Berlin parliament member Jian Omar has called for greater recognition of the Kurdish diaspora in Germany and Europe following a meeting with Shifa Barzani, General Supervisor of the Kurdistani Diaspora Confederation.
In a statement published on his official Facebook page, Omar said the meeting centered on Kurdish life in Berlin and across Europe, addressing issues of participation, integration, and the role of the Kurdish diaspora in society.
He highlighted the scale of the Kurdish community, describing it as one of the largest in Berlin and Germany, with around 150,000 people in Berlin and approximately two million nationwide having Kurdish roots from across Kurdistan.
Omar noted that many Kurds, as well as Kurdish organizations and NGOs, report experiencing anti-Kurdish racism in daily life.
He added that Kurdish identity is often rendered invisible through official state classification systems, where individuals are categorized solely by the nationality of their countries of origin rather than their ethnic identity.
According to Omar, this issue goes beyond statistics, reflecting continued experiences similar to those in their countries of origin, where Kurdish language, culture, and identity are often not recognized and remain marginalized.
The German lawmaker emphasized that the Kurdish community represents a diverse and liberal civil society committed to equality and aligned with democratic values.
He called for concrete steps to recognize the Kurdish diaspora, including increasing the visibility of Kurdish identity, protecting language and culture, and introducing bilingual programs in kindergartens and schools.
Omar also stressed the need for expanded Kurdish studies programs in universities and greater support for Kurdish cultural initiatives.
Concluding his statement, Omar expressed appreciation for the discussion, thanking Barzani for what he described as an open exchange and for his efforts in advocating for the Kurdish diaspora.