Qamishlo residents: We to defend our right to language

Under the slogan “Our language is our existence; we want the right to education in Kurdish,” the People’s Initiative in Qamishlo organized a protest attended by students, teachers and residents to denounce the Transitional Government’s decision concerning the Kurdish language.

The protest set off from Soni Roundabout and headed toward Al-Shuhadaa (Martyrs) Square in the city center. Participants held up banners reading, “Our language is our identity,” “Kurdish is not just a language; it is our history,” “Our language, our existence, our culture,” and “Protecting our language is a constitutional right,” among others.

Other slogans included, “Our language is Kurdish, and our right is constitutional,” and “There is no life without language.”

The protest stopped at Martyrs’ Square, where participants held a minute of silence accompanied by the playing of the national anthem, “Ey Reqîb.” Then, Kongra Star Coordination Committee member Jawaher Othman delivered a speech.

Jawaher Othman said the Kurdish people defend their language every day, adding, “They allocate only three or four hours to our language, and this is condemnable. We have a culture and values. Thousands of martyrs and wounded have been sacrificed, and calls have been made for the cause of our existence. Our existence is tied to our language and culture, which are an integral part of our life in the Kurdish language. We will oppose these decisions to the end, no matter how determined they are to pursue them.”

The protest concluded with the slogan, “There is no life without language.”

ANHA