Diyarbakır Mayor-elect pledges support for Kurdish language, culture

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The newly elected mayor of Diyarbakır, Serra Bucak, has announced groundbreaking initiatives to support the Kurdish language and culture in the city, including exempting shopkeepers who write their signs in Kurdish from taxes.

Bucak, who won the co-mayoral election on the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) list, emphasized the importance of revitalizing the Kurdish language in Diyarbakır, stating, "This is a significant step to showcase the richness of our province."

In addition to encouraging Kurdish signage, Bucak has committed to reopening the Aram Tigran Conservatory and Cegerxwin Cultural Center, recognizing their vital role in promoting Kurdish art and heritage. "These centers will offer valuable services to Kurdish art across various disciplines," she affirmed.

With Diyarbakır's population nearing two million, Bucak intends to establish multiple cultural centers across townships to ensure broader access to Kurdish language education. "Our goal is to facilitate Kurdish language learning for every Kurd," she declared.

While Bucak's measures have sparked debate in Turkish society, the provision of mother tongue education for Kurdish children has gained traction in recent years.

The Turkish Ministry of Education initiated the registration process for optional Kurmanci and Zazaki language subjects in secondary schools across North Kurdistan, underscoring a growing recognition of linguistic diversity.