The Kurds: Culture and Language Rights

The authorities in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria have used a variety of policies targeting aspects of Kurdish culture and language throughout the last century. Culture and language have become highly politicised bargaining tools, retaining a central role in the suppression of Kurds. A new book provides an assessment of suppression of Kurdish cultural and language rights throughout the regions [1].

Written by KHRP Executive Director Kerim Yildiz and Georgina Fryer, the report first assesses the treatment of Kurdish culture and language throughout the twentieth century. It then assesses the rights of Kurds under existing international legal mechanisms, providing an analysis of the authorities' compliance. It compiles and documents the pronouncements on the denial and/ or protection of Kurdish culture and language rights made by international treaty and non-treaty bodies, and other mechanisms such as the OSCE and Council of Europe.

Finally, KHRP assesses the current practical status of enforcing these rights in the four States, and makes recommendations to the relevant authorities mandated to ensure that the linguistic and cultural rights of Kurds are respected.

ISBN 1 900175 74 6