Kurdish cultural and literary organisations called on the Turkish government to cease attacks on the Kurdish electorate’s democratic will, protesting the withholding of a mayoral certificate granted to Abdullah Zeydan.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, in response to the contentious mayoral election in Van (Wan), the organisations condemned the Turkish government’s refusal to grant the official mandate served to Abdullah Zeydan, the elected candidate of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM).
The collective condemned the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) alliance’s use of legal and bureaucratic tactics to undermine the Kurdish electorate’s decision in Van and other predominantly Kurdish cities.
They highlighted how, despite winning by a substantial margin, Abdullah Zeydan has been unjustly denied his position, illustrating a wider contempt for democratic norms and Kurdish self-determination. “The blatant disregard for the will of Wan, the silence over Kurdistan’s choice, and the undermining of democratic principles are intolerable,” the organisations declared.
Moreover, the statement sheds light on the historical context of Kurdish disenfranchisement, including policies of displacement, cultural erasure, and political marginalisation. It reiterates robust support for the residents of Van and the broader Kurdish community, arguing that such injustices are indicative of long-standing policies aimed at the assimilation and exploitation of Kurdish identity, language and culture.
Signatories:
* Amed Kurdish Institute – Diyarbakir (Amed)
* Istanbul Kurdish Institute – Istanbul
* Avesta Language and Culture Research Association – Izmir
* Botan Culture and Language Research Association – Siirt (Sert)
* Ferad Language and Culture Research Association – Şanlıurfa (Riha)
* Arî Language and Culture Research Association – Batman (Elih)
* Mesopotamian Language and Cultures Research Association – Diyarbakır
* Arsîsî Language, Culture, and Arts Research Association – Van
* Birca Belek Language and Culture Association – Cizre
* Ankayê Language, Culture, and Arts Association – Ankara
* Kurdish Writers Association – Diyarbakır
* Destar Magazine – Diyarbakır
