Kurdish paper Blames Journalists Association

Contemporary Journalists' Association (CGD) declared a new arrangement can be made following criticism concerning the rejection of Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat's participation in the "Successful Journalists of the Year Contest".

The newspaper applied to the best page-layout category but was rejected on grounds that it isn't a "publication in Turkish".

Debate sparkled following CGD's reasoning that "publications in English, Arabic or Persian were also rejected" and Azadiya Welat editor-in-chief Tayyip Temel's accusation that they are treated as "others".

Temel argued that the contest's participation guide didn't include such a restriction.

"Furthermore, the page-layout isn't related to the language of the publication", he added.

"And the biggest problem is that the language that a third of the population speaks in this country is held at the same level with English or French".

CGD replies

"We stay by press and freedom of expression regardless of race, sex or language" said CGD Chair Ahmet Akbay.

He added that the executive committee will gather to debate a change in the contest guide to allow participation in languages other than Turkish.(AÖ/EÜ)