Amedspor, the football team of Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır (Amed) in southeast Turkey, celebrated their Second League championship and promotion to the First League by hosting a grand trophy ceremony at Tahir Elçi Stadium on Sunday. The event, attended by thousands of fans, featured lively music and traditional Kurdish dances.
“The continued support from our fans and the dedication of every team member have brought us here today,” said Aziz Elaldı, the club president, at the ceremony. He expressed gratitude towards civil society organisations, local politicians and national figures who have supported the team’s journey. “This achievement is just the beginning; as long as I am in charge, we will strive to do even better,” Elaldı added.
The ceremony was not just a celebration of sports but also a platform for cultural expression and political solidarity. Singer-songwriter Kadir Çat opened the event with a concert where he responded to past political criticisms by highlighting Amedspor’s significance in the region. “There’s not much left to say after such a display of support from the fans,” Çat remarked, referring to the crowd’s vocal dismissal of disparaging comments from Turkey’s far-right political figures.
The event also saw appearances from various political representatives and civic leaders, including Sezgin Tanrıkulu from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and figures from the pro-Kurdish Democratic Regions Party (DBP), who both stressed the importance of the role of sports in promoting peace and unity.
Renowned Kurdish soprano Pervin Çakar performed the piece “Kevok im” [I am a dove]*, accompanied by Amedspor team members Çekdar Orhan and Yılmaz Ceylan dancing an enthusiastic traditional Kurdish halay.
Club president Aziz Elaldı expressed his gratitude towards several key figures including Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Istanbul Mayor and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival Ekrem İmamoğlu, pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan and CHP leader Özgür Özel for their support but omitted former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair, the imprisoned Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş, who has been very supportive of his home town team via several messages from the prison. As chants of “Selo başkan” (leader Selahattin) rose from the stands, Elaldı acknowledged him too.
In his closing remarks, Elaldı thanked everyone for their support and promised greater achievements. “Our journey is long, and the challenges many, but with your continued support, we will persevere. Serkeftin [Kurdish = success] to all,” he concluded, as the club and its supporters looked forward to their future in the First League.
Interestingly, while many parties and politicians congratulated Amedspor on their championship, Turkish President Erdoğan did not do so. This omission was especially noteworthy as Erdoğan had congratulated all other teams on their promotions and success in the playoffs.
Amedspor, formally known as Amed Sportif Faaliyetler, is significant within the Kurdish-majority region of Turkey due to its strong cultural and political associations with the Kurdish community. Amedspor often symbolises more than just a sports team; it represents Kurdish identity and resistance against political repression.
The club’s matches and the surrounding activities frequently echo broader Kurdish political and social themes, which can sometimes lead to tension with national authorities. For example, expressions of Kurdish culture and political statements at games have led to sanctions and penalties from the Turkish Football Federation in the past. Despite these challenges, Amedspor maintains a passionate fan base and is deeply embedded in the local community, promoting not only football but also broader social and cultural initiatives.
In the realm of sports, Amedspor players and fans have occasionally been subjected to racist attacks from opposing fans and discriminatory treatment by authorities and other football clubs. Such incidents include derogatory chants and racist banners held up by spectators, disproportionate disciplinary measures from football governing bodies, and hostile treatment in away games.
Despite these challenges, Amedspor continues to promote unity and resilience, using its platform to advocate for equality and understanding through sport, which resonates strongly with its supporters and the broader Kurdish community.
The concept of a dove is often used metaphorically in Kurdish to signify freedom or the desire to escape constraints.
