Responses to Information Requests

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Quebec Kurdish Foundation

In an interview with the Research Directorate, representatives of the Quebec Kurdish Foundation indicated that the organization is based in Montreal, Quebec, and mainly represents Kurds from Türkiye but also from Iran, Syria, and Iraq (2023-11-01).

1.1 Requirements and Procedure to Obtain a Letter

The information in the following two paragraphs on the procedure to obtain a letter to attest to a person's Kurdish identity was provided by the Quebec Kurdish Foundation representatives:

When an individual or a member of their family contacts the Foundation by phone or email, they must provide the following information:

• First and last name
• Place of birth: province, city, and village
• [translation] "Identity record"
• First language
• Date of birth
• Ethnicity and religion
• Address in Canada
• Date of arrival in Canada
• Military service
• Criminal record in Türkiye
• Membership in a Turkish association, if applicable
• Telephone number
• Two references who know the applicant and are "close" to the Foundation or the Kurdish community
• Optional: political affiliation in Türkiye.

Once this information is received, the Foundation will assess the truthfulness of the particulars provided by the applicant. As part of this assessment, the Foundation will verify whether the applicant's village of origin is indeed a Kurdish village and whether their first language is a Kurdish dialect such as Kurmanji, Zazaki or Sorani. The Foundation also looks at the local elections in the country of origin. If the Foundation finds any false information, it will contact the applicant to ask why false information was provided. Each applicant has a face-to-face conversation with the Foundation, and, if necessary, will be questioned further. Once research is complete, if there are no issues, the applicant will receive the attestation letter. If incorrect information was provided, if the applicants "are Turkish," or if they are police officers or soldiers working for Türkiye, the Foundation will not provide the letter (Fondation kurde du Québec 2023-11-01).

1.2 Appearance, Content, and Security Features of Old Letters

During a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a Quebec Kurdish Foundation representative specified that attestation letters were issued with the old format until 7 November 2023 (2023-11-07a).

The information within the following two paragraphs on the layout and appearance of the old attestation letters was provided by the Quebec Kurdish Foundation representatives:

• The Foundation logo is located at the top of the page in the centre
• The date is on the upper left
• The document number is on the upper right
• The full name of the President of the Foundation, their signature, email, and telephone number are on the lower left
• A blue stamp of the logo in French and Kurdish is on the bottom, next to the President's signature
• The paper includes watermarks, is made of 25 percent cotton and measures 8.15 x 11 inches.

These features render the letter "impossible" to replicate (Fondation kurde du Québec 2023-11-01).

Regarding the content of the attestation letters, the Quebec Kurdish Foundation representatives stated that [translation] "if the applicant is Alevi, we will write their religion in the letter. When a family requests a letter, we will mention every family member in the letter" (Fondation kurde du Québec 2023-11-01).

According to a sample attestation letter provided by the Quebec Kurdish Foundation, the letter issued by the Foundation contains the following information:

• Information on the applicant and their family, including the first and last name, place of birth, and address in Canada;
• The salutation "À QUI DE DROIT" (to whom it may concern) in uppercase, bold, and italics;
• Confirmation that the applicant is of Kurdish descent;
• The Foundation's name bolded and in uppercase letters "FONDATION KURDE DU QUÉBEC" (Fondation kurde du Québec 2023-11-07b).

During the interview, the Quebec Kurdish Foundation representatives noted that the letters are issued only in French and are signed by the President (2023-11-01).

A blank sample of the old attestation letter issued by the Quebec Kurdish Foundation is attached to this Response (Attachment 1).

1.3 Appearance, Content, and Security Features of New Letters

The Quebec Kurdish Foundation representative stated that the new attestation letter would be issued starting on 7 November 2023 (2023-11-07a). According to a sample provided by the Quebec Kurdish Foundation, the new attestation letters issued by the Foundation contain the following elements:

• The Foundation logo centred at the top;
• The Foundation name and full address under the logo;
• The document date on the upper left;
• The document number on the upper right;
• The name of the President of the Foundation, as well as their telephone number and signature, and the Foundation's email address, at the bottom left;
• The blue stamp of the logo in French and Kurdish at the bottom of the letter, next to the President's signature (Fondation kurde du Québec 2023-11-27).

