ŞIRNEX – Condemning the trustee's transfer of the Dengbêj House, Co-Mayor Berivan Kutlu and the dengbêjs said that a "special" policy was being implemented against the values of the city.

 

The last action of the trustees, who dragged the municipality into debt in Şirnex's Cizîr (Cizre) district and transferred its properties one by one, was to transfer the Dengêj(Kurdish traditional music) House to the District Directorate of National Education. Dengbêj House, located in Dağkapı District, was transferred with the decision taken on September 4. The transfer of the place, which was converted into Dengbêj House in order to keep the dengbêj tradition alive during the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) period, drew reaction. Cizîr Municipality Co-Mayor Berivan Kutlu, who was replaced by a trustee after she was dismissed, and dengbêjler described the decision as a "coup against culture".

 

'TARGET: GAINS OF THE KURDS'

 

Stating that the cultural genocide was initiated with the appointment of trustees to municipalities in Kurdistan in 2016, Kutlu drew attention that the Dengbêj House being made available to the Fine Arts High School was not an ordinary event. Kutlu said: “It cannot be handled independently of the policies that have been going on for years. When viewed as a whole, Kurdish youth are being massacred and their politicians are being arrested. The decision regarding Degbêj House is also a part of this. The plunder of the trustees continues. Just as municipalities were seized by ignoring the will of the people, the gains of the people are also usurped. A special policy is in effect for the plunder of history and values."

 

LEGAL TRANSACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN

 

Asking how those who target values will blend in with the public tomorrow, Kutlu said: “There are a few unsold places left in Cizir, and they are being sold by the trustees. The previously sold places were a huge income for the municipality. We will take necessary legal transactions against the allocation of the house. We do not look at the issue only as the municipal co-mayor or administration. There is a plunder of a people's language and culture. It is necessary to look at the incident from this perspective. Protecting the people's gains is not just a matter of the municipality and one party. It is necessary to fight as a whole. It is planned to take this decision months before the elections."

 

'INTOLERANCE TOWARDS IDENTITY'

 

Umut Botan, a member of Cizîr Birca Belek Language and Culture Association, emphasized that Denbêj House was established to keep Kurdistan's history and culture alive and said: “Since it is a historical place, this place was set up for cultural activities because it has historical importance, it was one of the first places visited by foreigners. The pressure on Kurdish culture and language continues to increase. These policies are especially carried out in Cizîr. The dedication of Dengbêj House is part of this. The trustee must recant from this mistake. Dengbêj House should remain as it is, without alteration. If we don't prevent this, they will take many things away from us in the future. For this, we need to unite around Dengbêj House. This place belongs to the public. Our culture is what makes us who we are. The transfer of Dengbêj House is intolerance towards our identity."