Turkey vs. Sweden on the Kurdish Issue

Turkey refuses to allow Kurdish stories into Northern Kurdistan

8/25/2006 KurdishMedia.com - By Halwest Rashid

A Swedish source stated that 1,000 books have been confiscated in by Turkish authorities in Istanbul airport. The books are famous children stories that are translated into Kurdish from Swedish and they are to be given to libraries in Northern Kurdistan (now within Turkey) in order to help Kurdish children to learn their native language and to enjoy. The books are stopped in the international airport of Istanbul by the Turkish authorities and they refuse to allow this gift from Sweden to Kurds of Northern Kurdistan.

Furthermore, the Turkish authorities planned to destroy the books in the coming days. The Swedish ambassador in Ankara has undertaken steps to preserve the books, but the Turkish government is certainly of its matter. This is again a proof of the fact that Turkey undertakes everything to stop the Kurdish language to be spoken and used in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey. The Turkish constitution is crystal clear about the usage of Kurdish language: it cannot be used.

[Another reason not to travel through Turkey]