The cultural situation of the Kurds

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16459 | 13 August 2026

Signatories:

Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Mr Bogdan BOGDANOV, Bulgaria, ALDE ; Ms Semra ÇAĞLAR GÖKALP, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr Nikolla CAMAJ, Montenegro, ALDE ; Ms Sevilay ÇELENK, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr Constantinos EFSTATHIOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Ms Christiana EROTOKRITOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Mr Piero FASSINO, Italy, SOC ; Mr Emmanuel FERNANDES, France, UEL ; Lord Michael GERMAN, United Kingdom, ALDE ; Mr Gerardo GIOVAGNOLI, San Marino, SOC ; Baroness Theresa GRIFFIN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Gabriela HEINRICH, Germany, SOC ; Mr Julian JOSWIG, Germany, SOC ; Mr George LOUCAIDES, Cyprus, UEL ; Mr Max LUCKS, Germany, SOC ; Mr Fabian MOLINA, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Carla MOONEN, Netherlands, ALDE ; Mr Dominik OBERHOFER, Austria, ALDE ; Mr Berdan ÖZTÜRK, Türkiye, UEL ; Ms Marijana PULJAK, Croatia, ALDE ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Tamara VONTA, Slovenia, ALDE ; Mr Markus WIECHEL, Sweden, ECPA

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

In 2006, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted Resolution 1519 (2006) “The cultural situation of the Kurds”, on the basis of a report prepared by Lord Russell-Johnston (United Kingdom, ALDE).

Twenty years on, Kurdish cultural rights are still not fully secured, despite significant political developments in the four countries in which Kurds predominantly live – Türkiye, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

In Türkiye, the cultural situation of the Kurds has taken on particular significance in the context of the ongoing peace process. This process must be conducted in line with the values and standards of the Council of Europe, and must give due weight to the cultural-rights dimension of the Kurdish issue.

In Syria, the Kurdish cultural and linguistic gains achieved during the civil war now face an uncertain future under the new transitional authorities, whose approach to minority and cultural rights has yet to be clarified.

In Iran, where Kurdish cultural expression itself can lead to imprisonment, the prominence of Kurds in recent anti-government protests – notably the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement – has placed Kurdish cultural activity under even greater pressure.

In Iraq, the new opportunities for Kurdish cultural development afforded by the constitutionally recognised autonomy of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq may be put at risk by continued political and economic instability.

The Assembly should therefore prepare a new report on the situation of Kurdish cultural rights in the countries concerned. The report should assess whether the laws, policies and practices affecting Kurdish culture, mother-tongue education and media freedom are consistent with applicable Council of Europe standards.