Democratic Kurdish Organisations in Germany have written a letter to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations Organisation concerning the political and human rights situation of the Kurdish people in Kurdistan and their demands for the future. In their letter, they ask the UN Secretary General for sensitivity for the Kurdish issue and for support.

Bonn, March 1st, 2007
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
United Nations Secretary General

Excellency,
As Kurdish cultural and democratic organisations based in the Federal Republic of Germany, we are welcoming you delightedly as the Secretary General of the United Nation Organization and we are wishing you success.
Excellency,
As you know, the Kurdish nation is one of the oldest nations of Middle East with a unique language, culture and history. Their country is larger than 500.000 square kilometres and the Kurds are forming the overwhelming majority of the population there. Nonetheless, they suffer severe repression and intimidation in large parts of their homeland, because of the partition of their county.
Excellency,
In the year 1639, our country Kurdistan has officially been divided up between the Ottoman and the Persian Empire. On July 24th, 1923, it has been divided up once more, this time into four pieces. This took place in Lausanne in Switzerland, which also gave the name to the treaty. As the Kurdish nation has not been represented in the conference and this agreement of dividing stands against the claims of the Kurds, it is of course not rightful and not accepted by the Kurdish Nation.
Furthermore, none of the countries, which hold a piece of Kurdistan in their hands, has been built up on a democratic basis. Therefore, neither Turkey, nor Iran, Iraq or Syria, has respected the democratic, cultural and political rights of the Kurds. They repeatedly tried and are still trying to assimilate the Kurds by using force, repression and terror and have even tried to wipe them out.
Excellency,
Unfortunately, we cannot see a positive change in the policy of Turkey, Iran and Syria towards the Kurds. More than 30 million Kurds living within the borders of these three countries are leading a life deprived of their fundamental rights and freedom. To give you some examples, Kurds are not allowed having education in there mother language, nothing about the culture and history of the Kurds is being taught in the schools. There are no measures taken by the government for the development and protection for the Kurdish language and culture. In fact, if we put the limited rights granted by Iran aside, radio and television are closed for the reality of Kurdish language and history. The same is valid for political rights. Briefly, whenever our people ask for its rights, the mentioned countries answer with repression and terror.

Especially in Turkey, serious problems concerning the religious rights are experienced. The Sunni sect of Islam is accepted as the official religion of Turkey, all the other religious beliefs as under strong pressure. Those, who belong to the Alevi, Christian and Yezidi, are facing discrimination and humiliation.

Excellency,
The negative conditions we have shortly mentioned above, in development and life style point of view continues showing its existence. Although Kurdistan possesses rich resources and has all the other necessities required for the improvement of the living conditions, our people is living in poverty. The reason for this is again the policy of exploitation, which is pursued by the countries mentioned before. Without paying any contribution, the colonialist countries take possession of the resources and don't give any chance or opportunity to use these resources for the benefit of our people. The Kurdish people, who does not have the right rule or decide about itself, has unfortunately no means to end this situation. At the same time these suffocative pressures, the hopelessness and poverty lead to serious social problems, which gradually increase.

Excellency,
The allied forces under the leadership of the USA, which your country South Korea joined, led to the overthrowing of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship and opened a perspective for a new life for our people in South Kurdistan, within the borders of Iraq. While the South Kurds, who are free now, are trying to get over the injuries caused by Saddam's genocide policy, they spend huge effort in the struggle for building up a democratic and federal Iraq. The deployment of military units of your country in Kurdistan is a serious contribution. With great pleasure we can state, that the South Korean forces not only give support in military terms. There are also many social projects, which they have put into action. That is why our people are grateful to their South Korean brothers.
This improvement of the situation of the Kurdish People makes them to the targets of those powers in the region, which do not want democracy and peace. The most serious threat to peace and stability in the region comes from the neighbour countries Turkey, Iran and Syria. These countries fear the positive developments in Kurdistan's liberated South, because it might influence and strengthen the liberation movement of the Kurds living within their borders. They make big efforts for destroying the achievements our people have made in their country. Turkey keeps on ignoring international laws and continuously threatens the Federal Kurdistan region with occupation despite the fact that this region is under protection of the international community.
Excellency,
Since its foundation, the United Nations Organisation has been successful in various areas. It has become the light of hope for all those in the world, who are facing the threat of hunger and illness, who are the victims of natural catastrophes and wars. It is for this reason that the UN is respected that much. However, we Kurds cannot count ourselves fortunately concerning the interest of the UN in our situation. Up till now, the United Nations Organisation ignored our peoples pain.

Excellency,
The Kurds are numerically the largest nation in the world without a country on their own, whose right of self-determination has been taken away. The Kurdish question one of the liberation of a nation, whose fundamental rights have been taken away and who lives under the conditions of slavery. All the problems we are experiencing are proving again and again, that peace and stability in the middle east also depend on the just and democratic solution of the Kurdish question.

The Kurds in this frame,
1. want to have the Rights of Language, Culture and Identity,
2. want to benefit equally from the economical and social improvement possibilities and from the principles "Nations Equal Rights and the Right of Self-Determination", which were accepted by the UN. According to this principles the Kurds want to decide about their future by themselves.

Excellency,
We hope you will show sensitivity and pay attention to the problems and the pain of the Kurdish people during your period of duty as the Secretary General of the United Nations.

With our highest respect

Signing organisations:
IMKe.V. - Human Rights Centre for the Kurds, Bonn
IKK e.V - Institute for the Kirmanci Language and Culture, Berlin
KOMKAR - Union of Associations of Kurdistan, Cologne
KKH - Kurdistan Association for Culture and Support, Berlin
KOMJIN - Women Office, Wuppertal
KOMCIWAN -Union of Kurdish Youth in Germany, Dortmund
German-Kurdish Association for Friendship - Hevalti, Köln
German-Kurdish Association for Friendship - Hevalti, Bottrop
German-Kurdish Association for Friendship - Hevalti, Duisburg
IVK/KOMKAR, Wuppertal
Association for Ethnic Minorities, Munich
German-Kurdish Association for Friendship, Hamburg
Kurdish Community, Mannheim
Kurdistan Labourers Association, Nürnberg
Kurdish Association, Bremen
Kurdish Community Rhein-Sieg-District, Troisdorf