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NEWS
06 September 2010

Turkey:
Court case against teenagers for singing Kurdish song

Malazgirt Criminal Court have opened a court case against 18-year-old Özgür Başak and 17-year-old R.D. who are charged for singing along the Kurdish song 'Oremar' at the International Women’s Day event on 8 March 2009.

The event was organised by BDP Malazgirt County organisation, reported the Turkish organisation Antenna.

The indictment claimed that R.D. sang along the song 'Oremar' which is said to be used by the illegal Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK / Kongra-Gel organisation for propaganda purposes, and Özgür Başak was also charged for chanting slogans in favour of the organisation.

On 16 August 2010 it was reported that Turkish authorities have detained the American freelance journalist Jake Hess in the southeastern, predominantly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. At a court appearance a prosecutor charged Jake with “taking orders from a terrorist organization” and called for his immediate deportation from Turkey, witnesses said.


Click to read more about Turkey and Kurdish music on freemuse.org
Turkey





Sources

Freedom of Expression Weekly Bulletin – Issue 25/10, 18 June 2010:

savaskarsitlari.org

Gündem Online – 17 June 2010:

''Oremar' şarkısına eşlik eden çocuğa dava'

Das WahreWort – 30 July 2010:

'Diyarbakır Özgür - Der Haziran 2010 Hak İhlalleri Raporu'


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