Water Bills Issued in English but not in Kurdish
Deputy Prime Minister Çiçek remarked that signs in both languages, Turkish and Kurdish, can be put up at the market stalls, whereas a municipality is not allowed to issue their water bills in Kurdish. At the same time, the Didim Municipality offers services in English.
Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Çiçek put forward that facing the "bilingual life" proposal made by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), signs in both languages, Turkish and Kurdish, can be put up at the market stalls, whereas a municipality is not allowed to issue their water bills in Kurdish.
On the other hand, Turkey has been meeting the needs of the mixed population in southern Turkey for a long time by providing bills as well as sign boards and other services in English/Turkish or German/Turkish. When the English population in Didim (southern Aegean region) rose to almost 10,000 people in 2005, the municipality started to issue water bills in English.
Çiçek talked to the nation-wide Sabah daily about the discussions initiated by the BDP and DTK's suggestion of a "bilingual life" project. Çiçek said, "Also taking into consideration that elections will be held soon, the political extensions of a terroristic organization were asked to bring a number of sensitive subjects to the agenda. This way, the discussion on bilingualism was started". (EÜ/EÖ/VK)
- KURDISH QUESTION: "Bilingual Life" Project Fuels Interest in Kurdish Language[04 January 2011]
- KURDISH QUESTION: Kurdish Town of Cizre Becomes Bilingual[29 December 2010]
- The Potential Advantage of Bilingualism for Turkey[10 December 2010]
- "Çocuklar İçin Adaletin Yolu Eşitlik ve Özgürlükten Geçiyor"[26 November 2010]
- Ministry of Health Prepare "Report on Abortion " [30 May 2012]
- ARRESTED STUDENTS: "Arrested for Writing on the Walls" [30 May 2012]
- ULUDERE MASSACRE: Uncertainty on Uludere Documents [30 May 2012]
- POLICE VIOLENCE: Rape at Taksim Police Station [29 May 2012]
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2012: “Promised Legal Reforms did not Occur in Turkey” [25 May 2012]
Independent Communication NetworkIndependent Communication Network comprises more than internet news website bianet.org. It is a continuously unfolding network since 1997 and embraces "Training Drives" for journalists and communication students and NGOs; handbook series, "Radio Programs" for the local media, conferences, forums, international exchange programs.
IPS Communication Foundation (BİA)IPS Communication Foundation is the implementing body for the BIA &bianet.org. Founded in 1993 by four journalists and one human rights activists, has implemented many projects including a BİA, BİA2 and BİA3.
BİA LibraryBİA Library comprises of handbooks series and guides and researches which systemize the theoretical and informative contributions realized during the implementation of programs within the BİA projects. Some of the 15 publications are in English and accessible via bianet.org.
Contact us
You can reach IPS Communication Foundation directors, BİA project coordination, bianet.org editorial board via telephone, fax, e-mail and mail from everywhere on the globe, dispatch information and/or documents and request meetings.
- Ana Sayfa|
- Yazarlar|
- Arşiv-Arama|
- Bilgi-Belge|
- Çocuk Sitesi|
- BİAMag|
- Kadının Penceresi|
- News in English|
- Haber Listesi|
- Galeriler|
- Linkler|
- Künye|
- BİA Hakkında
This website is published within the framework of "Journalism for Rights, Rights for Journalists" -dubbed as BİA3 - project implemented by the IPS Communication Foundation with the financial assistance of the Swedish International development Agency (SIDA). The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of IPS Communication Foundation and under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the EU and SIDA and IFEX.
