ANKARA (Reuters) - Islam´s holy book the Koran is to be translated into Kurdish as part of Turkey´s efforts to boost the rights of Kurds and to meet European Union political standards, the state-run religious authority said Wednesday.

Turkey has some 12-14 million Kurds out of a total population of 70 million, but public use of the Kurdish language is still banned in certain areas, including giving political speeches and official correspondence.

Under reforms aimed at winning membership of the EU, Ankara has expanded cultural and political rights of the Kurdish minority, including launching a state-run Kurdish television.

"We didn´t want to exclude Kurdish as we prepare translations of the Koran into other languages. Kurdish is widely spoken in Turkey," Mehmet Gormez, deputy head of Turkey´s Religious Affairs Directorate, told state-run Anatolian.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is courting the support of Kurds ahead of March 29 municipal elections and an official translation of the Koran into Kurdish would likely to be well received.

Previous governments viewed the Kurdish language as part of separatist propaganda. The state has fought a decades-long war with Kurdish guerrillas in the southeast, in which 40,000 people, mainly Kurds, have been killed.

The main pro-Kurdish DTP party, which is locked in a battle for votes with Erdogan´s AK Party in the Kurdish southeast, has said recent overtures in Kurdish are aimed at winning votes.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE52H2JE20090318

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Great news! I think everyone is entitled to have his/her holy books in his/her own language!

I guess it is good news, but I am confused....why is a secular nation deciding whether or not the Koran is translated into Kurdish or not?  Isn´t that the decision of religious people?  or am I completely off my rocker AGAIN??

 you are just a bed texan, thats why your perception of the world different.

 So what are you saying....ask a stupid question....get a stupid answer???

I just noticed the word ´stupid´ in the ´New in Forums´ column - but I see it is not being used personally - so carry on!

 Thank you for participating in the verbal abuse watch dog committee!  Your efforts are commendable!!  I feel so safe from femme´s acidic posts now!

We are here with your safety and wellbeing in mind!   - Have a nice day!

 I see that sarcasm is just one of the services you offer.  Are you going to be having a training program for sarcasm as well?  I feel like I could use it because, as an American, I am the frequent target of "bed" jokes and "clowning" around.  As with most Americans, we have a really hard time dealing with people of different cultures (you know I have never really seen an eastern person) and are far too simple minded to grasp certain concepts without extensive training.

  thank you

can i use the word clown against the dumb texan? she is one of those ignorants of eastern culture.

 thank you for admitting

when are you going to be enlightened to california? it seems like you texans are horrible racists and complete ignorants.

How strange you should ask!    Our introductory course entitled ´A quick guide to sarcasm for our colonial friends´ will be starting in the Translation Lounge next week.  Aenigma and Daydreamer (along with myself of course) will be taking the class and hope to provide a one-to-one service (as basically there are only a couple of you around at the moment aren´t there?)  

Look out for the date and time to be advertised.  Payment will be in Turkish Lira straight into my bank account.  You will find a course in good old British  (Polish/Irish/British) sarcasm will set you up to deal with anything they can throw at you!  

 who is the lecturer?

 Me and Aenigma and Daydreamer!!  Do you want a course in reading??? 

 do you think i need a course?

 You see what I have to deal with!!  I can´t wait to hurl sarcasm at femme with all the venom of you British/Polish ladies!  Perhaps I can get so good at it that femme won´t even realize I am insulting her!!

 Well you asked me who the lecturer was!  Do you think you need a course?  We could start one if you like

 Yeah....you need a course alright.....a course of shock treatments.

 Do you think that would help her?   - I suppose anything´s worth a try.

 nothing shocks me really. i was christened with many fish.

 Well you remember how she "disappeared" last year....We eventually found her in Sui´s garage gnawing on a huge soup bone and mumbling to herself.

She had had several treatments at The California Spa of Manners.......it took her several months to learn how to speak again.  Unfortunately, she forgot how to spell most English words.

Shock therapy could certainly help then - problem is it does destroy some brain cells I believe - can she afford to lose any? 

This is so bad..

I wish it is NOT held in that ´illegal thread´, I could have been one of your students willing to recieve one-to-one service from you..

What´s that about an ´illegal thread´??   Just because you are scared of The Lounge!

If you want one-to-one service you know you only have to ask!

 pls, dont send me to california, pleaseeeeeeeeeee.

i will take your course and a shock therapy and everything. Sui will pay.

 In Turkish Lira?? Directly into my bank account????  Is he trustworthy?

 he is paying LIR, the rest doesnt matter.

Trudy - I´m sorry - I made your thread go way off-topic      

 As an Admin you should be ashamed!!

 We are all ashamed, Trudy.....but LIR and Femme tricked me into going off topic.  I am innocent!!

 A Borat innocent and now a bed Amrican innocent too? Are you forgetting that cloggies are the only real innocent ones?

 ...and probably both claiming they were led astray by an evil psychotic Brit!  They should be very careful what they say

 OMG....how did you know?    Have they been stalking you too?

"Bed Amrican" eh? and Texan to boot?

Talk to me girl. I like many parts of Texas. Spent some time there.

"Bed" American? We´re ALL "bed" Americans!!!

But, I shouldn´t jest about spelling. My Turkish is so far gone after 40 years that it would take me a month of livng emersed in Iskenderun to get it back and disappear into the culture again.

 I HAVE A FAN!!  I HAVE A FAN!!  NANNY NANNY BOO BOO!  HOW ARE YOU DOING??

You made my day Iskenderunli!! 

oh my, another texan! hide everyone.

 Any shelter available in your neighbourhood? (I just hide under my bed.)

 You know what they say....."Don´t Mess with Texas".  The rest of my posey will be along any minute now. 

 is there any room for me?

 Under my bed?

  i see there is.