Turkish prosecutor rejects probe into politicians for Kurdish speech

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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The Digor district police department in the eastern province of Kars filed a criminal complaint against the three executives from the pro-Kurdish Democratic and Society Party, or DTP, claiming they broke laws by speaking Kurdish at the opening ceremony for the party's regional election office in February. 

Turkey's election laws do not allow election campaigners to use any language other than Turkish during their campaigning efforts. 

Digor Public Prosecutor, Omer Tutuncu, ruled against launching proceedings into the three, saying "the related provisions of law do not retain any applicability after Turkey's state-run television and radio network started broadcasting in Kurdish on January 1, 2009."

"Even senior officials and bureaucrats have addressed Turkish citizens of Kurdish descent in Kurdish," he added when handing down his ruling.

An executive from the DTP headquarters, MP Cemal Cosgun, hailed Tutuncu's decision, saying amendments to Political Parties law and the Constitution is now unavoidable, Hurriyet reported.

Politicians have been charged for promoting separate Kurdish public service and disseminating Kurdish propaganda in election campaigns in the past.

Turkey has recently taken steps to boost the cultural and democratic rights of Kurds, including the Jan. 1 launch, attended by the prime minister, of state-run TRT-6, a TV channel that airs in Kurdish 24-hours a day.