April 7, 2025
ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities have infringed on Kurdish language rights 24 times during the first three months of 2025, according to a new report released today by Kurdish Monitoring, a rights watchdog organization.
The violations occurred across multiple sectors of society, with media outlets bearing the brunt of the restrictions. The report, covering January through March, documented eight violations in media, seven in culture and arts, five in the public sphere, and four in prisons.
Media Censorship Intensifies
Social media accounts belonging to Mesopotamia Agency, JINNEWS, and Yeni Yaşam have been repeatedly blocked by Turkish authorities. When new accounts were created, they were swiftly shut down as well.
Courts in Şanlıurfa (Semsur) and Ankara have blocked Kurdish news websites citing “national security concerns.” The Kurdish service of Voice of America was also restricted on similar grounds.
Television networks have systematically censored Kurdish content. When Kurdish statements were made during broadcasts, channels including Sözcü TV, Habertürk TV, and NTV refused to air them. Sözcü TV presenter Serap Belovacıklı defended this practice, stating: “We don’t broadcast it because no one understands Kurdish.”
Crackdown on Cultural Expression
In Diyarbakır (Amed), police raided the Kurdish Writers Association, confiscating 150 books and 1,500 newspaper copies. At Muş Alparslan University, an academic is under investigation for using Kurdish poetry in classes, despite the books having been published with approval from the Ministry of Culture.
Artists performing in Kurdish face severe penalties. Singer Kasim Taşdogan received a 30-month prison sentence for performing three Kurdish songs. Another musician, Mazlûm Akpolat, was detained for singing in Kurdish.
Restrictions in Public Spaces
In Parliament, when Democratic Peoples’ Party (DEM) representative Gulderen Varli used the phrase “Jin Jiyan Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom), her microphone was cut off. The phrase was also omitted from the parliamentary record.
At Gebze Technical University, 20 women were prevented from organizing a march for International Women’s Day on March 8 over concerns they would “raise Kurdish slogans.”
In sports stadiums, banners containing Kurdish text have been prohibited or forcibly removed.
Prison Conditions
In Turkish prisons, Kurdish language use in phone calls and correspondence faces systematic obstruction. At the Erzurum High Security Prison, an inmate was prevented from speaking Kurdish during a phone call with family members.
At the Erzincan Women’s Prison, Kurdish-language letters are reportedly held for four to five months before delivery. At Elazığ High Security Prison, Kurdish books and letters are not delivered to prisoners at all.
Kurdish Monitoring characterizes these incidents as evidence of systematic pressure against Kurdish language use in public life. The organization aims to raise awareness about these violations through its quarterly reports.
Source: Kurdish Monitoring, Botan Times
Ji ber krîza aborî ti xebatkarên daîmî yên Botan Timesê nînin. Murat Bayram bi dildarî weşanê didomîne. Heger hûn bixwazin em li ser pêyan bimînin piştgirîya me bikin. Ji bo piştgirîyê bibin abone. Ji 200 hezar xwendevanên me û 5 hezar şopînerên qenala me ya YouTubeyê li ser hev 500 kes bibin abone em dikarin li ser pêyan bimînin.
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