Roj Bash !

• Hardcover: 439 pages
• Publisher: Wayne State University Press (December 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814333664
• ISBN-13: 978-0814333662
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches

• Taschenbuch: 245 Seiten
• Verlag: Harrassowitz, O; Auflage: 1., Aufl. (September 2009)
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN-10: 3447060603
• ISBN-13: 978-3447060608

“Yezidism is a minority religion that is largely based on tradition rather than scripture. In the homelands – Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Transcaucasia – its world-view is closely connected with local culture, and most easily understood in that context. From the 1960s onwards, an increasing number of Yezidis from Turkey, Iraq and Syria were forced to migrate to Western Europe. After the fall of the Soviet Union many Yezidis from Armenia and Georgia moved to Russia and the Ukraine. This work addresses the question of differences in perception of the religion between Yezidi migrants who grew up in the homeland and those who were mainly socialised in the Diaspora. It is based on extensive qualitative research among Yezidis of different generations in Germany and Russia.”

• Relié: 288 pages
• Editeur : Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (6 avril 2009)
• Langue : Anglais
• ISBN-10: 0747586284
• ISBN-13: 978-0747586289

Order it on Amazon : The Age of Orphans: A Novel
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596916168
• ISBN-13: 978-1596916166
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Ironic, beautifully written, brutal and ugly, Khadivi’s ambitious debut novel follows a Kurdish boy who is tragically and violently conscripted into the shah’s army after his own people are slaughtered in battle. Assigned the name Reza Pejman Khourdi—Reza after the first shah of Iran, Pejman meaning heartbroken and Khourdi to denote he’s an ethnic Kurd—the boy suppresses all things Kurdish within him, fueled by a sense of self-preservation and self-loathing. Channeling fear and hate into brutal acts against the Kurds, Reza makes a quick climb up the military career ladder, eventually gaining an appointment to Kermanshah, a Kurdish region in the north of Iran. There, as overseer of his own people, Reza promotes Kurdish assimilation and the budding nation of Iran while mercilessly silencing voices of Kurdish independence. As he grows old with his Iranian wife, Meena, Reza’s internal conflicts simmer, then boil over, with unexpected and terrible results. This difficult but powerful novel, the first of a trilogy, introduces a writer with a strong, unflinching voice and a penetrating vision. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
‘This is a stunning debut unflinching, gorgeously poetic, intimate yet with a wondrous sweep of history. To read the tale of Reza Khourdi is to take a journey deep inside the darkest cavity of the heart’ CRISTINA GARCIA, author of National Book Award finalist Dreaming in Cuban ‘Laleh Khadivi is genuinely gifted and ruthless with that gift. We are all so fortunate that she is, for it takes both talent and ruthlessness to delve this deeply into an epic life’ DOROTHY ALLISON, author of National Book Award finalist Bastard Out of Carolina ‘The Age of Orphans is an arresting, powerful, transformative, unflinching, epic and deeply affecting novel. I cannot recommend it enough. A major voice to watch’ Chris Abani, author of Graceland and The Virgin of Flames ‘Khadivi’s writing is luminous in this tragic story of an “orphan of the earth,” which is rendered in prose that is by turns graphic and poetic’ Deborah Donovan, Booklist -

The 21^st Annual Conference of the Kurdish National Congress of North America (KNC) will be held March 2009 in the Washington DC area.

“Future of Kurdistan: Thinking Like a Nation”

March 27-28, 2009

Crowne Plaza Rockville

3 Research Court, Rockville, MD 20850 (Washington DC area)

Tel 301.840.0200

Conference Schedule:

Friday March 27 – Conference Sessions: Noon to 6:00 pm

Saturday March 28 – Conference Sessions: 9:00am to 5:00 pm

Saturday March 28 - Newroz Banquet and Celebration: 7:30pm to 1:00 am

The Conference and Banquet are open to the public and all are welcome to participate. There is no charge for the Conference Sessions;  there will be an admission fee for the Newroz Banquet on Saturday.

Travel:

Airport: Nearest is Washington Reagan (DCA)

Alternates: Dulles Int’l (IAD) or Baltimore Washington (BWI)

Hotel: Reduced room rates available if made before Feb 25, 2009

Telephone 800-227-6963 and mention Kurdish National Congress

Best Regards,

Tom Ver Ploeg

Secretary – KNC of NA

The University of Salahaddin is accepting applications from students in Kurdistan region for studies in Germany, Poland, and Russia in Master’s and Doctorate degrees. The scholarships are provided by the Iraq’s minister of Higher Education and Scientific Studies.

But officials at the Salahaddin University say that they have not received a warm welcome by the students although the deadline for applications is approaching fast.

