In a statement marking 21 February International Mother Language Day, the Kurdish Teachers Union called for the protection and promotion of the Kurdish language. The union emphasized that language is not merely a means of communication, but the most sacred element of collective memory, culture, and identity.
The statement referred to the struggle of students in Bangladesh in 1952 to protect their mother tongue and highlighted the significance of UNESCO’s declaration of 21 February as International Mother Language Day in 1999. The union stressed that the Kurdish language has survived through the efforts of the people despite assimilation policies and century-long bans,
The Kurdish Teachers Union, underlining in particular the importance of children’s right to education in their mother tongue, made the following call:
– The use of Kurdish in daily life and within the family
– Granting official status to Kurdish in education
– Standardizing Kurdish through joint efforts by experts and institutions working in the field of language
– Promoting Kurdish in all spheres, including universities, schools, and media institutions
-Adopting of Kurdish not as an elective but as an official language by the political and social actors in Rojava.
Vowing to continue to provide language services, the Kurdish Teachers Union drew attention to the people’s right to education and public use in their mother tongue.
The Kurdish Teachers Union concluded its statement with the message “Zimanê me, hebûna me ye” (Our language is our existence) and called on society to unite in protecting and developing Kurdish.
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