On trial for speaking Kurdish

calss_roomMARDIN, North Kurdistan, — Turkey seeks EU membership but does not permit the use of a language spoken by 40 million people. Kurds are arrested and trialled simply for the use of Kurdish language in public.

Midyat Public Prosecutor opened new investigations against the managers and members of BDP for writing in Kurdish on the signs of party buildings and banners for celebration of Newroz, Kurdish new year, report said today.

BDP Midyat Branch replaced the party signs in four languages, Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic and Syriac, on January 12 and March 17 for Newroz celebrations.

According to the reports eighteen BDP managers and members will be tried next week for writing in Kurdish.