There are 20 scholarships that are going to be awarded for studies in scientific fields in Russia. Six scholarships will be awarded to students who want to study in Poland in Law, Mathematics, Information Technology, Geography, History and Administrations and Economy. There are a few scholarships that will be awarded to students who want to study in Germany.

Sherzad Mohammed, head of the Academic Relations office at the University of Salahaddin, told Rudaw that so far his office has not received many applications.

There are a number of qualifications that students should have in order to apply for scholarships. For example applicants for Doctorate degree must have obtained an average of 75 out of 100 in every subject he has taken in graduate studies. Applicants for Master’s degree must have obtained 70 out of 100.

The age of applicants must be under 35 and the deadline is February 28.

Please contact the University of Salahaddin for more information:

University of Salahaddin

Karkuk Street

Runaki 235 n323,

Erbil,Kurdistan Region

Iraq

Tel : +964 66 2230409

+964 66 2224122

+964 66 2262006

source rudaw.net)/

http://www.petitiononline.com/kurmanji/petition.html

To: Kurdistan Regional Government
Dear Mr. Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani,

As a Kurd, I am so honored to see the promising developments in the southern part of our homeland and also to see you as the Prime Minister of a unified Kurdish government. I have no doubt that you will serve our nation in the best possible way.

As the Kurds of the North (of Kurdistan) who are victims of cruel denial and suppression policies of the Turkish state and deprived of basic human rights, we turn our hope to southern Kurdistan and expect you to take some steps for 25 million Kurds in the biggest part of Kurdistan.

As you well know, we still can not speak Kurdish freely or get education in our mother tongue. Our language can not have any channels to survive and flourish. Due to this, the situation of the Kurdish language is getting worse by the day and speakers of our beloved language are decreasing gradually. Even in the capital city, Amed, the daily social, cultural and political life is in Turkish.

Needless to say, PKK is just as guilty as the Turkish state for not paying enough attention to the Kurdish language and culture and not prioritizing it. As Dr. Ismail Besikci states in one of his recent interviews, PKK uses the words Kurd and Kurdistan quite often, yet it has always used Turkish in its publications. There is also a significant amount of Turkish on Roj TV despite the worsening language issue; TV officials don’t seem to take any precautions on this matter.

While this is the gloomy picture of the North, we are enthusiastically looking forward to seeing good news from you about the world’s most oppressed language, the Kurmanji Kurdish dialect. It is a Kurdish dialect spoken by more than 25 million Kurds and subjected to countless repression; it wasn’t ever allowed to live freely, to be the language of academia, or be studied in universities except in the tiny Kurdish community in Armenia. Its speakers have always been tortured, beaten and killed; singers and writers were always persecuted. As a result of such brutal policies, millions of Kurds are not able to speak their mother tongue and the numbers of Kurmanji speakers seem to be dying day by day.

Your Excellency,

As the Prime Minister of Kurdish Regional Government, we expect your government to take immediate measures to protect Kurmanji from disappearing all together. In my opinion, a Kurmanji conference should be organized, for instance in Duhok, as soon as possible with the participation of Kurmanj linguists, academicians, and writers to determine the strategies needed to keep Kurmanji alive and ways to flourish it.

In addition, some funds should be arranged in order to publish Kurmanji books, newspapers, magazines and learning materials such as CDs and computer programmes.

Such suggestions can be increased but must be prioritized in accordance with most urgent ones. While, as I mentioned before, we are expecting excitedly, for you to make the misfortunate situation of our beloved Kurmanji better, we are shocked by the recent news coming from the south. Kurmanji, which you call Behdini over in the south, has no value and status. Although the amount of Kurmanji speakers in the South is not much less than the Sorani speakers, it is very disappointing that the Iraqi Kurdish leaders and politicians treat it like a step-son.

According to Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (http://www.pcgn.org.uk/The%20Kurdish%20 … 20Iraq.pdf) the amount of Sorani speakers is 2.8 million (10.6% of Iraqi population) whereas the amount of Kurmanji speakers is 2.2 millions (8.4 of Iraqi population). Despite the fact that there is little difference in the figures of the statistics, it is very saddening to see Kurmanji be put in this position.

Furthermore, it is no doubt that Kurmanji is the widely spoken dialect of the Kurdish language spoken by 75% of all Kurds. It is also the only dialect spoken in all four parts of Kurdistan, while Sorani is only spoken in two parts; some parts of Iraqi Kurdistan and Iranian Kurdistan.

If Kurdistan is one and Kurdish people are brothers, then there should be more respect and value for Kurmanji, and thus Kurmanji speakers. It is obvious that Kurdish people can not have a common language by ignoring Kurmanji or trying to lower its value. For this reason it is a shame to recently come across what we have been hearing and seeing all that is being discoursed in the news and the media.

