The AKP government closed down and sealed the Enstîtuya Kurdî ya Stembol (Kurdish Institute of Istanbul), a prominent Kurdish institution founded by intellectuals including Musa Anter, Feqî Hüseyin Sağnıç and Cemşîd Bender on April 18, 1992, which conducts researches on the Kurdish language, culture and literature.

The Institute was raided and sealed by police forces on December 31 after the Interior Ministry announced the suspension of the activities of 94 associations in accordance with the Article 11 of the State of Emergency.

Officials from the Saving Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF) have seized the assets of the Institute today.