Following the raids carried out after the Newroz celebrations, ten people have been imprisoned in Istanbul, including a minor. The judiciary’s decision once again highlights the criminalization of Kurdish culture and political expression.
On Tuesday, 38 people were detained during house raids in various districts of the metropolis. The operation is linked to two Newroz celebrations in Istanbul, including the event held on Sunday at Yenikapı Square, which was attended by around one million people.
A court ordered pre-trial detention for ten of those detained on Tuesday evening. Nine others were released under judicial control. The political dimension of the case is particularly evident in the situation of a 17-year-old. The teenager was imprisoned for allegedly singing the song “Oramar” by the Kurdish band Awazê Çiya during a Newroz celebration on Friday in the Başakşehir district.
The court classified the song as “propaganda material for a terrorist organization.” In its justification for the detention order, participation in the Newroz celebrations themselves was also criminalized. The court referred to the event as “so-called” Newroz and described participants as individuals “close to an armed organization.” In the case of the 17-year-old minor, the court also cited the risk of flight as grounds for detention.
The recent imprisonments take place in the context of a broader wave of repression following this year’s Newroz celebrations. Across the country, more than 170 people had been detained. Reports of mistreatment, threats, and violence during the raids have further fueled criticism.