First of all, there is an obvious intention to remove Kurmanji/Behdini, where this removal includes the removal of Kurmanji even from classes in the Behdinan region and make all classes Sorani. Secondly, we have read with great enthusiasm that, on behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government, you signed an agreement with Microsoft as a participant of a world wide Windowsa Kurdi (Kurdish Windows) initiative. I, along with a number of other Kurds, felt honored and pleased to see such a development. Yet, like millions of Kurmanji speaking Kurds, it devastated me to hear that this Microsoft Windows will only be in Sorani with Arabic letters which means we, the Kurds of Turkey, will not be able to utilize such a product. I hope what has been reflected in the media is not true and that your government has made a deal with Microsoft for a Kurmanji Windows as well.

We have to understand the situation at hand was the doing of our enemies and those whose wish is to divide Kurds. To further the work of such enemies, that is by banning and removing Kurmanji, we are not progressing in any way but rather retreat the accomplishments we have made over the years. To make official such a decision will further deteriorate the unity the Kurds have experienced. Such an action is being done at the expense of the majority, where democracy fails to work and absolutism seems to prevail.

His Excellency,

I am a proud Kurd and I love anything related to Kurds and Kurdistan. Although I am a Kurmanji Kurd, I also learned some Sorani not because it is superior or special, but because it is a part of my language. I love all Kurdish dialects and spend a great number of hours trying to learn more about them. Yet, our beloved Kurmanji, which was passed down to us by Ehmede Xani, Melaye Ciziri, Feqiye Teyran, Ehmede Beyazidi, Cegerxwin and beautiful voices of Mihemed Arife Ciziri, Hesen Ciziri, Eyshe Shan, Meryemxan, Mihemed Shexo, Karapete Xacho, Sheroye Biro, Kawis Axa and many others seems to come to a downfall for reasons we can overcome.

It is our nationalistic and patriotic duty to preserve and promote it and pass it to future generations. At this point, the biggest responsibility falls onto Your Excellency’s shoulders and the hard working Kurdish politicians like yourself since you are the Prime Minister of the only free part of the homeland and along with your colleagues are the hope for all Kurds in South Kurdistan.

I wholeheartedly hope and believe that your government will take necessary measures to preserve and develop Kurmanji and that Kurmanji Microsoft Windows will be the first step in this direction.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

