No respite for Kurds as Turkey's security forces ramp up repression
Musicians, newlyweds, journalists, and even restaurateurs are not immune to the Turkish government's repression of its Kurdish population.
Dilan Karcik married her teenage sweetheart, Mesut, on June 12. The couple, both ethnic Kurds, celebrated their union with an exuberant bash at a wedding hall in Esenyurt, a working-class suburb of Istanbul. The following day, Mesut and nine guests, including one of his brothers, were hauled in by police for questioning and arrested on charges of terrorist propaganda.
Mesut’s alleged crime was draping a red, yellow and green shawl over his shoulders and chanting "forbidden" slogans along with guests as they joined in a circle dance, as is typical for Kurdish revelers.
Police claimed the “rag” — as the shawl was described in their report — was a “PKK flag.” They were referring to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is waging an armed campaign for Kurdish autonomy against the Turkish state. Their flag is red, green and yellow. The guests did chant pro-PKK slogans, the defendant's lawyer said.
A day after the arrests, the musicians who played at their event were interrogated for performing “separatist songs” and then set free.
