Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality organised a run on the occasion of 15 May Kurdish Language Day, drawing attention to the importance of protecting Kurdish.

The run, organised by the Language Protection and Development Branch Directorate under the Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs as part of 15 May Kurdish Language Day, created colourful scenes across the city. DBB Council members, heads of departments and representatives of civil society organisations also attended the event, where participants were given hats, T-shirts and race numbers. Starting at Sümerpark, the event brought residents together to the sound of Kurdish music, while Kurdish Language Day was celebrated with traditional halay dances.

Many residents taking part in the event drew attention to the importance of protecting Kurdish and ensuring that it is used more widely in all areas of life. The lively atmosphere that formed before the event grew further with the halay dances and slogans of those joining the celebrations.

‘Let us protect our language’

Speaking as part of the programme, Zeynep Yaş, Head of the Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs, said protecting the Kurdish language is a social responsibility. Yaş said: “We are, without doubt, proud of our children. We are proud of our mothers. Our future will become stronger through our children’s mother tongue. Today, on the occasion of 15 May Mother Language Day, I celebrate two days together: Kurdish Language Day and Mother’s Day. Our language is one of the strongest languages in the world. Let us protect our language; let it become a language of education.”

Emphasising the importance of using Kurdish actively in daily life, Yaş also marked Mother’s Day and drew attention to the role of mothers in passing language on from one generation to the next.

The run took place

Following the speech, the run was started. Beginning at Sümerpark, the run ended at Dağkapı Square.

The celebrations continued with a folk dance performance by a group working under the Dicle Fırat Cultural Centre.

At the end of the event, plaques and medals were presented to the participants who placed in the race.