NORTH KURDISTAN, — Kurdish children participating in the “Am I a criminal? Are we criminals? Are they criminals?” project organized by Başak Foundation of Culture and Arts and Children Under One Roof Foundation have told how they are being treated as criminals in daily life when they speak Kurdish or say that they are Kurdish.
Children participating in the project have discussed the notions of crime and criminal in relation to the current political atmosphere. “The reasons that push children towards criminality must be sought instead of etiquetting children as criminals. Being or speaking Kurdish already puts children under pressure. People look at us differently when we speak Kurdish, not the way they would look if we spoke English or French,” says Muhammad.
Another Kurdish child, Elif, says, “I have always felt guilty when somebody asks me where I am from. Yet I believe that nobody is a criminal, especially those under 18. I would like to ask, can we talk about crimes if there is justice and equality?”
Journalist Pinar Oguncsho spoke at the panel emphasized that the mainstream media plays a crucial role in criminalizing people and creates political manipulation by using Kurdish children.