Turkey Fines People for Using Letters W and Q
 |
James Joyner | Tuesday, October 25, 2005 |
People in Turkey have to mind their W’s and Q’s or face fines under a 1928 law that is suddenly being enforced.
20 fined for using letters W and Q Reuters)
A Turkish court has fined 20 people for using the letters Q and W on placards at a Kurdish new year celebration, under a law that bans use of characters not in the Turkish alphabet, rights campaigners said. The court in the southeastern city of Siirt fined each of the 20 people 100 new lira ($75.53) for holding up the placards, written in Kurdish, at the event last year. The letters Q and W do not exist in the Turkish alphabet.
Under pressure from the European Union, Turkey has improved language and human rights for its Kurdish minority, but the EU says implementation has been patchy and loopholes remain.
The 1928 Law on the Adoption and Application of Turkish Letters changed the Turkish alphabet from the Arabic script to a modified Latin script and required all signs, advertising, newspapers and official documents to only use Turkish letters.
Yet more evidence that Turkey is not quite ready for prime time, let alone membership in the European Union.
Of course, France bans the use of popular English words, so Turkey is not alone in making idiotic language laws.
Hat tip: Kathryn Jean Lopez
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
Follow James on FriendFeed | Twitter | Digg
- None Found
- UPS vs. FedEx Whiteboard Video
- Obama Hurt Deeds in Virginia
- Reading the Bill is a Waste of Time
- Abbas: Palestinian Authority May Disband
- Jodi Rell Not Running
- Caption Contest Winners
- OTB Latenight – Styx
- Berlin Wall Fall: 20 Years Later
- Oklahoma High Schoolers Are Very Familiar With George Washington, Thanks
- Was Fort Hood Massacre ‘Terrorism’?
- Rishon Rishon linked with Because that's where the power is
Obviously a slam on President Bush ...
... and John Cleese?
WWWWHy did they QQQQQQQQQuit enforcing the Lawwwwwwwwwww?
Maybe if you had an official language in this country, you would understand..Maybe in a few years, you will.
wait for a couple of century. when you have people in your country who claims some part of your homeland (the land you have had for the last 1000 years!) you will get it.
when you have people in your country who claims some part of your homeland
You mean like the Aztlan reconquista advocates in southern California?
At least Turkey doesn't deport people just beacuse they belong to an ethnic group.
Thunderbird - I guess you are a creative one. Whoever you are and wherever you are from Turks respect your country and your country's name. By the way just find a Turk and try to offend him then you will see what a Turkey we are.
Comments are Closed
