Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak visited local traders in Sur as part of International Mother Language Day on 21 February, drawing attention to the visibility of mother tongues in public spaces.

To mark 21 February International Mother Language Day, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality organised a programme to increase the visibility of mother tongues in public life and encourage their wider everyday use. As part of the programme organised by the Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs, a visit to traders was carried out on Melik Ahmet Street in Sur district.

Alongside Co-Mayor Serra Bucak, the programme was attended by Sur Municipality Co-Mayors Fatma Gulan Önkol and Adnan Örhan, as well as council members, department heads and municipal staff.

The delegation gathered in front of Urfa Gate and was accompanied by the erbane ensemble from Sur Municipality Youth Centre. A short walk was held along Melik Ahmet Street to the rhythm of the erbane.

Traders informed

After the walk, the co-mayors and the accompanying delegation split into two groups and informed traders about the significance of 21 February International Mother Language Day. As part of the programme, brochures prepared to support the protection of mother tongues and to promote their use in public spaces were distributed, along with multilingual signage.

Co-Mayor Serra Bucak underlined the city’s multilingual and multicultural character, emphasising the importance of sustaining mother tongues for social peace, democracy and freedom.

Traders also expressed their satisfaction with the initiative, highlighting the importance of making mother tongues visible in public spaces.