JINHA

AMED - In the Kurdish city of Diyarbakır, the first-ever Amed Book Fair has been packed with readers. The presence of a book fair with Kurdish books was perhaps most meaningful for women of the city, who often do not speak Turkish and have never before been able to easily find books in their native language.

Kurdish and non-Kurdish writers, including Marxist scholar David Harve, held book-signings, talks and debates from May 12 to May 17. 45-year-old FeleknasEsmer, waiting to speak with an author at a publishing house's tent, said she bought a book for the first time in her life at the fair.

"I never bought books before because they're all Turkish," said Feleknas. "I can read some Turkish, but I don't understand much. There were a lot of Kurdish books at the fair; I was really happy to see this." Feleknas said she was most strongly affected by seeing the titles of the Kurdish epics and folklore she was so familiar with on the covers of books-Kurdish stories like that of Siyabend and Xecê, Mem and Zîn and Dewrêş and Edulê.

"Maybe I won't be able to read them easily; I can't read and write much," said Feleknas."But I bought them to show my hunger for Kurdish books."

10-year-old Muhammed Kaya and his 12-year-old brother Sedatwere wandering the fair with one thin children's book between them.Sedat said they had each come to the fair with one lira ($0.40) to spend, but they were disappointed to find that almost all the books were out of their price range.

"I brought this story, 'The Little Match Girl,' just so I wouldn't go home empty-handed," he said.

"They said there was a discount for children, so we came, but even with the discount these books are too expensive for us," said Muhammed. "I didn't buy a book because I don't have any money. I didn't like the fair at all. Maybe if they gave books for free to people with no money, it would be better."

(rc-zd/cm)