NAMEYEK VEKÎRÎ JI HIKÛMETA HEREMÎ YA KURDISTANÊ RE
Birêz Serokwezîr Neçîrvan Barzanî,
Wekî Kurdên welatparez dîtina pêşveçûnên başûrê welatê me û bûyîna we ya serokwezîrê Hikumeta Yekbûyî, me pir serbilind dike. Em ji dil bawerîya we dikin ku hunê vî karî bi serfirazî bicîh bînin û xîzmeta netewa xwe bikin.
Wekî Kurdên bakûr ku bi sedan sal in bûne mexdûrên sîyaseta zilm û zordarîya dewleta tirk û ji ziman û nasnameya xwe bêpar mane, me berê xwe daye başûrê welata xwe ku hun jî jibo 25 mîlyon Kurdên, li mezintirêîn perçeya Kurdistanê hinek pengavan pêşçav bavejin.
Wekî hun baş dizanin, em hîn jî nikanin bi azadî Kurdî bipeyvin û bi zimanê xwe dayikê perwerdê bibînin. Ti derfet tune ne ku zimanê me bijî, biveje û pêşkeve. Seba vê yekê, rewşa zimanê Kurdî herku dihere xirabtir dibe û qisekerên zimanê me ya delal roj bi roj hindiktir dibin. Heyf e ku li paytaxta Kurdistana mezin, li Amedê jî zimanê rojane ya civakî, kulturî û siyasî bûye tirkî û ev yek eşekî mezin dide dilê me.
Ne hewce ye meriv bîne zimên ku, li ser vê rewşa xirab, PKK jî bi qasî dewleta tirk berpisîyar e jiber ku girîngî û qinyat neda ziman û kultura Kurdî. Wek, mamoste Îsmaîl Beşîkçî jî, di yek ji hevpeyvînên dawî anîbû zimên her çi qas PKK gelek caran qala Kurd û Kurdistanê dike jî, di hemî weşanên xwe de tirkî bikar tîne. Her çend wekî me gava dinî jî gotî, rewşa zimanê me xirantir bibe jî, di Roj TV,de nîsbeta tirkî pir zede ye û birêvebirên televizyonê ne di vê xem û fikara de ne.
Gava ev be, rewşa me ya reşbîn, em bi heyecanekî mezin li we dinerin ku, li derheqa Kurmancî ku, li dinê zimanê herî bindest e û zordarî û tadayîyên pir giran dîtîye, dengûbasên xweşik û pengavên xurt bibînin. Kurmancî ku zimanê ji 30 milyonan pirtir Kurdan e, rastî gelek zehmetî û dijwarîyên bêdawî bûye û ti car derfet nehatîye dayîn k ubi serbestî jîyan bike, bibe zimanê zanistî ye û di zanîngehan de were xebitandin. Qisekerên wê, her dem hatine eşkence kirin, lêxistin û kuştin: hunermend, nivîskar û rewşenbîrên wê tim hatine ceza kirin û eşkence û zindan ketiye para wan. Wekî encama wan sîyasetên înkar û faşîstî, bi mîlyonan Kurd nikanin bi zimanê xwe yên dayike bipeyîvin û hejmarê Kurmancîexifan roj bi roj kêmtir dibe.
Rêzdar Serokwezîr,
Wekî Serokwezîrê Hikûmeta Heremî ya Kurdistanê, em ji we hêvî dikin ku, jibo parastina Kurmancî, demekî zutir hinek tedbîrên bistînin ku zimanê me yê şerîn, bi temamî ji holê ranebe û nemire. Bi dîtina me, divê bi tevlîbûna linguîst, rewşenbîr, nivîskar û lêkolînerên Kurmanc, li Duhokê konferansek were lidar xistin da ku seba parastin û vejandina Kurmancî biryar bete dayîn û rê û rêbaz werin dest nîşan kirin.
Her wiha, divê, hinek derfetên aborî werin peyda kirin ku pirtûk, rojname û govarên Kurmancî werin çap kirin û berhemên hînkirina Kurmancî mîna CD û programên kompîterî werin amade kirin.
Meriv dikane pêşnîyarên vî rengî zedetir bike lê em dixwazin nameya xwe dirêj bikin. Gava, daxwazî û hêvîyên me ji hikûmeta we bi vî awayî ne, ku rewşa Kurmancî ya tar û mar bete qenc kirin û birînên wê bete derman kirin, wan dengûbasên dûmahîyê ku ji başûr tên, em dilşikestî kirin. Kurmancî ku li başûr wekî Behdînî tê binav kirin, bê qedr û qiymet e û statûya wê jî tune ye. Her çi qas nîsbeta Kurmancîaxefan, ji yên Soranîaxefan ne gelek kêmtir in, cîyê daxê ye ku rêber û sîyasetvanên başûr wekî kurê zirbavê li Kurmancî meze dikin û ti girîbgî nadine wê.
Li gorî, Komîteya Herdemî ya Navên Coxrafîk ya Birîtanî
www.pcgn.org.uk/The%20Kurdish%20Toponymy%20of%20Northern%20Iraq.pdf hejmara Soraniaxefan 2.8 mîlyon e (% 10.6 nîfûsa Îraqe) û yên Kurmancîexef jî 2.2 mîlyon in (% 8.4 nîfûsa Îraqê). Her çend, di navbera van her dû zaravayan ferqek mezin tûne be jî, cîhê daxê ye ku Kurmancî di vê rewşa pir nizm û bê qûymet da ye.
Dîsa, bê gumanê ku Kurmancî dayalekta Kurdî ye ku ji alîye % 75,a Kurdan tê axaftin. Her wiha ji nav hemî zaravayên zimanê Kurdî, bi tenê Kurmancî li her çar perçeyên Kurdistanê tê peyîvîn û wekî em dizanin Soranî tenê li hinek beşên Kurdistana Başûr û Rojhilat tê axaftin.
Heger Kurdistan yek perçe ye û em gîş birayên hev in, vê çaxê, pêdivî ye jibo Kurmancî û Kurmancîaxefan betir rêz û ihtîram hebe. Eşkere ye ku bi red kirin û tûne kirina Kurmancî, gelê Kurd nikane bibe xwedîyê zimanekî hevbeş û yekgirtî. Jiber vê yekê, şermekî giran e ku em di wan rojên dawî de rastî hinek raport û nivîsan tên ku birastî dilê meriv pir dişkenin.
Berî her tişt, nîyetaka gelek cîddî heye ku Kurmancî/Behdînyê ji seranser Kurdistana Başûr rakin û hemî dersên xwendinê bikin Sorani. Ya diduyan ev e ku, me bi dilgermî xwend ku, li ser navê Hikûmeta Heremî ya Kurdistanê, we kontraktek bi Microsotf re îmze kir, ew şîrket Windowsa Kurdî derxîne. Wekî tê zanîn, ev çend sal in, bi peşengîya Kurdên Bakûr bizavek dihat meşandin ku Microsoft, bernameya Windowsê bi zimanê Kurdî hazir bike. Lê, wekî mîlyonan Kurd, dilên me bû perçe perçe ku me xwend ew kontrakta we îmze kirîye bi tenê Soranî ye û bi tîpên erebî ye. Wateya wê jî ev e ku, em ango Kurdên Bakûr digel kurdên Rojaba nikanîbin ji vê programê sudê vergirin û vê programê bikar bînin.
Em ji dil hêvî dikin ku, van tiştên hatine gûhên me ne rast in û hikûmeta we li ser Windowsa Kurmancî jî, bi Microsoft re kontrakt îmze kirîye.
Serokwezîrê hêja,
Em Kurdên serbilind in û her tiştên giredayî Kurd û Kurdistan hez dikin. Her çend em Kurmanc bin jî, em biçek Soranî jî ferbûne lê ne ku ew dayalektek taybet û bilind e lê jiber ku perçekî zimanê me ye. Divê Soran jî hezî zimanê me bikin û qedr û qiymet bidinê wê. Bi qedexe kirina Kurmancî yan jî bi biçûk dîtina wê em nagehjin derekî. Divê rind were fehm kirin ku gava Kurdên Kurmancîaxef zimanê xwe jibîr bikin, ew dest bi axaftina tirkî, erebî yan farisî bikin lê ne soranî! Em hemî zaravayên zimanê Kurdî hez dikin û dive jibo wna gîşkan rêz were dayîn. Lê divê baş were fehm kirin ku Kurmancîya şerîn ji Ehmedê Xanî, Melaye Ciziri, Feqiye Teyran, Ehmede Beyazidi, Cegerxwin û ji dengên bedew yên Mihemed Arifê Cizirî, Hesenê Cizirî, Eyşe Şan, Meryemxan, Mihemed Şêxo, Karapetê Xaço, Şeroyê Biro, Kawîs Axa û ji yên din emanet maye û erka her Kurdek e ku vî zimanê hêja û sipehî biparezin ku ji nav pelên dîrokê hinda nebe. Ku ew zimanê delal hinda be û bimire, em dê li mirovahîyê stû xwar bin û dîrokê ti car me efû nake.
Wekî me gava dinî jî anî zimên, wazîfê me her Kurdan ev e ku Kurmancîyê biparezin û qiymeta wê bilind bikin û zarokên xwe jî ferî Kurmancîyê bikin. Di vî warî de, rolekî mezin dikeve ser milê sîyasetvanên Kurd mîna we, çimkî hûn Serokwezîrê Kurdistana Başûr in û tenê vê perçê welatê me azad e û hêvîya mîlletê kurd li ba we ye.
Em ji dil hêvî û bawer dikin ku hikûmeta we, jibo parastin, zindî kirin û pêşve birina Kurmancî, di demekî zutir de hîn xîzmetên pêşçav bike û tedbîrên pedivî bistîne û Windowsa Kurmancî jî bibe pengava yekan.
Bi silavên Kurdîtîyê
Li ser evîndarên zimanê Kurdî
Amed- Kurdistan

