DEM Parti issues first statement on Kurdish-language crisis in commission

The National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) as part of the new reconciliation process being conducted through an alliance of the AKP, MHP and DEM Parti, held its fifth meeting yesterday.

KURDISH-LANGUAGE CRISIS IN THE COMMISSION

At the meeting, Nezahat Teke from the Peace Mothers requested to speak in Kurdish. TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş stated that the same procedures as those in the General Assembly should be followed even though the session was not taking place in the General Assembly, and asked that "the speech be delivered in Turkish."

DEM PARTİ CRITICISM: "WE EXPECTED MATURITY"

DEM Parti Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan, who made a statement regarding the Kurdish-language crisis in the commission, used the following words at a press conference she held in parliament:

"She wants to speak Kurdish in the commission. Speaker of Parliament Numan Kurtulmuş — although we are not in the General Assembly — issues a warning, as we see in the minutes, saying please continue in Turkish. He is reminding everyone of the TBMM's rules. DEM Parti members present in the commission offer to volunteer as interpreters, but this too is rejected. Meral Danış Beştaş says I will interpret so it can be entered into the minutes in Turkish, and I am reading from the minutes. Members of parliament from other political parties who know Kurdish also say they are willing to volunteer.

We would have expected this commission to show some maturity yesterday. What kind of maturity did we expect? Today we could have been talking about something entirely different. It could have provided Nezahat Teke, who wanted to speak in her mother tongue, with the means to do so. The issue itself manifested right there yesterday. Being unable to speak in one's mother tongue has now made it onto the commission's agenda."

"SOCIETY HAS SUCH AN EXPECTATION"

DEM Parti's Doğan, emphasizing that the commission must take responsibility, said the following:

"This commission should feel a sense of responsibility about this. It is the commission's job to provide an interpreter or create space for a mother who wants to speak Kurdish in the commission. Society has such an expectation."

News Source: 12punto