Turkish police raided three weddings in Kurdish-majority Hakkari (Colemêrg) on Monday, detaining musicians and some attendees for allegedly making “terrorist propaganda” through Kurdish songs and dances.
In Hakkari, local musicians, including members of the music group “Koma Özgün,” were detained after initial interrogations. Wedding hosts and cameramen were released, but the musicians were arrested and will face judicial proceedings on charges of making “terrorist propaganda.”
The raids led to protests by Kurdish activists and supporters in various cities, who organised events and urged the public to sing Kurdish songs in defiance of the government’s repression of Kurdish cultural practices. In Van (Wan), the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party demonstrated in front of their provincial headquarters. Demonstrators danced and chanted slogans, leading to a police confrontation and temporary blockade of the building.
In Aydın, a soldier named only as B.S. was arrested for participating in a traditional Kurdish dance during a farewell celebration for military recruitment and singing a Kurdish song. He was charged with “terrorist propaganda” and imprisoned, while another participant is wanted by authorities.
Additionally, in İstanbul’s Şişhane, a sit-in protest against the government-appointed trustee in Hakkari saw participants dancing to Kurdish music on the 48th day of their demonstration. The DEM Party representatives and various socialist groups joined the protest, which concluded with speeches, dances and anti-government chants.
Meanwhile, in multiple cities including Urfa (Riha), Batman (Êlih), Şırnak (Şirnex), Ağrı (Agirî) and Muş (Mûş), protests were held condemning the crackdown on Kurdish cultural practices. In Urfa, DEM Party members and local representatives emphasised the illegality of the arrests, calling for resistance. In Batman, the Ari Linguistic and Culture Association (ARI-DER) held a protest, with speakers denouncing systematic attacks on the Kurdish language and culture. In Şırnak, Free Women’s Association (TJA) activists organised traditional Kurdish dances, known as ‘halays’, and protested against the suppression of Kurdish traditions. In Ağrı, local officials led a demonstration in the city park, and in Muş, the DEM Party organised a large gathering to defend Kurdish cultural practices.
The Mezopotamya Cultural Centre (MKM) also issued a written statement, recalling past attempts to suppress Kurdish cultural symbols and condemning the recent actions as part of a broader strategy to erase Kurdish identity.
These recent raids and arrests reflect a broader crackdown on Kurdish cultural practices in Turkey, ongoing since mid-July, and have sparked a nationwide call to action for all Kurdish people to participate in resistance ‘govends’ (dances) and sing Kurdish songs loudly.