By Mutlu Çiviroğlu

After a one week test programs, TRT 6 started its full, 24 hours broadcast on Thursday, January 1, 2008. For the opening of the Kurdish TRT 6, a reception was held at the TRT’s Arı studio in Ankara.

Three government ministers and many deputies from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) attended the event. State Minister Mehmet Şimşek, State Minister Mehmet Aydın and Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay delivered speeches and expressed their contentment and support for the Kurdish channel. Although Kurdish TV and radio broadcasts are one of the major demands of Democratic society Party (DTP) nobody from the party participated to the reception.

Although it was announced before that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would take part in the opening reception, his congratulatory message which was concluded with a Kurdish sentence “TRT 6 bi xêr be” appeared instead. After Prime Minister’s message, President Abdullah Gul’s message came to the screen and both messages carried hopeful and promising wishes and sentiments for the Kurdish TV and for the democratization of the country.

Although many argue against it, opening of a 24 hours Kurdish Channel has brought an enormous optimism and hope to Turkey. TRT 6 has also created a significant, positive effect among the Kurds who have been watching the TV excitedly, since it’s the first TV channel in Turkey, broadcasting in a language which was banned for decades.

For this reason, Voice of America’s Kurdish Service (www.voanews.com/kurmanji) conducted an interview on Saturday, January 3, 2009 with the director of the channel Sinan Ilhan regarding the Kurdish TV, and there, Ilhan stated that TRT 6 would be objective and it will be a channel for all Kurmanji speakers. Answering the questions of Fakhria Jawhary, the chief of VOA Kurdish Service, Sinan also said that all their viewers will witness their sincerity about a democratic and non ideological broadcasting of the Kurdish TV.

Before preparing this article, I had the opportunity to speak some Kurds from different cities. The common messages of all viewers were that they were very happy to have a channel with their mother tongue and this TV represented a historical milestone for the democratization of the country and the rights of Kurds in Turkey. Some expressed concerns that it could have been a trick of the government for the upcoming elections, some were angry that several groups unfairly attack the channel as being a mouthpiece of the government and label those who work for the channel and those who appear there as traitors. It is evident that the controversy on this issue will continue for a while.

