Four Politicians on Trial for Speaking Kurdish

The Court of First Instance of Hakkari in the south-east of Turkey tries four politicians from the closed pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) on the grounds of having addressed their electorate in Kurdish in the run-up to the local elections on 29 March 2009. The second hearing of the case against Hakkari Mayor Fadıl Bedirhanoğlu, former mayor Kazım Kurt, former DTP Provincial Chair Fahri Kurt and former DTP executive Rahmi Temel was held on 31 March.

All four defendants are tried un-detained. They face charges of opposing the Political Parties Law because they gave speeches in Kurdish in public meetings during their election campaigns.

Bedirhanoğlu: Speaking in mother tongue is a virtue, not a crime

The hearing was attended by Mayor Bedihanoğlu, Fahri Kurt and Rahmi Temel, the latter is working for the Hakkari.News.com website at the same time. The judge postponed the trial to 5 May to take the statement of Kazım Kurt.

According to the HakkariNews.com website, Bedirhanoğlu said in a statement given after the hearing that the case was opened because speaking in one's own mother tongue was considered a crime.

"We came and gave our statements. We think that speaking in the mother tongue with your own people, regardless if it is Kurdish or any other language, is not a crime but a necessity and a virtue. This is not against the law at all. Even if there is a corresponding law, it certainly is not legal. I think there are many conflicts like this one. There is TRT 6 which is broadcasting in Kurdish 24 hours a day. This is permitted. Yet, it is considered a crime if a mayor speaks Kurdish. This is a disgrace for the legal system. Turkey should get rid of this sort of disgrace". (EÖ/VK)