Türk achieved what he wanted

But what I’m about to tell you has nothing to do with separatism or Kurdishness. I’d like to draw attention to a natural development.

Ahmet Türk’s speech in Kurdish in the parliamentary group meeting got everybody in an uproar. A storm broke out in Ankara.

Let’s first start with Ahmet Türk.

Why? Why did he feel like he had to take this step now?

As far as I can tell, Ahmet Türk wanted to spoil the Justice and Development Party, or AKP’s, showy approach to the Kurdish issue before local elections.

The AKP for some time now has created such an atmosphere in public as if it has solved the Kurdish issue and especially with the start of TRT-6 it gained much prestige.

To tell the truth, Ahmet Türk has caused provocation to some extent. He has taken this step knowing it is illegal in Parliament to speak in Kurdish despite assurance and pushing as was the case with Leyla Zana in the past. Thus he had leaked to the press that he was going to make a part of his speech in Kurdish.

The expected happened.

Immediately, the TRT channel broadcasting parliamentary meetings was cut off.

Ahmet Türk’s eyes were filled with tears. Hearing Kurdish made millions of Kurds very happy. All eyes focused on the DTP.

In the end Türk had achieved what he wanted. It showed that the Kurdish issue was far from a solution and the DTP was not contending with what it obtained.

Besides, the AKP’s charisma in the Kurdish issue was hurt. Erdoğan’s increasing prestige in the Southeast received inroads to some extent.

In summary, he adopted the atmosphere of local elections.

I have followed the Kurdish issue very closely for years and write about it. The most striking part here is that the Turkish government could never calculate the "timing" of steps to be taken. Decisions that need to be taken today state authorities would postpone until tomorrow and come tomorrow they would again postpone them to the next day; they’d always fall of the agenda.

Would this split the country?

Ahmet Türk’s speech in Parliament reminded me of the question, will the same timing mistake be made again?

The Turkish Republic does not deny the Kurdish issue anymore. It gave up old nonsensical theories. Old times in which the Kurdish words were not even pronounced are long past.

The Republic of Turkey has gone even further and lifted the Kurdish ban. Informal places and writings are allowed to use the Kurdish language. The state’s channel TRT-6 started Kurdish broadcasting and this meant "Turkey was determined to lift all bans on the Kurdish language, which was the natural right of citizens of Kurdish origin."

If this step would have been taken 40 years ago maybe the Kurdish issue would not have come this far and the PKK would not be able to take advantage of this swamp so easily.

Today due to laws in the Turkish state it is allowed to sing and speak in Kurdish. Civilians are used to hearing Kurdish for a long time but the state just now is starting getting used to it.

Now let’s discuss Ahmet Türk’s speech during the parliamentary group meeting.

The Constitution and the Political Party Law forbid deputies to speak Kurdish during political meetings. These articles are leftover from laws based on old perceptions. It’s a reflection of the perception, "If deputies speak Kurdish at rallies or party meetings, the use of Kurdish spreads and it will be easier to split Turkey."

But reality today is very different É

Deputies speak Kurdish among themselves. And so do hundreds of thousands of people who fill the rallies. They open their TVs and listen to Kurdish news and comments.

Their own deputies on the podium are forced to listen to Turkish.

Isn’t that weird? Of course it is.

After so many steps taken what sense does it make to tie us down with old laws? Isn’t it time for fine tuning? But whatever happens, a Turkish condition should persist under the roof of the Parliament. The same situation persists in Europe where, for example, in the French and Spanish parliaments no other language is allowed other than French or Spanish. And this is a symbol of unity and integrity.

At this point in time we should lift bans except symbolic precautions that protect the unity of our country, instead of creating problems with the Kurdish language. For as long as these limitations persist the judiciary mechanism has problems implementing laws. It paves the way for regression of society.