The literature and peace conference, which explored the role of literature, language and enlightenment in peace, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, was organised by International PEN and Kurdish PEN.

Held at the DBB Ali Emiri Conference Hall with the support of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, Kayapınar Municipality, Bağlar Municipality, Yenişehir Municipality and Sur Municipality, the conference was attended by Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors Serra Bucak and Emin Ay, district municipality co-mayors, DBB council members, relevant department heads, writers, academics and representatives of civil society organisations.

Co-Mayor Bucak: Peace is built through the language we speak

Delivering the opening address, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said: “We know the saying ‘Every language is a world’ very well. When a language is silenced, a world is lost. We are here today to reclaim that world and ease the burden of building peace.”

Paying tribute to writers and artists who have preserved and sustained the Kurdish language and culture, as well as writers from oppressed peoples, Co-Mayor Bucak noted that the region was once again carrying hopes for peace.

“Peace is not built solely through negotiations around a table. It is also built through the language we speak. Peace that does not respect the languages of peoples is not truly peace,” she said.

‘Free words create free peoples’

Noting that many writers had paid a heavy price for their words, Co-Mayor Bucak recalled that Kurdish writers, publishers and journalists had been imprisoned, forced into exile and killed; books had been banned; and children had been punished for speaking their mother tongue.

Emphasising that freedom of expression is a human right and the foundation of lasting peace, Bucak continued:

“Peoples who can speak freely, write, sing and raise their children in their own language can live in peace with other peoples. When people can speak their truths without fear, there is no need for force or violence. Free words create free peoples; and free peoples must be able to live, read and write in peace.”

Stating that it was a great honour to host the conference, Co-Mayor Bucak noted that official barriers to speaking Kurdish in public spaces remained in place.

She concluded by expressing her pride in the resistance and efforts of writers and poets, as well as the contributions of listeners and readers.

Following the opening speeches, the conference continued with panel sessions.