Cultural organizations in Amed and Mardin protest repression of musicians singing in Kurdish

Culture, art and language organizations in Amed protested the police repression of street musicians playing Kurdish music on Istiklal Street in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, with an action on Art Street.

Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Dicle Culture and Art Association, Ma Music Academy, Mesopotamia Language and Culture Research Association (MED-DER), Association for Assistance, Solidarity and Culture with Families Losing Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYA-DER), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Amed Provincial co-chair Gülistan Atasoy and members of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Diyarbakır Branch attended the protest action.

At the event, the repression of the Kurdish language was protested by singing Kurdish songs. The event ended with the slogan “Bê ziman jiyan nabe (There is no life without language)” and applause.

Mardin

The Mesopotamia Culture and Art Association in Mardin protested the attacks on Kurdish musicians, by singing Kurdish songs in front of the Zinciriye Madrasa in old Mardin. Free Women’s Movement (TJA) activists and the women who sang their songs at the event supported by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) said that bans could not be accepted.

Starting the event with the song “Yar meleke” sung on Istiklal Street, the women danced halay with applause and zılgıts. The event also attracted great interest from the people passing by.