Dutch Ambassador Visits Botan International

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — April 2, 2025

Dutch Ambassador to Turkey Joep Wijnands led a diplomatic delegation to Botan International Media this week.

Diplomatic Delegation Examines Kurdish Language Usage Conditions in Turkey

Dutch Ambassador Wijnands visited the office of Botan International Media alongside Second Secretary Celine Abeln and political analyst Eren Keskinsoy. Their primary purpose was to assess the conditions of Kurdish language usage in Turkey and observe Botan International’s operations firsthand. Botan International was represented by CEO Murat Bayram, trainer Hatice Kamer, and editor Semiha Yıldız.

Turkey’s First and Only Kurdish Media Training Office

Botan International operates Botan Times, Turkey’s most widely-read Kurdish-language news platform. The organization also stands as the first and only Kurdish media training office in Turkish media history. It serves as the main non-governmental media support organization in southeastern Turkey, a region with 15 million inhabitants.

“Our mission extends beyond journalism to preserving linguistic and cultural heritage through professional media practice,” explained a Botan International representative.

Supporting Local Journalists in Multiple Ways

Botan International provides comprehensive support services to media professionals:

• Free studio access and technical support to 29 local media organizations and 50+ freelance journalists
• Mentorship through a specialized team including 20 experienced journalist, and an economist, a lawyer and a technology expert
• Psychological support program specifically designed for journalists working in challenging conditions
• Professional workspace with interview rooms, newsroom facilities, and meeting spaces
• A network connecting over 200 freelance journalists across Turkey

Since 2021, more than 40 media organizations have recorded over 1,600 video programs and more than 1,200 podcast episodes at Botan International’s studio, providing essential production resources during a period of increased pressure on independent media.

The Botan International team also carries out the same activities in a Digital Media Association project supported by the British Embassy.

Challenges in Kurdish Language Access and Education

The Dutch delegation received detailed briefings on obstacles facing Kurdish speakers in Turkey. Despite representing approximately 25 percent of Turkey’s population, with about 18 percent using Kurdish as their primary home language(KSC research), educational and media resources remain severely restricted.

Turkey maintains over 80 universities with more than 250 media education programs, yet Kurdish-language media education faces legal prohibition. This educational gap combines with limited media infrastructure—just one weekly newspaper and one state-owned television channel in Kurdish, alongside only five websites publishing daily in Kurdish. Of these five sites, two are personal blogs while three are institutional. Among the three institutional Kurdish media organizations, only Botan Times operates independently of political party affiliations.

International Recognition and Support

Botan International maintains a permanent partnership with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), having formalized this strategic alliance in January 2023. The organization has also hosted representatives from six different embassies (France, Germany, UK, Canada, Finland, and Netherlands) interested in their press freedom initiatives.

These international connections have strengthened Botan International’s capacity to advocate for Kurdish-language media rights while providing essential services to journalists across political and cultural divides.

Digital Innovation and Sustainability

The delegation received presentations on Botan International’s digital platform development, which features content from 54 Kurdish writers and academics. The organization has pioneered a subscription model for Kurdish digital media to ensure long-term sustainability.

As the only Kurdish media organization in Turkey conducting interviews with representatives from all political parties in Kurdish, and the only institutional Kurdish media outlet operating independently of political party affiliations, Botan International has created an unprecedented space for inclusive political dialogue in the Kurdish language.