Turkish politicians protest Kurdish language on municipal signs

Political figures in Turkey are criticizing the use of Kurdish language on municipal traffic signs and direction boards. Ebubekir Elmalı, an advisor to the Democratic Party, argued that municipalities should not use official signage to convey political or ideological messages, questioning the practice of using names like ‘Elih’ for Batman or ‘Riha’ for Şanlıurfa.

Zafer Party leader Ümit Özdağ also addressed the issue, claiming that DEM-aligned municipalities are filling areas with Kurdish traffic signs. Özdağ raised allegations regarding Diyarbakır, suggesting that the municipality might offer tax incentives to businesses that prioritize Kurdish signage over Turkish. He further criticized the current political climate regarding security and the implementation of legislative frameworks.