the past and the present of book publishing in kurdish language in ...

Van 23Şırnak 22Şanlıurfa 22Ağrı 214.3 Literacy in KurdishBecause of the reasons I have already stated, very few of the Kurds inTurkey can read and write in Kurdish, most having learned it on their own.Kurdish language publications, especially newspapers and magazines havefunctioned as schools for them (90). Higher sales of alphabet books,dictionaries and grammar books in Kurdish reveal the interest in learning toread and write in the language.4.4 Libraries in Turkey and Kurdish language editionsThe role of libraries in cultural life and education is obvious. However,due to the ban on Kurdish in Turkey, libraries have not considered stockingKurdish books. The situation remains unchanged to this day despite thelifting of the ban. My inquiry about Kurdish books at the district publiclibraries of the provinces of Istanbul, Yozgat and Diyarbekir revealed that notonly were there no Kurdish books but the librarians were very surprised as itwas the first time they were asked such a question. Due to the ongoing statepropaganda against Kurdish to this day, neither the readers nor thelibrarians have thought that Kurdish books ought to be available in libraries.The denial of the existence of the Kurds and the Kurdish language had animpact on libraries, too. During this period, “removing Kurdish publicationsfrom libraries and destroying them was a meticulously executed activity.Library registers and catalogues were rearranged after this destruction.Trying to adapt the de facto situation to the new discourse became animportant and indispensable task. The said libraries were, without a doubt,state libraries. As to the collections in private libraries, residences of theowners would be raided by the police for various reasons in an attempt toconfiscate them (91).Kurdish readers today, knowing that in the past Kurdish books were usedfor accusing people of and/or charging them with Kurdish nationalism,separatism, treason, etc., may still be filled with apprehension and do notask for Kurdish books in libraries in an obvious form of auto-censorship.Many people, even some librarians have not gotten used to the idea thatlibraries must serve all citizens. The 61 st congress of IFLA (InternationalFederation of Library Associations) was held in Istanbul in 1995. Over 3000people of different nationalities took part in the event. The delegates of theUS Library of Congress recommended to IFLA to demand that the Turkishgovernment guarantees the democratic rights of the Kurds in Turkey andsuggested that this demand should be written in the final declaration from39