ASYA DENÎZ

Makhmour- 15 May, the date of the first publication of Hawar Magazine in 1932, is annually celebrated as the Kurdish Language Day. “When a language disappears, a nation disappears,” Nurê Sanri, a Kurdish teacher in the Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp), said in an interview with NuJINHA.

 ‘A nation whose language is extinct is never recognized’

Nurê Sanri drew attention to the struggle of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the patriotic Kurdish people and said, “Language is an identity”. “Approximately 18 nations have disappeared since the Seljuks because their languages first disappeared. A nation whose language is extinct is never recognized.”

‘Our mothers preserve our language by singing songs and telling stories’

Nurê Sanri thinks that Kurdish mothers play an important role in preserving the Kurdish language. “I want to thank them for preserving our language. They preserve their language by speaking Kurdish with their children despite the oppressive practices of the enemy. Our mothers preserve our language and our culture by singing Kurdish songs and telling Kurdish stories.”

‘Our camp has become a role model in preserving the Kurdish language’

The education in the Kurdish language has been provided at the camp for about 30 years. “In the past, we managed to provide education in the Kurdish language despite the limited opportunities and the challenges faced by us. One of the challenges faced by us was the lack of Kurdish books. But now, we have Kurdish books. Our camp has become a role model in preserving the Kurdish language.”

‘Kurdish should become a language of education’

Nurê Sanri concluded her speech by calling on the Kurdish people to “preserve their language. Especially, our mothers should teach the Kurdish language to their children. Kurdish should become a language of education and be taught in schools.”