The Germany-based Kurdish Research and Science Institute issued a written statement on the occasion of 21 February, International Mother Language Day.
In the statement, it was noted that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated 21 February as International Mother Language Day since 2000. “The origins of this day lie in the uprising of Bengali students in Dhaka in 1952, who sacrificed their lives to defend their mother tongue against the imposition of a foreign language. Today, this struggle has become a symbol of the global fight against the decline and extinction of languages,” the statement said.
The statement continued: “The mother tongue is not merely a means of communication; it is the foundation of personality, cultural memory, and the existence of a nation. National consciousness is shaped in the gentle waters of the mother tongue. Today, there are more than 6,000 languages in the world, and, unfortunately, around 2,500 of them are under threat of extinction. According to UNESCO reports, 18 languages in Turkey are endangered, and one of them is Kirmancki, a dialect of Kurdish.
The Kurdish language has survived to this day despite centuries of denial, assimilation, and prohibition policies, thanks to the stories told by mothers, the work of dengbêjs, and the dedication of our people. However, for a language to truly survive, it must go beyond the confines of the home and find a place in everyday life, in writing, in culture, and in science. The loss of a language means the loss of a nation’s culture and identity. Protecting a language means protecting the dignity of humanity.”
The Kurdish Institute called on everyone and all institutions to fulfill their national responsibilities, stated: “In order to pass on the legacy of our ancestors to new generations, we must use Kurdish in every sphere of life (at home, in the marketplace, in institutions). Education in the mother tongue is a fundamental human right, and the protection of languages is a universal responsibility.
With this thought and belief, we celebrate Mother Language Day for all oppressed peoples, above all for the Kurdish people.
Think in Kurdish! Speak Kurdish! Read Kurdish! Write Kurdish!
Long live the mother tongue! Long live the Kurdish language!”
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