PRESS RELEASE, — For the interest of the general Swedish public, Network for an Alternative Quest (NAQ) is proudly announcing the conference: “Kurdish Question in Turkey – recent developments and alternative solutions”. NAQ was established by a group of Kurdish-Swedish intellectuals, who with this event aim to place particular interest on perhaps one of the most crucial conflicts of Middle East, which is undergoing massive conversions.
For more than a century, the Kurdish people have been disregarded in their appeal for universal human rights. Instead, international plans and strategies for the region that Kurds have inhabited for thousands of years always have sought to benefit from the Kurdish factor. The states and borders of national states were drawn disregarding an entire people who were left for the mercy of their conquerors.
Kurds on the other hand have believed in democracy and in a peaceful alliance with their neighbours. As of today, Kurds emerge as one of the most crucial actors of their own will in Turkey as well as in Syria, Iraq and Iran.
As of today, Kurds propose a new paradigm for a region gone into history with years of autocracy, suppression and sorrow. This new paradigm suggests a reformulation of the current ethnic-national state into a democratic-ecologic republic. Taking the lead of this reformulation may provide an alternative to the current non-ending violence in Middle East.
What do Kurds mean with democratic self-determination? What is the reply of the Turkish Republic? And how can a more modern, democratic Turkish Republic be achieved?
These are some of the many questions the above mentioned conference will address with the contribution of following names:
Emine Ayna (MP), Peace and Democracy Party, Turkey
Antonio Negri, Professor, Italy (Video-Message)
Kariane Westrheim, PhD, University of Bergen, Norway (moderator)
Ahmet Alis, PhD, Bogazici University, Turkey
Hans Linde (MP), Left Party, Sweden
Valter Mutt (MP), Swedish Green Party, Sweden
Yildirim Türker, Journalist, Turkey
Mustafa Can, Journalist, Sweden
Reimar Heider, International Initiative “Freedom for Öcalan-Peace in Kurdistan”
Conference language is Swedish with simultaneous translation from Turkish and English.
Date: November 2, 2012
Time: 10-18.00
Location: University of Gothenburg, Humanisten, Store Hörsalen
Registration is required by email to networkaq.sweden@gmail.com.
Organization: Network for an Alternative Quest
Co-organizers: ABF Göteborg, Kurdiska Rådet, Svensk-Kurdiska Kulturförening i Göteborg, Kurdiska Föreningsrådet i Västra Göteland
NAQ welcomes all with interest in the Kurdish question.