Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality launched its International Mother Language Day events on 21 February with film screenings. Head of the Language Protection Unit, Tahir Baykuşak, stated that numerous activities would be held throughout the week and underlined that they would continue their efforts to raise language awareness across all public spaces.

Organised by the Department of Culture and Social Affairs of the Metropolitan Municipality, the programme for International Mother Language Day includes the distribution of materials to shopkeepers, poetry recitals, concerts, theatre and cinema screenings throughout the week.

The events opened with film screenings at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre. The films shown were Keçika Reş (Black Girl), telling the story of a Senegalese woman seeking to build a better life in another country, and La Nación Clandestina (The Secret Nation/Neteweya Nepen), directed by Jorge Sanjinés, which depicts Sebastián Mamani’s desperate struggle — even at the cost of his life — to integrate with others, with a group, with society.

‘We Will Continue Our Work’

Providing information about the events, Tahir Baykuşak, Head of the Language Protection Unit, stated that International Mother Language Day, celebrated between 17–22 February, would be marked with a variety of activities, and emphasised that they would continue efforts to raise language awareness in markets, on the streets and across all public spaces. Baykuşak said: “Part of our work will be aimed at tradespeople, alongside artistic activities. We will visit tradespeople and markets to distribute labels and badges.”

Baykuşak added that there would also be three film screenings, a theatre play to be performed in Zazaki, and a reception to mark International Mother Language Day on 21 February. He also noted that a major concert would be held on 22 February, featuring Ayfer Düztaş and Ali Tekbaş.

‘Two Languages in Our City Are Under Threat’

Baykuşak stressed that UNESCO draws attention to endangered languages on International Mother Language Day, and continued: “In our city, unfortunately, two languages are also under this threat: Syriac and Zazaki. If no action is taken, and if institutions and organisations do not assume responsibility, it is likely that Syriac and Zazaki will become extinct languages in the coming years. For this reason, we wanted this year to be recognised as the Year of the Zazaki Language, and as the Municipality’s Language Unit we reiterate this call.”