Rather than this controversy, I would like to speak about some of the first impressions that I gathered on TRT 6. The channel so far has shown a nice and respectful attitude towards the Kurdish language and the culture. During all three days that I have been watching TRT 6, I have neither witnessed any insult or humiliation against Kurds nor watched any government propaganda. The channel is continuing a neat and orderly broadcast composed of nice cultural, musical, literary, social and documentary programs. Especially documentary films, such as Ramazan Ozturk’s “Xala Şikestînê”, “Roj Ji Rojlihat Hiltê” and some others, appear to be quite attractive. Also, cultural programs “Sevberk” presented by Kenan Oto and “Karwana Şevê” which gathered several “dengbêj” (traditional Kurdish lyric singers) were interesting programs.

Among all these programs, well-liked singer Rojin’s show “Rojiname” has a growing popularity. The show is aired in weekdays with the actual participation of guests in the studio. Rojin hosts two guests, one of whom is usually a singer and the other one is usually a professional who talks about his/her profession and answers the questions of anchor and the audience.

TRT 6 also offers several enjoyable cartoon films for children that create opportunities for children to watch cartoons in their mother language and at the same strengthens channel’s claim of being a family channel. TRT 6 also airs both renowned domestic and international movies for adults. Celebrated film “Eşkiya” of famed actor Şener Şen was one of these movies that Kurdish channel showed on its second day. Also, “16 Blocks” of Hollywood celebrity Bruce Willis was among the movies that TRT 6 aired.

As I mentioned before TRT 6’s broadcast is in general positive and pleasurable, and there is no doubt that the channel will improve its quality in future and attract more spectators. However, there are some points that need attention of the TRT officials. First of all, the Kurdish channel doesn’t seem to have a standard language for the broadcast. Instead, it seems that each producer uses his own language and this naturally creates linguistic disruption. For example, I observed that the word “muzîk” (music) was spelled in four different ways in TRT 6, like mûzîk, musîk, musik, musîkî. The word “president of the republic” is called “serokkomar” in Kurdish, but TRT 6 used “reîsî cumhur” which is Arabic instead, when the message of President Gul was aired.

Kurdish language has a standard alphabet and there is an established standard of usage of the language. In this regards, it is essential that TRT 6 seeks professional assistance from institutions or personalities who are involved in Kurdish language and culture, such as Paris Kurdish Institute, Istanbul Kurdish Institute, Kurdish Library in Sweden and other linguists living in Europe and North America. Especially Paris Kurdish Institute is well known about its studies and research on the main Kurdish dialect Kurmanji which TRT 6 uses. The institute has formed a study group called “Kurmancî” which is the Kurdish spelling of “Kurmanji” in 1987. This study group which is composed of Kurdish and non-Kurdish linguists and Kurdologists from various Kurmanji speaking regions meet periodically to discuss about the problems of the language and create solutions for these problems. It also keeps a record of the words with same meanings but only used in certain areas and not known widely by other Kurdish speakers, and publishes in its journal “Kurmancî” which can be found from the following address: www.institutkurde.org/en/publications/kurmanci/

One other issue needs some improvement is the news bulletins of the channel. The news is read in background by a voice and it’s quite short and simple. News bulletins and news programs are among the most essential component of a TV channel and I am hoping that TRT 6 will do better in future. It would be more appropriate and accurate, if the channel uses the Kurdish words “dengûbas” or nûçe” instead of current “xeber” which comes from Arabic again.

It’s of course not fair to expect TRT 6 to be perfect, It’s a fresh channel and it is too soon to criticize it, however, these suggestions are some basic, modest suggestions for the good of the channel. TRT has taken a significant step by launching the 24 hour TV channel. This channel can act like a bridge between Kurdish language and culture and other cultures in Turkey. By opening a Kurdish TV channel, which is objective, far from political concerns and respectful to people’s language, culture and identity, will certainly make millions of Kurdish citizens feel more respected and valued and it will also strengthen the brotherhood these two people.

One other important aspect of this TV channel is that, it uses Kurmanji, the major dialect of Kurdish language which is spoken by some 75 % off all Kurds worldwide. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurmanji. Presently, almost all of the Kurdish satellite TVs, with the exception of Roj TV (which is mainly Kurmanji and Turkish) predominantly broadcast in Sorani dialect of Kurdish. So, Kurmanji speaking Kurds lack of a channel that predominately broadcast in this language. By broadcasting in Kurmanji, TRT 6 will not only reach to 90 % of the Kurds in Turkey, but also all Kurds in Syria, Lebanon and former Soviet republics, such as Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and others. It will also reach to the Kurmanji speaking Kurds of Iraq living in Mosul, Duhok and some parts of Hewler (Erbil) provinces and Urumia and with its estimated 1.5 million population Kurds living in Khorasan provinces in Iran.

