WAN - Homer Feizî, the spokesperson of Nojîn Social Culture Association, whose members and instructors were arrested for teaching Kurdish language, said: "As long as we do not liberate the Kurdish language from the yoke of this occupation, we cannot liberate Kurdish thought."

 

The Iranian regime continues to put pressure on the members, managers and instructors of the Nojîn Social Culture Association (Nojîn Organisation), which provides Kurdish language education through courses in the city of Sine and villages of Rojhilat, by detaining, arresting, suing and imprisoning them. 

 

Those who carry out the activities of the association often face accusations such as "endangering Iran's national security" and "establishing a group with the aim of threatening national security". Zara Mohammadi, a member of the association, was arrested on 23 May 2019 and released on bail after 6 months and 10 days in detention. Seywan Îbrahîmî, İdris Menberî, Soma Pûrmihemedî and Sirwe Pourmohamedî, who are also members of the association, were sentenced to imprisonment on the same charges.

 

'WE MUST LIBERATE THE KURDISH LANGUAGE FROM OCCUPATION'

 

Homer Feizî, Spokesperson and Education Officer of Nojîn Social Culture Association, celebrated 15 May Kurdish Language Day and said, "Such days are very important in terms of bringing the Kurdish nation and language to the agenda. For this reason, 15 May is sacred for us as the national holiday of the Kurdish language. We have always tried to express the extent of the occupation and persecution of the Kurdish language. On the occasion of the holiday, I have to say that unless we liberate the Kurdish language from the yoke of this occupation, we cannot liberate Kurdish thought."

 

'NO NATION STATE CAN DENY THE KURDISH LANGUAGE'

 

Feizî said that although there were attempts to ban the Kurdish language in Iran, just like in Turkey, they did not succeed. "With the establishment of the Kurdistan Republic in Mahabad and the uprising of the Kurds against the Pehlewi regime and especially against the Islamic Republic, the Kurdish people became more aware of their language rights. The nation states we face cannot deny the Kurdish language and people. However, the Iranian state has put many obstacles in the way of a complete ban on Kurdish language learning and education. Because a significant number of Rojhilat Kurds study at major universities. The struggle to preserve and develop the Kurdish language in Iran started in the universities and many Kurdish magazines were published in major universities. This situation has made the desire to learn Kurdish and receive education in Kurdish a general demand among Kurdish students."

 

Feizî stated that Kurdish language is not forbidden in Rojilat as it used to be, various education centres have been established in Sine Kurdistan University and a Kurdish language department has been opened in Kurdistan University. Pointing to his own association as an example of these pressures, Feizî said, "With the permission of our Nojîn association, we had Kurdish language education centres in the villages and towns of Sineh. Kurdish language teachers in towns and villages were busy teaching Kurdish ideology to Kurdish students. However, after the “Jin, jiyan, azadi” revolution, they did not extend the licence of our institution again. So we took a political decision not to ask the occupying Iranian regime to extend our licence. We are currently teaching and learning Kurdish in our centres. We openly demand the abolition of the Iranian education system and the establishment of Kurdish education. For this reason, the occupying regime dealt harshly with our organisation and punished our teachers severely."

 

MANY TEACHERS SENTENCED

 

Feizî said that after the "Jin, jiyan, azadî (Woman, life, freedom)" protests, many of their teachers were given heavy sentences and added: "One of them was Zara Muhammedî who was released after 2.5 years. Another was Seywan Ibrahimî, who was imprisoned for 1 year. Along with these, Idris Menberi was sentenced to 2 years in prison. The 5-year prison sentence given to Soma Pûrmihemedî was cancelled. Sirwe Pourmohamedi is currently serving a 5-year prison sentence. We continue to resist for the Kurdish language."

 

MA / Adnan Bilen