The workshop organized to determine the road map by Language and Cultures Network which will last for two days, started in Diyarbakır Demir Hotel.  Nearly 300 people, including writers, academics, educators, publishers, business people, women's institutions and cultural and artistic institutions, participated in the workshop.

 

'WE ARE GATHERED HERE AGAINST ATTACKS CONTINUING FOR A CENTURY'

 

The opening speech of the workshop was made by the linguist Zana Farqinî from the secretariat. Farqinî said that they were here today in order to realize the workshop decision taken at the previous meeting. Zana Farqinî stated that everyone was uncomfortable with the situation in Kurdish language and culture and emphasized the importance of gathering in order to take steps on this issue. Farqinî said: "There are many independent institutions in the field of language and culture. However, we saw the need to work together, seeing that what we have was not enough. Since the establishment of the Republic, Kurdish culture and language have been facing relentless assimilation policies. For the first time since the beginning of this century, we have seen the Kurdish language signaling extinction. We will come together and discuss the methods we need against these attacks to our language and culture."

 

Farqinî recalled that the language problem is not only an issue for those who are interested in the language itself, but that it covers all Kurds. Therefore, the Network of Languages ​​and Cultures covers a wide environment. Farqinî emphasized that the two-day workshop will focus on different topics and listed the topics of the workshop. Farqinî said: "We will discuss the representation of language and identity in the international arena, we will determine our principles and we will discuss the situation of the Kurdish Language and Culture in detail."

 

After the opening speech, the workshop resumed closed to the press.