International PEN has expressed its concerns regarding the attacks on Kurdish organizations

International PEN has expressed its concerns regarding the attacks on Kurdish organizations and bookstores, revealing that on the 24th of the month, police raided Payîz Pirtûk and the Mesopotamian Language and Culture Research Association, MED-DER in Diyarbakır.

PEN have called on Turkish authorities to respect and promote the use of the Kurdish language and culture.

Burhan Sonmez, the President of International PEN, commented on the issue:

‘Kurdish people have the right to use their own language in public and in education and to receive information in their mother tongue. Our linguistic riches should be celebrated, not destroyed.’

What happened?

On the 24th, police raided Payîz Pirtûk and MED-DER in Diyarbakır.

Payîz Pirtûk is a bookstore that primarily sells Kurdish books. Additionally, the Mesopotamian Language and Culture Research Association MED-DER is a linguistic organization where the Kurdish language is studied.

Former co-chair of MED-DER Rifat Ronî, current co-chairs Mehmet Remzî Azîzolu and Ramazan Holat, along with Şukran Yakut and manager Dîlan Guvenç, were detained.

Moreover, Nazan Çelîk, Rezan Aktulum, Berîtan Gurbet Orak, Bêrîvan Duman, Ayhan Karatekîn, Belkis Bîtkîn Cîhat Guneylî, Mehmet Salih Ongun, Îlyas Gun, and Hebûn Yagmur Mîne Karakaş were also detained.

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