29 Mar 2010
Turkish Authorities Forced Norouz Celebrators to Remove Kurdish Symbols
The following video was taken in the town of Hakkari, Turkey (Colemerg in Kurdish) on March 17, 2010. The footage shows how Turkish police forced children who were celebrating Norouz (new year) to remove Kurdish colors (red, yellow and green) from their faces. Public expression of Kurdish identity, such as displaying the Kurdish flag or celebrating Kurdish holidays, is extremely restricted in Turkey.
The longer original video also shows Turkish forces harassing women for wearing Kurdish colors.
Comments
As an Iranian, I believe that Kurds should get all rights that regular Persians have in Iran. However, I do not believe that the Kurds should ask for their own country (that is split Iran up)!
I cannot believe what I see! Preventing people from celebrating their ancestor’s culture and heritage. Turk have been doing this for centuries and stripped millions of their right. They murdered 1.5 million Armenian, millions of Kurd, Persian, Eastern European, .. and they got away with their crime because of their service to west. Time for world to make up!
Wish you Happy Nowruz!
I strongly recommend those that are claiming how turkey is badly treating her Kurdish and Armenian citizens to show up once in Turkey.. Just give it a try only once and be witness the way of the destruction of your prejudices. If no way to do so, calibre your dish and try to catch up the national television’s Kurdish frequency. Otherwise it is a mere ridicule to make up your mind thousands of miles away and build up your perceptions accordingly. You would be more than welcome if decided so…