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Organisations  that are active in europe  which  are Democratik and Civil organisations  e,g UNICEF,UNESCO,COUNCIL OF  EUROPE ,OSCE (Organization for Securuty and Co- operation in Europe)  members of european   country's  prime ministers, and  foreign ministers were sent letters.

Dear,

As a democratic institution of Kurds living in European countries, we are writing this letter to raise awareness of the situation of Kurds living throughout Turkey, as well as in Northern Kurdistan, which is within the borders of the Turkish Republic.

It is indisputable that the Kurdish issue is a matter of providing cultural freedom for Kurds as a people.  It is well known that the Kurds are being persecuted within their fragmented country.  This issue can only be resolved by taking steps towards freedom of self-expression and self-determination within the framework of the equality of nations, as adopted by the United Nations.

However, this does not mean that nothing can be done while waiting for a permanent solution.  Measures that could be taken immediately could include: 

-         reducing the escalating tension between Turks and Kurds,

-         reversing the increased violence.

Both steps would further conditions that would enable a peaceful solution.

With this in mind, we wish to present our views and suggestions regarding the Cultural and Linguistic rights of Kurdish children, which is a critical issue. 

Dear,

To date, Turkey is not a signatory to the International Convention of Children’s Rights. The Turkish educational system, which is inherently against pluralism and free-thinking, perpetrates a set of dogmas with racist and paternalistic elements. They fill children’s minds with nationalistic Turkish policies instituted by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk . Radio and television in Turkey are not permitted to produce mother-tongue programming for children of non-Turkish origins, nor are children permitted to learn their own language, culture or history.

Schools, especially ‘Regional Boarding Schools’ where very young Kurdish children are placed after removal from their families, are breeding grounds for assimilation and “Turkification”.  Without exception, all children are forced to take the racist oath each morning which begins:  ‘I am Turkish, I am righteous, I am industrious’.  They close by saying: ‘Let my very existence be a sacrifice for the existence of the Turkish Republic.

In addition to the efforts of the government, private companies and institutions are being required to do likewise.  For example, last year  the Milliyet Daily newspaper launched a campaign entitled; ‘Daddy, Send Me To School’.  Contrary to the seemingly commendable goal of the campaign, it is not an educational campaign of good will.  The goal, instead, is to alienate Kurdish children from their culture, by causing them to forget their mother tongue and identity. They are re-educated to become “good Turks”. We are living witnesses of  the tragic and traumatic outcome inflicted upon individuals, families and the society, as a result of inhumane policies which have been carried out in various regions of Kurdistan since the 1940’s. Whilst Turkey demanded linguistic education, cultural rights and identity for the children of Turks who came to Europe for work, the very same government has not assured equivalent rights for Kurdish children in their homeland.  The fact that the Turkish government repeatedly refuses to even discuss these issues merely underscores the true nature of its discriminatory and assimilative policies, which are essentially racist.

In the meantime, yet another assimilative programme for “Turkification” is underway. This time pre-school children are being targeted.  In an openly racist manner, the Minister of National Education has labelled the inability of Kurdish and Arabic children to speak Turkish, a “disease” which must be “cured”. Further, he claims that any effort to “cure” the “disease” should be regarded as ‘positive discrimination’. (Milliyet Daily, 20 April 2005)

Obviously, whilst eager to join the EU, Turkey shows no respect for the linguistic, cultural and self-identity rights of Kurdish children, but instead increases its efforts to assimilate minorities. Clearly, this is a breach of principles adopted by the United Nations, of which  Turkey is a member.  By perpetrating its nationalistic policies, Turkey commits crimes which can only be seen as cultural genocide.

Having begun a campaign with the motto, “No to Assimilation! Freedom for the Kurdish Language! Education in our Mother Tongue!”, we call upon all humanitarian organizations, state and government authorities, institutions and concerned bodies, first and foremost within the UN and the EU, to support our efforts to oppose Turkey’s campaign to assimilate minorities.

Education and literacy are fundamental rights for Kurdish children, as they are for all children. And like other children of the world, Kurdish children should be assured the right to express their own language, culture and identity.

Turkey must comply with International Convention of Children’s Rights, as well as other related conventions. It must respect the fundamental rights of non-Turkish nationals and minorities and abandon its racist-assimilative educational policies in favour of democratic, egalitarian and pluralist education. We believe that models already well established in Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Spain, and the one currently being developed in Iraq, serve as good examples of successful policies.

We hope that you will stand by our nation as it struggles for peace, justice and freedom. We thank you for your support.

Respectfully yours,

Bodies responsible for the Campaign:

  1. IKK e.V. – Institute for Language and Culture of the Kirmanc (Zaza), Berlin
  2. IMK e.V. – International Center for the Human Rights of the Kurds, Bonn
  3. AWADANI e.V. – Kurdish Forum in Germany r.A., Berlin
  4. KOMKAR – Federation of Associations from Kurdistan r.A., Cologne
  5. Community of Syrian Kurds in Berlin and Brandenburg r.A., Berlin
  6. Association of Kurdish Medical Doctors in Germany r.A., Berlin
  7. SOZK – Social and Organizational Center for Kurds, Berlin
  8. Kirkuk Solidarity, Berlin
  9. Kurdish PEN-Center, Bremen
  10. KOMJIN – Womens Office, Wuppertal
  11. KOMCIWAN – Federation of Kurdish Youth in Germany, Dortmund
  12. Kurdish Women in Exile r.A., Berlin
  13. ZANIN – Kurdish Students Association at the University of Hanover
  14. KAK e.V-.Contact Point Kurdistan, Munich
  15. Sponsoring Association for the Support of HAK-PAR in Germany
  16. German-Kurdish Friendship Society – Hevalti in Cologne
  17. German-Kurdish Friendship Society – Hevalti in Bottrop
  18. German-Kurdish Friendship Society – Hevalti in Duisburg
  19. IVK/KOMKAR, Wuppertal
  20. KKH – Kurdistan Cultur and Aid Association, Berlin
  21. Association for Ethnic Minorities, Munich
  22. German-Kurdish Friendship Society, Hamburg
  23. Kurdish Community in Mannheim
  24. Association of Workmen from Kurdistan in Nurnberg
  25. Kurdish Association in Bremen
  26. Kurdish Community in Gießen
  27. Kurdish Community in Rhine-Sieg-Circle
  28. Kurdish Community in Paris/France
  29. Union of Employees from Kurdistan in the Netherlands
  30. KOMKAR – Switzerland
  31. KOMKAR – Sweden
  32. KOMKAR – Denmark
  33. KOMKAR – Great Brittain
  34. KOMKAR – Austria

Address for exchange of correspondence

Abubekir Saydam (Geschäftsführer des IMK e.V.)
Postfach 200738, D - 53 137 Bonn
Tel.: 0228/36 28 02, Fax: 0228/36 32 97, E-Mail: imkkurds@aol.com, www.kurden.de

PSK Bulten © 2006