“The Information Technology and Communications Body (BTK) has met with the platform [Google]’s relevant representatives for the immediate removal of the mentioned map as part of their obligations in terms of national and international legislation,” Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turan confirmed in answer to a written question from a deputy from the newly-founded nationalist IYI Party.
Greater Kurdistan refers to lands inhabited by Kurds and encompasses territories in four countries: southeastern Turkey (Northern Kurdistan), northern Iraq (Southern Kurdistan or the Kurdistan Region), northwestern Iran (Eastern Kurdistan), and northern Syria (Rojava or Western Kurdistan).
The map in question appears to be one created by a user on Google’s My Maps service, not the company itself.
Yavuz Agiralioglu, the deputy who posed the question, had asked the minister whether a platform like Google, “which has offices in Turkey, should not account for our national borders which we have given hundred thousands of martyrs for… while our brave soldiers in Syria and Iraq are fighting terrorist organizations like the PKK and PYD?"
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Democratic Union Party (PYD) are both named terror organizations in Turkey. The PKK operates in Turkey and has its headquarters in the Kurdistan Region. The PYD is based in Rojava, but Ankara alleges it is a branch of the PKK.
The map has so far been seen by more than 1.7 million users around the world.
“These maps and their likes which serve propaganda for terrorists shall be removed,” said Agiralioglu.
Rudaw English approached BTK, but they were not available to comment.
Responding to the IYI member, Turan said they are following up on the matter.
In July 2017, the Turkish parliament adopted new guidelines that banned use of the terms “Kurdistan,” “Kurdish regions,” and “Armenian genocide.”
In late 2017, Osman Baydemir, a prominent Kurdish lawmaker, was suspended for using the word “Kurdistan” in a parliament session.
After using the word, he was asked by the speaker of parliament where Kurdistan is located.
“It is here,” he replied, clapping his hand on his heart.
There are an estimated 35 to 40 million Kurds spread across Greater Kurdistan. They began their struggle for a Kurdish state more than a century ago, and it continues today.
While there is no ‘Kurdistan’ state today, it has existed on maps for centuries.
