Investigation opened against artists in Nusaybin for singing in Kurdish

The Mesopotamia Culture and Art Association organized a children’s festival in the district of Nusaybin on 15 November 2021 in Kızıltepe, province of Mardin. Members of the association, Abdullah Ayav, Vesile Yüksel and Ruken Aslan, who carried out activities with children together with a clown performance and theater and Kurdish songs, were detained as part of the investigation launched by the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on 27 November.

Vesile Yüksel, who was forcibly strip searched in custody, Abdullah Ayav and Ruken Aslan, who were harassed to become informer, were released after a 4-day detention period. As a result of the investigation, a lawsuit was filed against the three on the charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”. The first hearing of the case will be held on 18 March at the Mardin 3rd High Criminal Court.

In the indictment of the lawsuit filed against the members of the association, Abdullah Ayav, Vesile Yüksel and Ruken Aslan, the part of the song that the members of the association sang with the children and shared on social media was deemed a crime. Part of the song “Awazek tê ji Rojava” by Awaza Çîya, was translated into Turkish by the prosecutor and shown as “propaganda for a terrorist organization” because it speaks about the Rojava revolution.

Association member Abdullah Ayav stated that their association was established in Kızıltepe in 2019 and that they work on Kurdish culture and art. Ayav said that in addition to courses of instruments such as tembur, erbanê, baglama and guitar, they also organize events such as dengbêj nights, theatre play, concerts and panels.

Noting that they give courses for both adults and children, Ayav said that they also organize festivals for children in Kızıltepe, Savur and Nusaybin. Ayav said: “We were detained a few days after the children’s event we held in Nusaybin. They want us to be punished for a piece sang at the event. The piece in question describes the struggle of the Kurds against ISIS mercenaries. The judiciary considers the words Kurdistan and Rojava a crime.”