After the Newroz celebrations attended by millions across Kurdistan and Turkey, more than 170 people were detained in house raids. It was revealed that police tortured some of the detained children during the raids and threatened members of their families.
Of the 38 people detained during the house raids, 9 were arrested by the Criminal Court of Peace to which they were referred.
Arrested for the song “Oramar”
A 17-year-old identified as E.Y., who attended the Newroz celebration held in Başakşehir, Istanbul, on the evening of March 21, was arrested for singing the song “Oramar.” In its arrest decision, the Criminal Court of Peace described the song “Oramar” as “organization propaganda” and referred to those attending the Newroz celebration as “individuals sympathetic to an armed terrorist organization.” It was also notable that the decision referred to Newroz as a “so-called” event.
The Criminal Court of Peace justified the arrest of the 17-year-old E.Y. on the grounds that he could “tamper with evidence, exert pressure on others, and might attempt to flee.”
While the court described Newroz as “so-called,” it issued arrest warrants for 10 people based on the same accusations. The other detainees were released under judicial control measures.