Court bans use of 19 park names in Kurdish

DİYARBAKIR - Doğan News Agency

A Diyarbakır administrative court has banned a local municipality from naming an area cultural center after a Kurdish poet, as well as Kurdish names to 19 parks, on the grounds that “immoral, separatist and foreign names cannot be given” to such locations.

“The names of neighborhoods, streets, boulevards, squares and such places cannot have characteristics against the main principles of the Constitution, the legislation in force, public morality or that would lead to discrimination and separatism,” the Diyarbakır 1st Administrative Court said, citing the relevant legal article in justifying its ban. “Words and phrases derived according to the rules of a foreign language, as well as inappropriate, obscene and ridiculous names, cannot be used. Before the names belonging to foreign countries are given, the approval of Foreign Ministry is required,” it said. The most high-profile location affected by the rulings is the Cegerxwîn Cultural Center, which was opened by Kayapınar Municipality four years ago. Cegerxwîn is the name of a renowned Kurdish poet that was also mentioned by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a speech he made in the past in Diyarbakır.

The Diyarbakır court has also demanded the municipality change the names of Zembilfiroş Park, 33 Kurşun Park, Derwişî Ewdî Park, Nefel Park, Daraşîn Park, Bêzar Park, Ciwan Park, Sosin Park, Jiyanan Azad Park, Aşîti Park, Yek Gûlan Park, Beybun Park, Şilan Park, Roşna Park, Rojbîn Park, Rojda Park, Berfin Park, Gülistan Park and Roşan Park on similar grounds.