Monday, November 8, 2010

EU: More progress needed on Kurdish-language rights

08 November 2010

Turkey's approach to ethnic and linguistic issues remains restrictive, EU said.

Turkey's approach to ethnic and linguistic issues remains restrictive, an advance copy of the European Commission 2010 Progress Report on Turkey read.

The report said Turkey’s approach to ethnic, linguistic and religious issues remains restrictive. “The use of any language other than Turkish in political life still falls under the law on elections and political parties. The courts have been issuing contradictory decisions in cases against Kurdish politicians,” the document said.

The government’s opening to the Alevi community, which included workshops with Alevi representatives, was noted, but the authors said compulsory religion lessons remain in public schools and is troubling.

“The dialogue with Alevis and with non-Muslim religious communities continued but has not yet produced results,” the report said.



ANF NEWS DESK /

ANF NEWS AGENCY