Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality has introduced a free sign language interpretation service for deaf couples at wedding ceremonies.

The Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities and Older Adults has launched a new initiative to support deaf citizens in expressing themselves and exercising their right to communication.

Under the motto “Every ‘Yes’ Should Be in One’s Own Language”, the Municipality now provides professional sign language interpreters free of charge for deaf couples during their wedding ceremonies.

‘Part of an Equality-Based Policy’

Providing information about the initiative, Emin Baran, Head of the Disability Services Unit of the Department of Adult Social Care, stated that the practice was launched to support deaf people in exercising their rights. Baran said:

“Under the motto ‘Every ‘Yes’ Should Be in One’s Own Language’, as Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, we offer free sign language interpreter support for deaf couples during their wedding ceremonies.

This service enables deaf individuals to express themselves in their own language and to access their rights to communication and family life. Supporting their independence, this practice has been implemented as part of our Municipality’s equalising and equality-based policy.”

Baran added that deaf citizens wishing to benefit from the service only need to apply to the Municipality in writing, and expressed his hope that the initiative would be beneficial.