Thanks to Kurmanji channel, in addition to Kurds living in Europe, TRT 6 will be able to reach significant amount of Kurmanji speakers in USA and Canada, who are mainly from Behdinan region of Iraqi Kurdistan. Some of the Iraqi Kurds I spoke in Calgary told me that they have been watching the broadcast of TRT 6 continuously from the first day the channel became available on the internet. Similar interest can also bi detected among the Kurds from Syria as well. It is likely that if the Kurdish channel can create an objective and non ideological broadcasting like director Ilhan promises, Kurmanji speaking Kurds of other counties will also show an interest for the this TV station and TRT will reach its voice to a broader geography.

Some Suggestions for TRT 6

TRT launched its new website (www.trt.com.tr ) on December 20, 2008 but Kurdish is not listed one of 31 languages that TRT currently broadcasts. TRT officials should create multilingual (Kurdish, Turkish and English) website for the channel, probably with a domain name like trtkurdish.com or trtkurdi.com and post contact addresses of the channel. In case, viewers want to make suggestions to send their criticisms to the channel officials, there aren’t any known contact information or contact forms that people can use.

It is also important that TRT 6 improves the live internet streaming because for many people it’s the only way to watch the channel. With the day by day increase of the viewers, the technical quality of the internet broadcast has been decreasing. The channel through the internet can not be watched sometimes due to frequent freezing. It can be a good idea to increase the capacity and the quality of the internet streaming, so that the audience can conveniently watch the channel. Last but not least, TRT 6 should also consider broadcasting in USA and Canada via satellite soon for the large Kurdish population that is available in these countries and the programs can be repeated according to the local time, due to time difference. (There is a seven hours time difference between Turkey and Eastern Time and ten hours, between Turkey and Pacific Time).

Despite controversies and criticisms TRT 6 made a good start. My optimism is that it will continue to be an objective TV channel, without being mouthpiece of any political circle. I also hope that TRT 6 will get better in the future and receive acceptance and support from the majority of the Kurds. I wholeheartedly believe that peoples of Turkey deserve to live in peace side by side, with respecting each others language, culture and identity and TRT 6 is an important milestone on this way. I share the hope of many people that TRT 6 will be the first step of cultural and democratic rights of Kurdish people in Turkey, not simply a political maneuver to attract Kurdish votes, like some fear. It’s the common wish of millions that the optimistic environment that the channel has created will make positive impact on future reforms.

You can watch the live broadcast of TRT from the following link: www.trt.net.tr/Canli/anasayfa.aspx?kanal=TV6

* Mutlu Çiviroğlu is a freelance writer and certified Kurdish language instructor. He can be reached at mciviroglu@gmail.com

Mutlu Civiroglu
mciviroglu@gmail.com

The Kurdish TV of the state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) which has been waited for a long time finally started to its test broadcast on Thursday, December 25, 2008, with the motto of “we live under the same sky”.

The channel is named TRT 6 and Sinan Ilhan, who also speaks Kurdish, will be the coordinator for it. TRT 6 will broadcast mainly in Kurdish language, predominately in Kurmanji dialect which is the most spoken dialect of the Kurdish language. The channel will start officially on January 1st with an official ceremony with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and it will be a 24 hours broadcasting TV channel.

TRT’s Kurdish broadcasts actually started in 2004, after Radio and Television High Council (RTUK) approved some legal amendments that allowed TRT and private channels to broadcast in local languages and dialects. After this legal regulation, on June 7, 2004, TRT 3 started broadcasting in both Kurmanji and Zazaki dialects of Kurdish, as well as Arabic, Circassian and Bosnian languages, each 30 minutes. Due to legal obligations, all broadcast had to have Turkish subtitles of the original programs and the content and timing of the programs did not attract large scale of viewers.

However, with the recent initiative of the Kurdish TV, TRT officials seem to have a different view. In an interview with daily Zaman, General Director of TRT, Ibrahim Sahin stated that they would mainly use Kurmanji which is spoken by 90 % of the people in region and afterwards they would include Zazaki and Sorani as well. “Our intention is not to scare anybody. We sincerely want to meet the need of people for a TV channel which couldn’t learn Turkish. This channel will be a family channel like TRT1 which will have series, entertainment programs, and news programs. It will have everything that a family channel offers. As long as our national unity, integrity, anthem and the flag is not disrespected, we will produce same programs for Kurdish channel, as we do in other TRT channels. In the constitution, article 2954 clearly indicates our principles, missions and lines and with the condition of remaining in these boundaries, our colleagues will freely be able to say, speak and produce whatever they want.

