Kobani parties reject Kurdish as optional subject, demand mother-tongue education

The political parties in Kobani issued a written statement today regarding the decision on teaching the Kurdish language. The statement said:

“We, the political parties in Kobani, are following with deep concern and clear dismay the decision regarding the teaching of the Kurdish language in our schools, which limits it to three classes and one activities class, while making it an optional subject. This step in no way meets the right of our people to genuinely and effectively learn their mother tongue.

“We consider this decision unacceptable and categorically reject it, as it is inconsistent with the most basic principles of justice, equality, and linguistic and cultural rights. We reject reducing the Kurdish language to three classes a week or treating it as an optional subject, as this directly or indirectly reinforces the view of Kurdish as a marginal or secondary language.

“Kurdish is not a supplementary subject that students can choose or give up, nor is it a foreign language in its own homeland. Rather, it is the mother tongue and embodies the identity, history, culture and collective memory of the Kurdish people. Any education policy that ignores this reality or diminishes the status of the Kurdish language cannot be considered a step toward building a new Syria. Instead, it reproduces the policies of marginalization and denial that Kurds have endured for decades.

“Moving from denial to genuine recognition cannot be achieved through slogans or symbolic decisions. It requires guaranteeing the full right to education in the mother tongue and adopting Kurdish-language curricula.

“Accordingly, we, the political parties in Kobani, affirm the following:

First: We categorically reject limiting Kurdish-language instruction to three classes and consider this measure insufficient and unfair to Kurdish students. It does not meet even the minimum of their right to education in their mother tongue.

Second: We reject treating Kurdish as an optional subject for members of the Kurdish community. We call for education based on Kurdish-language curricula in schools in Kurdish areas and areas with Kurdish-majority populations, ensuring students’ right to receive comprehensive education in their mother tongue.

Third: We call for clear and explicit constitutional recognition of the right to education in Kurdish and the adoption of Kurdish curricula at all educational levels, guaranteeing this right permanently and irreversibly.

Fourth: We reject any attempt to confine the Kurdish language to a symbolic or formal framework. We stress that recognition of Kurdish must be practical, institutional and part of daily life in education, administration and public life, rather than merely texts or decisions on paper.

Fifth: We call on the Ministry of Education and the relevant authorities to immediately reconsider this decision, open serious and responsible dialogue with representatives of society and those concerned with education affairs, and establish a fair education policy that takes into account the realities of the region and the rights of a key component of Syrian society, away from unilateral decisions affecting national, cultural and linguistic rights.

Sixth: We stress that defending the Kurdish language and the right of its speakers to receive education in it does not in any way mean diminishing the Arabic language or the rights of any other Syrian component. On the contrary, guaranteeing the linguistic and cultural rights of all Syrians is one of the most important measures of the state’s democracy, justice and equal citizenship.

“We clearly affirm that a new Syria cannot be built with the mentality of the past, nor can it be built by continuing policies of marginalization and denial in new forms. It is impossible to speak of justice, equal citizenship and respect for Syria’s diversity while asking a people to treat its mother tongue as a secondary subject or marginal choice.

“We want genuine education in Kurdish, not three classes to make a statement.

“We want genuine recognition, not symbolic recognition.

“We want guaranteed constitutional and institutional rights, not deferred promises.

“Accordingly, we hold the relevant authorities responsible for addressing this shortcoming and correcting the decision in line with the rights of the people of the region and the principles of justice and equality.

“We also affirm that the political parties in Kobani will continue to defend, through political, legal and peaceful means, their right to education in their mother tongue, as well as the protection and development of the Kurdish language and its rightful place in the education system, as an integral part of Syria’s diverse identity, culture and history.”

Political Parties in Kobani:

Democratic Union Party (PYD)

Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party

Kurdish Democratic Unity Party in Syria

Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party in Syria

Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria (Al-Parti)

Kurdish Left Party in Syria

Syrian Kurdish Democratic Accord Party

Syria Future Party

Azadi Kurdistan Movement in Syria

Kurdistan Democratic Peace Party

ANHA