As part of developing the cultural rights of Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin, state-owned Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) decided to begin the broadcast of a solely Kurdish language TV channel that will air around the clock as of Jan. 1, 2009.  

As preparations continue for the inauguration of the Kurdish TV, as part of the country’s official broadcaster, TRT invited Kurdish singers, including Perwer, and Nilufer Akbal, a well-known female singer among Kurdish people, to participate in the celebrations.

Perwer, whose real name is Ismail Aygun, has been living in Germany for 35 years, he left Turkey for not being allowed to sing in Kurdish.

He lost his Turkish citizenship in 1986. In 2004, a lawyer representing Perwer demanded he be allowed to enter the country. Turkish authorities responded to the request saying Perwer would be free to enter the country on a foreign passport, as he is no longer a Turkish citizen.

Perwer is not expected to attend the opening ceremony; however broadcaster CNNTurk said that he viewed making a TV program for the Kurdish channel positively.

Perwer is known to be against terror organization PKK.

Earlier media reports suggested some ruling AKP deputies demanded a showy start to the channel with the appearance of Sezen Aksu, the queen of Turkish pop.

The channel is expected to be named, TRT 8 or Hest, eight in Kurdish, CNNTurk also reported.