Freedom of speech? Not if you’re speaking Kurdish

A Kurdish member of Turkey’s Parliament caused a stir by giving a speech in Kurdish at a session of Parliament. This is apparently both politically taboo and illegal. State television cut off the broadcast of the speech.

According to the story, “Kurdish is no longer banned as a language, but its public use at events like Tuesday’s speech, or at rallies, on fliers or in advertisements, is still illegal.”

I wonder if the powers-that-be in Turkey really think laws like this will suppress Kurdish nationalism, or if they are just trying to keep it out of the public eye.