Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) forces have prevented the singers Emel Mathlouthi from Tunisia and Shadi Gholami from Iran from entering North and East Syria to attend the Şehit Berçem Festival in Kobanê (Kobani). The artists were expected to arrive in Kobanê on Saturday to participate in the festival programme on the following day, according to a report by Mezopotamya Agency.
Mathlouthi, who performed at the Kurdish Newroz celebrations in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır (Amed) earlier this year, is known for her solidarity with various cultural and political causes. Her music often addresses themes of resistance and cultural expression. She captivated a crowd of over a million with a repertoire that included Kurdish and Arabic songs at the Newroz celebrations, where she managed to perform despite various restrictions imposed on her by the Turkish authorities.
Both Mathlouthi and Gholami were eager to join the Şehit Berçem Festival, a key cultural event in North and East Syria. However, the refusal by the ruling KDP in Iraqi Kurdistan to allow them entry reflects ongoing tensions as the party, which is allied to Turkey, continues to challenge the Kurdish-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.
