NEWS CENTER - There are not enough associations for the development and teaching of Kurdish. There is not a single association in the Çukurova and Mediterranean regions, as well as in Mêrdîn (Mardin), Îdir (Iğdır), Qers (Kars), Colemêrg (Hakkari) and many other cities.  

 

Article 42 of the Constitution prohibits the teaching of any language other than Turkish as a mother language in educational institutions. Therefore, providing education in any language other than Turkish in state schools is seen as a "cause for division" or a "survival issue". Kurdish is at the forefront of these languages. 

 

Since the founding of the republic, Kurds have faced intense assimilation policies. At times, their language was completely banned; at other times, they were subjected to pressure or severe penalties for speaking their mother language. However, the struggle against assimilation and oppression has never ceased. 

 

Language and cultural associations working to develop, spread and teach Kurdish are leading this struggle. 

 

Following the military coup attempt in 2016, all language and cultural associations working in Kurdish were closed down under the Decrees with the Force of Law (KHK) issued under the State of Emergency. The Istanbul Kurdish Institute, founded in 1992, and the Kurdish Language Research and Development Association (KURDÎ-DER) were among the institutions whose activities were suspended.  

 

Educators and linguists who worked at these associations and institutions soon resumed their work on the Kurdish language with different associations.

 

ASSOCIATIONS WHERE KURDISH IS TAUGHT

 

Information about the activities of associations established in different cities after 2016 is as follows:

 

* Mezopotamya Language and Culture Research Association (MED-DER): Founded in Amed (Diyarbakır) in 2017, it provides lessons to around 400 students.  

 

* Arî Language Research and Culture Association (ARÎ-DER): Founded in Êlih (Batman) in 2018 under the name Mereto Language Research and Culture Association. The association's name was changed to ARÎ-DER on 3 July 2021. Face-to-face and online lessons are provided to over 100 people. 

 

* Birca Belek Language and Culture Association: Founded in Şirnex (Şırnak)/Cizîr (Cizre) on 22 September 2019. 24 people are learning the language in 2 separate courses. 

 

* Kurdish Culture and Language Development Association (KURDÎGEH): Founded in Wan (Van) in 2024. 90 people are taking language lessons. Only children are taught in one workshop. 

 

* Avesta Language and Cultural Research Association: Founded in the Konak district of Izmir on 1 August 2025. Language lessons are provided to 50 people. 

 

* Cudi Education, Culture and Solidarity Association (CÛDÎ-DER): Founded in 2015 in the Şirnex/Silopiya (Silopi) district. Work here ceased following the deportation of Co-Mayor Jiyan Ormanlı. 

 

* Ferat Language and Cultural Research Association (FERAD-DER): Founded in Semsûr in 2019. Language lessons are provided to 15 people. 

 

* Botan Language and Cultural Research Association (BOTAN-DER): Founded in Sêrt (Siirt) on 31 October 2022. Twenty-five people received their certificates. Work was suspended for a period due to the association's relocation. 

 

* Language and Literature Association (MEBYA-DER): Founded in Bedlîs (Bitlis)/Tetwan (Tatvan) on 7 July 2024. 

 

* Konya Culture, Arts and Language Association (KON-DER): Founded in Kulu district on 6 February 2025. 25 people are participating in workshops. Applications for new courses are ongoing. 

 

* Istanbul Kurdish Research Association: Founded on 6 March 2017. Language lessons in the Kurmancî, Kirmanckî and Soranî dialects of Kurdish are being given to nearly 250 people. 

 

* Arsîsa Language, Culture and Arts Research Association: Founded in Wan (Van)/Ercîş (Erdiş) in 2019. There are 20 students in 2 classes. 

 

* Mesopotamians Language and Culture Research and Development Association (MEDİA-DER): Founded in Tekirdağ on 18 May 2025. Language training is provided to 6 people. 

 

* Ararat Language and Culture Research Association (KURDÎ-ZAN): Founded in Agirî (Ağrı) on 8 November 2025. 70 people are receiving language training. 

 

* Anka Language, Culture and Arts Association (ANKA-DER): Founded in Ankara in June 2022. 75 people participate in workshops. Hundreds of people have completed the workshops. 

 

* Siverek Kurdish Language and Culture-Art Development and Research Association (ZIWAN-KURD): Established in Riha (Urfa)/Sêwereg (Siverek) district on 30 November 2025. Language lessons are being given to 20 people. 

 

* ZIMANGER: Founded in Riha on 17 December 2025. Workshops have not yet started. 

 

* Kurdish Language and Culture Association: Founded in Riha in 2023. There are no workshops at present. 

 

* İzmir-Dersim Culture and Solidarity Association: Lessons are being given in the Kirmanckî dialect to 13 registered students. 

 

* Nûbihar Association: Operates in Wan. Language is being taught to 25 people in one class. 

 

* Bingöl Culture and Arts Association: Opened on 27 December 2025 in Çewlig (Bingöl). 30 people are receiving language education. 

 

* Ehmedê Xanî Institute: Opened in Wan on 27 April 2024. Mainly organises panels and symposiums.

 

MA MUSIC, EĞİTİM-SEN, DAD, SES...

 

In addition to these associations, workshops for the Kurdish language are also held in various institutions and trade unions.

 

Workshops have been held for many years at the Dicle Fırat Culture and Arts Association and MA Music in Amed (Diyarbakır). 

 

The Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim-Sen) is at the forefront of unions teaching Kurdish. Kurdish is currently taught at many branches of Eğitim Sen, including Dêrsim (Tunceli), Wan, Semsûr (Adıyaman), Dîlok (Antep) and many more. Language training is provided to 42 people in Dêrsim and 30 people in Wan. 

 

Similar work is being carried out in some branches of the Health and Social Services Workers' Union. Language training is being provided to 60 people at the SES Wan Branch. 

 

Language workshops are also being organised in some bar associations, branches of the Democratic Alevi Association (DAD), the Mesopotamia Foundation and the İsmail Beşikçi Foundation.  

 

ÇUKUROVA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

 

In many cities with large Kurdish populations, there are no associations that conduct activities solely in Kurdish. The Çukurova and Mediterranean regions are at the forefront of these areas. In cities such as Adana, Mersin, Antalya, and Hatay, where hundreds of thousands of Kurds live, there is not a single association teaching Kurdish. 

 

NO ASSOCIATIONS IN 7 CITIES OF SERHAT 

 

The picture is no different in the Serhat Region. Language studies are mainly conducted in Wan. However, there are no associations in Erzirom (Erzurum), Îdir, Qers (Kars), Erdexan (Ardahan), Colemêrg, Mûş (Muş) and Bedlîs.  

 

Similarly, Mêrdîn, Meletî (Malatya), Mereş (Maraş), Şirnex centre, Elezîz (Elazığ), Dêrsim and Erzingan (Erzincan) are also cities without associations. 

 

'LIVING LANGUAGES' DEPARTMENTS AT 4 UNIVERSITIES 

 

Academic studies on the Kurdish language and literature at universities are also quite limited. Only 5 universities have Kurdish Language and Literature departments:

 

* Amed/Dicle University 

 

* Mêrdîn/Artuklu University 

 

* Mûş/Alparslan University 

 

* Çewlîg/Bingöl University 

 

* Dêrsim/Munzur University 

 

Tomorrow: The report of DEM Party municipalities in mother language

 

MA / Azad Altay