IZMIR - Kurdish women who want their mother tongue to be the language of education and the official language said that peace is possible on equal terms, by recognizing the mother tongue. 

 

Following the historic call made by Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan on February 27, calls are being made for the state to take steps on many issues. Among these demands, the demand for the mother tongue to be the language of education and the official language, which is one of the fundamental causes of the Kurdish problem, stands out. Attention is drawn to the importance of the mother tongue for achieving peace.

 

'We want to speak our language everywhere'

 

Kurdish women who were forced to migrate to Izmir as a result of the state's repressive policies made assessments regarding education in the mother tongue and its recognition as an official language in the context of the process. Zeynep Çetres, who said that her children began to forget Kurdish after migrating to Izmir, stated, "We want to speak our own language. Our language is our honor. We want our children to be taught in their own language at school. Peace is possible with the recognition of our mother tongue."

 

‘Peace must begin with language’

 

Sabriye Gitsin, who emphasized that speaking one's mother tongue is the right of every citizen, said, "It is important for our children to be educated in their own language. Our mother tongue is Kurdish, our country is Kurdistan. We face many difficulties when dealing with state institutions. Why is nothing being done for Kurdish when there are guides and interpreters for other languages? Great injustices are being done to Kurds living in Turkey. If there is to be peace, it must begin with language." 

 

'It should be the official language'

 

Emphasizing the vital importance of the mother tongue, Hanife Budak said that families can keep the language alive by speaking Kurdish with their children. Hanife Budak said, "Peace is possible with equal conditions. If our children take English, Arabic, and German lessons at school, they can also receive Kurdish education. We want our children to be able to speak their mother tongue comfortably everywhere. We want Kurdish to be the official language."

 

An example for preserving the mother tongue: Rojava

 

Yasemin Elban, director of the Avesta Language and Culture Research Association, also stressed that Kurdish must gain status, saying, "It's a slow process, but it's happening. First, the Kurdish language must gain status. Kurdish education must be provided. Kurdish must be the language of education from elementary school to university. We hope for this, and it must happen now. We are not begging anyone; our mother tongue is our right. As Kurds, we must defend our mother tongue. The best example of this is Rojava. They didn't have schools at the beginning either. They started over and succeeded. We also need to start from the beginning and succeed.”