According to the same sample provided by the Quebec Kurdish Foundation, new attestation letters issued by the Foundation also contain the following information:

• Information on the applicant and their family members, including first and last names, dates of birth, places of birth, languages spoken, dates of entry into Canada, and UCIs [unique client identifiers issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)];
• The salutation "À QUI DE DROIT"(to whom it may concern) written in uppercase, bold, and italics;
• Confirmation that the applicant is of Kurdish descent;
• The Foundation name in bold and uppercase "FONDATION KURDE DU QUÉBEC" (Fondation kurde du Québec 2023-11-27).

The Quebec Kurdish Foundation representatives indicated that the letters are issued only in French and are signed by the President (2023-11-01). The representatives added that if the applicant is Alevi, this will be mentioned in the letter (Fondation kurde du Québec 2023-11-01).

A blank sample of the new attestation letter issued by the Quebec Kurdish Foundation is attached in this Response (Attachment 2).

2. Canadian Kurdish Community Centre [formerly known as the Toronto Kurdish Community and Information Centre (TKCC)]

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre stated that the organization officially changed its name as of 18 March 2022 (2023-11-05). According to the same source, the organization has been "officially" issuing new attestation letters under the name of the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre since 15 January 2023 (Canadian Kurdish Community Centre 2023-11-05). The representative indicated that the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre represents Kurds across the globe but noted, however, that the "majority" of current members come from Türkiye (2023-11-05).

2.1 Requirements and Procedure to Obtain a Letter

The following information was sent to the Research Directorate by a TKCC representative in February 2020 and was reconfirmed by the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre in correspondence with the Research Directorate in November 2023 (Canadian Kurdish Community Centre 2023-11-05):

• TKCC asks the applicant to provide multiple references here in Canada [that are] known to the community, credible, and ... in good standing in the community. If the applicant does not have any reliable point of reference in Canada, they are asked to provide a reference in Turkey or [in the] Kurdistan part of Turkey who would have known them for a long time, [and know] their family, as well as their original location of birth and [the] community [in which] they grew up.
• Applicant's identification information from home country with birthdate and place, province, district, [and] parent’s information.
• Level of [spoken proficiency with] any dialect of Kurdish (Kurmanji, Zazaki, Sorani, as well as local tongues such as Kochgiri, Pazarcik, Mardini, or Herki) [will] also … be assessed later during [a] meeting. The parents may also be evaluated for their knowledge of Kurdish.
• TKCC generally evaluates the applicant’s birthplace, [the] region where they come [from], their tribe, their knowledge and [familiarity with a] Kurdish dialect, local customs, cultures, and general knowledge of Kurdish history, [including] significant events such as uprisings, rebellions, [and] massacres [to which] the host state governments may have subjected their communities.

The same source provided the following information in February 2020 on the procedure to follow for the TKCC to issue a letter to attest a person's Kurdish identity, and this information was reconfirmed by the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre in correspondence sent to the Research Directorate in November 2023 (Canadian Kurdish Community Centre 2023-11-05):

• Applicants [are] requested to fill out a form according to their Turkish birth certificate or national identification card. They are also asked to provide at least two references known to the community in Canada or abroad.
• Our committee member(s) working on the application will contact the references provided by the applicant in Canada or in his/her home country … to learn about the applicant's family, friends, relatives, tribe, and other specific background information such as social and cultural affiliation, association[s] or organization[s]… . Family members will also be asked about their knowledge of the Kurdish dialect they speak. If they are unable to speak any dialects, then the point of reference will be asked about the reasons [why] they are unable to speak the local dialect or mother tongue.
• Applicants are then provided with an appointment date and time to come to the Centre for a face-to-face meeting with our board member(s).
• During the meeting, individuals are being evaluated according to the[ir] level of [proficiency in the] Kurdish dialect [they] speak, references known, the[ir] region [of] origi[n], … their birthplace, [and] if applicable, their tribe, as well as any general knowledge of Kurdish culture and history.
• If the applicant does not know any Kurdish dialect, his/her mother or father will be contacted by telephone to evaluate their knowledge of any Kurdish dialects, their city, village, community, and … birthplace.

After collection of all of the required information, multiple board members who are in the committee overseeing the verification of the cultural and ethnic identity of the applicant will objectively attest to the individual['s] Kurdish ancestry.

