On Tuesday morning, police raided the Mesopotamian Language and Culture Research Association (MED-DER) and the Payîz Pirtûk and Anka Language and Art Education Cooperative, which organizes multilingual education and art workshops, in Amed. Police raided many houses at the same time and detained 31 people. DBP Amed Provincial co-chair Sultan Yaray spoke to ANF about the latest wave of attacks on the Kurdish language and culture.

Attacks on Kurdish language

Sultan Yaray said that MED-DER had just started its new term courses, and added: "This was announced a few days ago and registrations were extended until 25 September. There were many applications, and these new attacks and raids revealed that there is no tolerance for the Kurdish language. The authorities do not provide any opportunity for the development and continuity of the Kurdish language. This is an indication of their hostility towards it. Assimilation policies have been carried out on the Kurdish language for 100 years, but in the last few months there has been increasing pressure and attacks. There have been arrests and raids. Many attacks are being carried out, such as taking down Kurdish signs, erasing Kurdish road signs, attacking statues of Kurdish writers. The operation against MED-DER is not independent of these attacks."

We will protect our language and identity

Sultan Yaray condemned the dozens of attacks against the Kurdish language and culture before, and said: "Previously, there was KURDI-DER with its 36 branches. All 36 branches were attacked at once and all were closed down. Despite this, MED-DER was opened with the struggle of language activists and our friends who wanted the Kurdish language to spread and grow. However, MED-DER has also been subjected to pressure and attacks since its establishment. Its teachers are especially under pressure and are being targeted. Despite this, they have never given up on the struggle for the Kurdish language. They will not give up. Our friends will continue their struggle. No matter how much the pressure and attacks increase, Kurds will never give up their language, identity or culture. It is a crime to alienate a people from their language and culture by force. The crime of assimilation and annihilation policies is being committed against the Kurds."

Yaray continued: "During the raids, not only our friends were detained. Kurdish books and magazines were also confiscated. Although none of them were banned, the security forces seized the books arbitrarily. Kurdish novels, Kurdish poetry books, magazines were seized. We do not accept this. We will do whatever is necessary against this. We will protect our language, culture, and identity. There are dozens of languages, cultures, and societies that have been lost and assimilated in Turkey, but the Kurds have never accepted this and have stood against it."

As long as isolation continues, attacks will go on

Sultan Yaray said that the detentions were made following statements by an informant, and added that he was a tool of the state that was using him as an excuse. Yaray underlined that the real reason for all this oppression was isolation and said: "This oppression is a reflection of isolation. As long as isolation continues, attacks on our language and identity will go on. Our priority should be to end isolation and open the doors of Imrali. The absolute lack of communication imposed on Mr. Öcalan strengthens the basis for the intensification of special war policies against the Kurdish people. For this reason, we must speak out against isolation everywhere. We must protect our language, identity, culture and history."