Press Release

Boycott Turkey's propaganda celebration: "April 23 - National Day of Sovereignty and Day of the Child"

Since the founding of the Republic of Turkey an official celebration called, "April 23 National Day of Sovereignty and Day of the Child" has been celebrated. In recent years this celebration has been observed in Turkish consulates and related entities, as well as in different countries of Western Europe and overseas. In this way it has been sought to give this "Day" an international character.

But what meaning does this official "celebration" have in reality?

The Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 on a chauvinistic and racist basis, which operated under the motto, "one language, one nation, one government, and one leader, and rejected every kind of pluralism.

The founders of this state, on the one hand, designated Turks as "the superior race, created by the civilizations of history," and, on the other hand, denied the existence of all non- Turkish peoples, which lived within the borders of the state

When the Kurds, the second largest ethnic group living within the borders of Turkey, did not accept this state ideology and resisted it, a brutal policy of suppression and destruction, including genocide, was used against them. The painful effects of this politics, which contained mass murder, deportation, assimilation, and the holding back of economic development has mainly been felt by children.

This illegitimate and unjust system, begun in 1923, continues unchanged to this day. Turkey, which wants to become a member of the European Union, ratified the international convention for the protection of children only with reservation and did not sign the article which fixes the right of children to learn their own native language and to have mother tongue educational instruction. The Turkish educational system is a system of dogmas; it is against liberty of thought and pluralism. The state ideology of "Kemalism" is implied and indoctrinated.

Even to this day the children of non-Turkish peoples and ethnic minorities, in particular the children of Kurds, do not have the right to mother tongue training or education. The schools are for them a stronghold of assimilation and being made Turkish. Neither the national television and radio, nor private transmitters, or official agencies, are permitted to speak to these children about their activities in their language. Kurdish schools are permitted neither to pass on nor explain Kurdish language, culture and history to their own children. Every day before instruction begins all children, without exception, have to say the racist oath, that begins with "I am a Turk, upright and industrious," and ends with, "my existence should be sacrificed for Turkey."

In regard to religion and freedom of belief the situation is not much different.

Under the name of the official celebration, "April 23 - National Day of Sovereignty and Day of the Child," is a symbol of a racist-chauvinistic and anti-democratic system.

Therefore it is our appeal to individuals, and national as well as international agencies that care about democracy and human rights, to not support activities that serve the purposes of the propaganda of the Turkish state, but to do just the opposite; we ask you to reject and condemn them.

March 23, 2006 1.)

IMK e.V. - Internationales Zentrum fur die Menschenrechte der Kurden, Bonn (International Center for the Human Rights of Kurds, Bonn, Germany)

2.) AWADANI e.V. - Kurdisches Forum in Deutschland e.V., Berlin (Kurdish Forum in Germnay)

3.) KOMKAR - Verband der Vereine aus Kurdistan e.V., Koln (Federation of Associations from Kurdistan)

4.) IKK e.V. - Institut fur Sprache und Kultur der Kirmanc (Zaza) , Berlin (Institute for the Language and Culture of Kirmanc)

5.) KOMJIN - Frauenburo, Wuppertal (The Office of Women)

6.) KOMCIWAN - Verband der kurdischen Jugendlichen in Deutschland, Dortmund (Association of Kurdish Youth in Germnay)

7.) Kurdische Frauen im Exil e.V., Berlin (Kurdish Women in Exile)

8.) KAK e.V. - Kontaktstelle Kurdistan - Munchen (Contact Place Kurdistan)

9.) Gemeinde der syrischen Kurden in Berlin und Brandenburg e.V., Berlin (Association of Syrian Kurds in Berlin and Brandenburg)

ViSdP: Abubekir Saydam (Director)
IMK e.V.
Postfach 200738, D - 53 137 Bonn
Tel.: +49/228/36 28 02, Fax: +49/228/36 32 97
E-Mail: imkkurds@aol.com, www.kurden.de