The Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) issued joint statements in many cities for 15 May, Kurdish Language Day, listing five demands regarding the Kurdish language.

Amed
In a statement in front of the Diyarbakır Courthouse by the Amed Branch of ÖHD, representatives from the Human Rights Association (IHD), the Amed Bar Association, and many civil society organizations participated. The Kurmanji part of the statement was read by ÖHD Amed Branch Kurdish Language Commission member Gülbahar Ateş, and the Kirmancki part by Mehmet Emin Gökdemir, another commission member.

The joint statement said: "All languages are fundamental values of humanity and possess equal rights. The Kurdish language is a fundamental value of the Kurdish people and humanity. Therefore, ignoring, banning, suppressing, surrounding, restricting, or trying to eliminate the Kurdish language by various means is among the gravest crimes against humanity. Because of this truth, the Kurdish language must be officially recognized by the Turkish state and all official and international institutions, and its use must be free in all social and living spheres.

Based on this, we, the following institutions and communities, put forward these demands:

-The Kurdish language must be officially recognized and granted a status.

-Kurdish should be the language of education from preschool to university.

-All place and object names originally in Kurdish but translated into Turkish should be returned to their Kurdish names.

-All legal and de facto barriers to Kurdish should be removed, and Kurdish should be free everywhere.

-To permanently ensure the freedom of the Kurdish language, the legal and political status of Kurds must be recognized.

On the basis of establishing a democratic, free, and peaceful society, we call on all authorities of the Republic of Turkey to accept and implement these most humane demands in their constitution and laws. We also call on all Kurdish movements, parties, institutions, platforms, initiatives, the Kurdish nation, and all advocates of humanity to intensify, strengthen, and expand their struggle to realize these demands, protect and develop the Kurdish language, and first implement these demands within their own communities, making Kurdish the language of all struggles, work, and life.”

Urfa
ÖHD, İHD, and the Urfa (Riha) Bar Association held a press statement in front of the Urfa Courthouse. In the statement, where banners reading “Struggle everywhere for the Kurdish language” were held, ÖHD Urfa Branch member Müslüm Saraçoğlu said, “Kurdish is the identity, culture, existence, and life of the Kurdish people. Kurdish is the key that opens the door to the Kurds’ freedom. Kurdish is the honor of the Kurds.” Emphasizing that support for the Kurdish language grew stronger after Abdullah Öcalan’s 'Call for Peace and a Democratic Society' on February 27, Saraçoğlu said, “We fully support this historic call. For a dignified peace, the obstacles to Kurdish must be removed. For this to happen, conditions must be created where Mr. Öcalan can live and work freely."

Mersin
In Mersin, a statement was made at the ÖHD office. A banner reading 'Our language is our honor' was hung in the hall. Lawyer Muammer Derince read the joint text.

Mardin

The ÖHD Mardin (Mêrdîn) Branch made a statement in front of the courthouse. Many lawyers attended, and ÖHD member Sezgin Dinç listed the demands from the joint statement.