KURDISH STUDENTS IN TURKEY AND MOTHER TONGUE TEACHING

Early day motion 627, tabled 8 January 2002 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 25 members.

That this House notes the demand of thousands of Kurdish students in Turkey who seek the right to study in the Kurdish language as an optional course of study; believes this should be seen as a fundamental human right; regrets the action being taken by the Turkish authorities, which includes threats of arrest, expulsion of some students from their educational institutions and threats to students' families; believes that this is yet another example of why Turkey is not fit to join the European Union; expresses support for Kurdish students in Turkey in their current struggle for education in their mother tongue; and calls on the European Parliament and the Council of Europe to exert maximum pressure on Turkey to allow mother-tongue teaching in schools, colleges and universities.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, Liberal Democrat 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 2, UUP 1.