MINELRES: Fwd: Invitation to the event on Minorities in the Education System of Turkey

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Original sender: Roma Virtual Network <romale@zahav.net.il>


Launch of new MRG Report

Forgotten or assimilated? Minorities in the education system of Turkey *

The Turkish government must act to stop discrimination against minority
children in schools which ignore their distinct culture, language,
history and religion, says Minority Rights Group International (MRG) in
a new report.

In the report, which is the most up-to-date analysis of the subject
available, minority communities accuse the education system in Turkey of
working to assimilate them and promote Turkish identity and nationalism
in a manner that denies the rights of minorities. 

Since the Turkish Republic was established in 1923, minorities have been
perceived as a threat to the �indivisible integrity of the state with
its territory and nation� enshrined in the Turkish Constitution.

Turkey recognizes only Armenians, Jews and Rums as minorities, and
denies other minorities the right to open their own schools. No minority
language can be used at public schools as the language of instruction.

Nurcan Kaya, Minority Rights Group�s Turkey Coordinator and author of
the report, says, �Turkey has to change its minority policy and
recognize the existence of diverse groups such as Assyrians, Kurds,
Roma, Laz and Caucasians. It must guarantee their education rights and
take affirmative action where necessary.�


Minority Rights Group International

Invites you to the launch of the new report

Date: 11.00 � 13.00, Monday 16 March 2009 

Light refreshments available

Venue: EU Information Centre
Mete Cd. Park Apt. No: 24 A
Taksim 34437 Istanbul 

Speakers: Nurcan Kaya, MRG Turkey Coordinator and author of the report

Mihalis Vasiliadis: Chief editor of Apoyevmatini

Garo Paylan: Board member of Yesilkoy Armenian Primary School

Sami Tan: President of the Istanbul Kurdish Institution

Ali Kenanoglu: Vice President of the Alevi Bektasi Federation

Muzaffer Iris: Member of Mesopotamia Culture and Solidarity Association
(MEZODER)

Serap Topcu - Member of the Law Commission, Cem Foundation


RSVP

Zuhat Efe 
MRG Turkey Project Officer
Tel: +90 (0) 532 724 56 99
E: zuhat.efe@mrgmail.org 
W: www.minorityrights.org

_______________________

* This report was prepared and published as part of a Project entitled
�Combating discrimination and promoting minority rights in Turkey�, with
the financial support of the EU. The contents of the document are
entirely the responsibility of MRG and in no way represent the views of
the EU. For further information about the EU, please visit the official
website of the Union: http://europa.eu/index_en.htm


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