• A letter is drafted with specific references about the individual's birthplace, reference[s] known to the community, knowledge of Kurdish dialect[s], and local customs and culture.
• Applicant may also be informed … if there is insufficient information to attest their cultural heritage. In this case, if the applicant wishes, they are registered as the member of the Centre who is not coming from a Kurdish background.
• The applicant will then be invited to come to the [Centre] and receive the document in the envelope in person (TKCC 2020-02-18).

2.2 Appearance, Content, and Security Features Before 15 January 2023

In February 2020, the TKCC representative sent the following information on the format of the aforementioned letters, which were issued until 14 January 2023:

• Letterhead stationery security marked paper [is] used to prevent duplication and imitation.
• The stationery has the TKCC logo in the background.
• The TKCC logo is on the left top heading, [and the] Canadian national flag is on the top right heading.
• The Centre's contact information is written [between the] logo and flag.
• A unique identifier number [is] placed on the top right corner for internal use and tracking.
• [The s]ignature of one of the Centre's co-presidents … [is] found on the bottom left corner of the document.
• The Centre's … seal [appears] on the bottom right of the final document (TKCC 2020-02-18).

A blank sample of the attestation letter issued by the TKCC until 14 January 2023 is attached to this Response (Attachment 3).

2.3 Appearance, Content, and Security Features Since 15 January 2023

The representative of the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre provided the following information on the appearance, content, and security features of the attestation letters issued since 15 January 2023:

• Letterhead with security features to prevent reproduction and counterfeiting.
• The Canadian Kurdish Community Centre logo appears in the background.
• The Canadian Kurdish Community Centre logo appears in the left header and the Canadian national flag is in the right header.
• The Canadian Kurdish Community Centre's contact information is at the bottom of the letter.
• A unique identifier number (reference number), for internal use and follow-up, is on the upper right.
• The signature of a Canadian Kurdish Community Centre co-president is on the lower left of the attestation letter.
• The embossed seal bearing the logo of the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre is on the bottom right of the final document (Canadian Kurdish Community Centre 2023-11-05).

The same source noted that the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre issues letters in English only (2023-11-05). According to the sample of an attestation letter provided by the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre, letters issued by the Centre contain the following information:

• The full name of the applicant
• Their date and place of birth
• The Kurdish dialect spoken by the applicant
• The names of the applicant's parents (2023-11-05).

A blank sample of the attestation letters issued by the Canadian Kurdish Community Centre from 15 January 2023 is attached to this Response (Attachment 4).

2.4 Signatories

The Centre representative provided the following list of co-presidents signing attestation letters since 2021:

1. Yahya Dursun
2. Leyla Batki
3. Mustafa Solak
4. Gulnaz Gorgun
5. Atakan Yildirim
6. Sultan Kaya
7. Nevzat Dursun
8. Selahattin Karadag (incumbent co-president)
9. Berivan Akgun (incumbent co-president) (Canadian Kurdish Community Centre 2023-11-05).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Canadian Kurdish Community Centre. 2023-11-05. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Fondation kurde du Québec. 2023-11-27. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a representative.

Fondation kurde du Québec. 2023-11-07a. Telephone interview by the Research Directorate with representatives.

Fondation kurde du Québec. 2023-11-07b. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Fondation kurde du Québec. 2023-11-01. Interview by the Research Directorate with a representative.

Toronto Kurdish Community and Information Centre (TKCC). 2020-02-18. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Canadian Kurdish Community Centre; CTV News; Le Devoir; Fondation-Institut kurde de Paris; Fondation kurde du Québec – Facebook page; LinkedIn; La Presse; Radio-Canada; Toronto Kurdish Community and Information Centre – X [formerly known as Twitter]; University of Ottawa.

Attachments

Fondation kurde du Québec. N.d. Sample attestation letter. Sent to the Research Directorate by a representative of the Fondation kurde du Québec, 2023-11-07. Translated into English by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Fondation kurde du Québec. 2023-11-07. Sample attestation letter. Sent to the Research Directorate by a representative of the Fondation kurde du Québec, 2023-11-07. Translated into English by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Toronto Kurdish Community and Information Centre (TKCC). 2020-01-19. Sample attestation letter. Sent to the Research Directorate by a TKCC representative, 2020-02-18. Translated into French by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Canadian Kurdish Community Centre. 2023-11-05. Sample attestation letter. Sent to the Research Directorate by a representative of the Centre, 2023-11-05. Translated into French by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada.