State TV’s Kurdish Broadcasting Begins Officially

The Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) increased the Kurdish Broadcasting that has been half an hour everyday since June 7, 2004 to twelve hours by setting up a separate channel.

The TRT 6 began broadcasting Yesterday (January 1) with songs by Nilüfer Akbal and Rojin. Thus the new Kurdish TV channel became official.

Gül: I am very pleased

In the Kurdish program, the messages of President Gül and Prime Minister Eroğan were given in Kurdish with subtitles and dubbing.

Gül said, “I am very pleased to see the TRT is broadcasting in different languages and dialects that our people use. I see that in our cultural life, there are many books, magazines, newspapers, songs and etc in Kurdish. However, the fact that the TRT started doing the same is more meaningful. I am hoping that this will reinforce our unity.”

Erdoğan: It will contribute to our democratization

The programs will be in “Kurmanci” dialect in the beginning, but later they will also be done in Zaza and Sorani dialects as well. Prime Minister said the TRT may also launch channels in Arabic and Persian this year.

Completing his message in Kurdish, Erdoğan said that this move was going to support peace and reinforce the bonds. It will help our democratization by improving and deepening it further.”

The DTP deputies did not join, the AKP deputies are happy

While the deputies from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) showed up in great numbers in the reception of the opening for the Kurdish channel, the deputies from the Democratic Society Party (DTP) did not join it.

Responding to the questions by the journalists, Ertuğrul Günay, Minister of Culture, mentioned the names of various Kurdish artists and intellectuals such as writer Mehmet Uzun, singer Ahmet Kaya and poet Ahmet Arif. 

Alınak: The state could not continue with the century long ban

Mahmut Alınak, former deputy for the provinces of Şırnak and Kars, criticized the Prime Minister for presenting this move as a development.

Reminding that he was punished for playing Kurdish music during an election period by the Kars Criminal Court of First Instance with three more people, Alınak said, “The state made this move because it could no more go on with the century long ban. Since it could not silence technology the Kurdish TV channels that already exits, it will try to reduce their influence. (EÖ/TK/TB)