The Kiğı Nature and Culture Festival, which has taken place in Gêxî (Kiğı) in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority province of Bingöl (Çewlîg) since 2009, has been banned by the district governor’s office this year. The festival, organised by the Kiğı Association Union (KI-DEB), was due to take place on 12-13 August and host conferences, seminars, concerts, and many other events.
The Bingöl Provincial Police Department, with the approval of the governor’s office, announced the ban of the traditional festival in light of security concerns, as conveyed in a letter sent on 21 June.
In the letter, they warned against possible bomb attacks by ISIS during the festivities and alleged that the PKK used the risk of targeting civilians or security forces participating in the events as an excuse.
The festival organising committee explained that the ban was imposed on the grounds that there is no designated festival area in the district.
The organisers expressed their dismay over the ban and stated, “We believe that the reasons cited for banning the festival demonstrate ill intentions behind the decision. In fact, this decision is against the interests of the residents and tradespeople in Kiğı. Our intention was to come together, sing Kurdish songs, and dance together. Banning such activities in Kiğı is simply an act of malevolence.”
