On the first anniversary of the death of Kurdish musician Mîr Perwer, who was murdered in an armed attack on a Kurdish cultural centre in the French capital, an attempt to commemorate him at his gravesite in Turkey’s eastern province of Muş (Mûş) was met with obstruction by Turkish forces.
People trying to attend the commemoration were stopped by soldiers and police at the entrance to the slain artist’s hometown. A group including representatives of the People’s Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and the Free Women’s Movement (TJA) were among those prevented from entering the town. Soldiers set up roadblocks, citing the ban on entering the city imposed by the Governor’s Office. The crowd then protested against the ban.
Meanwhile, despite the obstruction by the soldiers, family members and close relatives who wished to commemorate Mîr Perwer at his gravesite in the town made their way to the site. However, they were forcibly removed from the cemetery after reportedly being physically assaulted by the soldiers.
The entrances and exits to the cemetery were then sealed off by the military.