Amed Conference focuses on protecting Kurdish Language

The conference continues its activities, organized by Kurdish language institutions since yesterday under the slogan “From Legal Status to Education… A New Framework for Negotiation,” at the Amed Cultural Center in Diyarbakir in Northern Kurdistan, with the participation of political party members and leaders, hundreds of representatives of civil society organizations, as well as representatives of Kurdish language institutions from various regions of Northern Kurdistan and Turkey.

During the discussion sessions, participants addressed the impact of assimilation policies and historical pressures on the Kurdish language, stressing that preserving it requires the development of educational and cultural programs and strengthening its use within families, schools, and community institutions.

The participants emphasized that language forms the foundation of identity and existence, underlining the need to grant it legal status, expand education in the Kurdish language, and establish specialized institutions to protect and develop it. They also highlighted the importance of using digital platforms and media to spread the language among younger generations.

Speakers pointed out that the weak use of the Kurdish language is the result of historical policies of prohibition and marginalization, calling for overcoming the fear associated with using it and encouraging families to pass it on to children as an essential part of culture and collective memory.

The conference also discussed the role of local administrations and cultural institutions in developing language policies, including the opening of research centers and language academies, supporting kindergartens and schools that use Kurdish, and developing multilingual digital services.

The conference concluded its sessions by reaffirming the commitment to continue efforts to strengthen and protect the Kurdish language as a key element in preserving cultural and linguistic diversity in the region.

ANHA