How many people have been investigated for saying ‘Kurdistan’?

Murat Sarısaç, a deputy of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) for Van province, submitted a parliamentary question to Vice President Fuat Oktay on the issue of the usage of the term ‘Kurdistan’ and the detention of people who use it.

The justification for the motion included the following:

From the works of Herodotus (484-425 BC) and his successors Xenophon (430-355 BC) and Strabo (64 BC – 24 AD), to Mahmut of Kashgar’s Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk which was written in the 11th century and is considered the first dictionary in Turkish, from the Seljuk Sultan Sencer to Hamdullah Mustevfi of Kazvin, from Katip Çelebi, Evliya Çelebi to the minutes of the First Assembly, the widespread of the ‘Kurdistan’ term is proven by scientific research.

In fact, in his speech on November 19, 2013, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated, ‘Going back to 90-100 years ago, they will see the word ‘Kurd’ used in the parliament.’ Despite this, phrases like “Kurdistan, Kurdish regions, Kurdish geography” are still considered problematic in the twenty-first century.”

Sarısaç asked Oktay to answer the following questions:

“*Is it illegal to refer to a cultural and historical geography where Kurds have lived for millennia as ‘Kurdistan’? If so, what is the rationale for this prohibition?

* Is there a legal basis for detaining persons because of the term ‘Kurdistan’, which is also used by governmental officials? If so, what crime does it cover?

* How many investigations have been opened over the term ‘Kurdistan’ till the time the motion was presented? What are the investigational statistics?

*Is there anything you’re doing to alleviate concerns regarding geographical classifications based on historical and social reality?