The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has banned the Kurdish film Rojbash from commercial distribution, claiming it is “unsuitable for public distribution”. Directed by Özkan Küçük, the film tells the story of a group of Kurdish theatre actors who reunite 25 years later to perform their play Rojbash. The film highlights the constant pressure on the Kurdish language and culture over the decades.
In response to the ban, the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) has filed a lawsuit to overturn the ministry’s decision.
Director and producer Özkan Küçük criticised the ban, saying: “We will seek our right to bring our film to the screens in court. He added that the Ministry’s decision prevents audiences from engaging with a story that deals with the ongoing challenges facing Kurdish theatre and artistic expression in Turkey.
The film, largely in Kurdish and starring actors playing themselves, depicts the obstacles faced by a group of performers as they prepared to restage Rojbash. In an interview, Küçük explained that the film, which took six years to complete, aimed to capture both the developing friendships and the ongoing political struggles surrounding Kurdish-language theatre.
The MLSA’s legal director, Veysel Ok, argued that the ministry’s ban was a continuation of wider restrictions on Kurdish expression in Turkey. He noted that no justification was given for the decision and suggested that the ban might be linked to the film’s use of the Kurdish language. “This decision is not separate from the long-standing pressures and bans on the Kurdish language,” Veysel Ok said.
Despite the restrictions in Turkey, Rojbash will be screened at international festivals, including the Berlin Kurdish Film Festival this Friday. The film has already attracted attention, premiering at the Duhok International Film Festival in Iraq in December 2023 and at the Kurdish Film Festival in Düsseldorf. However, the ministry’s ban makes it impossible for the film to be screened in Turkey, which MLSA claims is a violation of freedom of artistic expression.
MLSA’s lawsuit argues that the decision amounts to prior censorship, violating the constitutional rights of both filmmakers and audiences. The association is hoping for a swift decision in its favour, which would allow Rojbash to reach Turkish screens.
Küçük expressed his disappointment at the ban, saying: “When I was preparing to show this film in cinemas, I never thought it would end up in court. This decision is not only censorship, but a ban on artistic expression”. He stressed his belief in the film’s right to be shown, underlining the importance of freedom of expression for both the creators and viewers of Rojbash.
The legal challenge also cites an earlier ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which found Turkey guilty of violating freedom of expression after banning a Kurdish-language play by one of the actors in Rojbash. Küçük remains hopeful that the court will rule in the film’s favour, allowing it to reach audiences and continue its message of cultural and linguistic resilience.
