherlands
Van den Berge, B.	Student
Van den Borge, P.A.
Voss, Sylvia	Member of the union - Germany- B ' 90 / the Green
Vural, Basri	Bookkeeper
Wurzel, Petra
Yazgan, Ilhami	Writer
Yildirim, M. Ali	Chairman of the Hevkar
Yildirim, Süleyman	Middle East-adviser the GfbV
Yildiz, Dr. med. Fikret	Specialist for woman's medicine
Yusuf Bilgiç	Teacher
Zagnoni, Simunella	Lecturer at the University of Essen
Zaver, Ismail	Journalist with El Hayat
Zülch, Tilman	President of the GfbV (society for threatened peoples) for sections Germany, Bosnia Herzegovina, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Luxembourg

Name and surname:..............................................:

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I am/we are support this campaign

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copy and sent to : 

KOMKAR 
Verband der Vereine aus Kurdistan e. V. 
Bunsenstr. 7, D-51145 Köln 
Tel.: 02203-93517-0, Fax: 02203-31126
komkar@aol.com
komkar@t-online.de E-Mail: komkar@t-online.de