Our purpose is not teaching Turkish to people because it’s the Ministry of Education’s job. We will use subtitles when needed however, for example, if an interviewee doesn’t know Kurdish, he will speak Turkish and then there will be Kurdish subtitles. If we don’t set up this channel, people with bad intentions and those who have ambitions on Turkey are influencing these people with their broadcasts. I believe that broadcasting in one’s mother tongue is a human rights and TRT will fulfill this necessity”.

Sahin concluded that these channel will be open to everybody with equal conditions and they will be fair to all circles. “If we bring some politicians to TV, we will bring the others as well, if not, then none of them will be on TV. If we give privileges to some certain people, then people over there will wipe us away. Our broadcast will be watched in everywhere in the world via satellite: from Northern Iraq to USA and to Australia”.

It’s reported broadly by the media that TRT has contacted to renowned Kurdish singers Shivan Perwer and invited him for the grand opening of the channel on January 1. In a written statement sent to agencies by the Shivan Perwer International Cultural Foundation, Perwer said that he had to leave his country, his loves ones and his people just because he sang in his mother tongue. “Shivan Perwer is respectful to any project that would preserve cultural togetherness and strengthen the brotherhood of two people that have lived side by side for centuries, as well as any project that would serve to Kurdish language and literature which has been left without any attention and support. He also wishes such positive steps to continue and be taken under the constitutional guarantee.

At this point, the approach of Turkish state to the Kurdish culture and its sincerity is very important. On the condition that not being involved in any political and ideological purpose, every cultural step is very significant and meaningful since it will serve to peoples’ culture and the humanity. I am hoping that the Kurdish Channel of TRT will remain in this frame. Shivan Perwer finds every development that far from politics and ideologies, which would help his culture and language to flourish very positive. Shivan Perwer who served to Kurdish people’s culture with his music, is always ready to share his songs with the brother peoples and cultures”.

Shivan Perwer is not the only name that TRT officials invited for the Kurdish channels. According to media sources, one other famous Kurdish singer is Ciwan Haco, however, it’s not known yet how Haco responded to TRT’s request. It’s also reported that while singers Nilufer Akbal and Rojin will both present a night program for the channel, Muhsin Kizilkaya will prepare a literature program for TRT Kurdish.

On the other hand, it’s reported that TRT 6 is experiencing great difficulties in finding Kurdish speaking personnel. For this reason, TRT officials held a meeting with Kendal Nezan, the president of the Paris Kurdish Institute and asked help for finding Kurdish presenters and announcers.

Regarding the Kurdish broadcast of the TRT, there are diverse opinions among the Kurds. While some claim this channel to be a mouthpiece of the Turkish state and used for official propaganda of the state, others believe that it is an important step for democratization of Turkey and recognition of the cultural rights for the Kurds. However, there were many positive comments on important Kurdish websites after the first day broadcast. The most popular Kurdish website Netkurd announced the first days of the Kurdish Channel with its title “Kurdish TRT 6 Started Nice”. Website stated that, TRT 6 broadcasted the vide clips of legendary Kurdish singers Ayse Shan and Mihemed Arife Ciziri, as well as Ciwan Haco and Rojin. Website continued “TRT 6 started nice. If it continues in this way and it politically remains democratic and neutral, its content gave hope to the people. TRT 6 can even be better and more popular than other Kurdish channels which only talks about their political parties and show only their members and supporters. Website also commented positively about the fact that TRT 6 used standard Kurdish alphabet, including the letters w, q, x, which doesn’t exist in Turkish alphabet. Today some of the columnists of the website also wrote positively about the channel and considered the channel as a positive step.

In fact, December 25, 2008 represents a remarkable day for democratization of Turkey and the brotherhood of the Kurds and the Turks, because opening of the Kurdish TV has a historical significance and meaning for Turkey. It’s the common hope and desire of many people that this channel will be a democratic and objective television and will respect the cultural and linguistic rights of the Kurdish people. It is also hoped that TRT 6 will act as a bridge to introduce language, literature, culture and traditions of Kurds and strengthen the mutual love and respect between Kurds and Turks. Instead of making premature judgments and labeling the channel as the mouthpiece of the government, maybe it will be wiser to give some time to channel and contribute it in different ways.

TRT 6 started to broadcast from the Turksat 3A Satellite and the frequencies of the channel is as fallows:

Frequency 12.685 MHz
Polarization Horizonal
Symbol Rate 30.000
FEC 5/6

A video clip from the first day test broadcasting can be seen from the following link:
www.netkurd.com/webtv/mezeke.asp?id=132

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris (September 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185043946X
• ISBN-13: 978-1850439462
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7 x 1.3 inches

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About the Author
Eskandar Firouz is a former Director of the Department of the Environment in Iran. He has been Vice President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and held the same position at the Stockholm Conference on the Environment.

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