Twenty-five children between the ages of 11 and 18 were brought before the Diyarbakir State Security Court last Tuesday and accused of shouting slogans in favor of Kurdish education programs at a human rights rally. If convicted, they face prison sentences of up to three years and nine months. Debates have been intense in recent months over laws against teaching and broadcasting the Kurdish language, as the repeal of the ban is a condition of Turkey’s joining the European Union.
