The ministry argued that Tunç had “continued his activities abroad”, the musician announced in a social media post on Monday. He has been subject to several charges of terrorism over speeches he gave over the years.
One indictment against Tunç that asked for 20 years in prison for terrorist propaganda accused him of “creating a perception that citizens of Kurdish origin were massacred, exploited, oppressed and isolated by the state”.
“It is true that I hold concerts in Germany and other countries as I continue to produce new work. My only activity is my music, which lets me breathe under exile conditions,” Tunç said.
An Istanbul court that is handling the current case against Tunç rejected the ministry’s petition for a red notice, and said there would be no change to the local arrest order against the musician.
Tunç holds German citizenship, and has requested that he be allowed to testify in Germany. When the Turkish court relayed his request, the prosecutor’s office in Darmstadt, Germany, where Tunç resides refused to take his testimony, saying the musician’s comments should be considered under freedom of expression, according to Mezopotamya Agency.
“I will not let my freedom to travel or my artistic expression to be limited by such arbitrary demands, even as I live in exile,” Tunç said.
Tunç has previously run for parliament from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and has been a leftwing activist since 1985.
