Three people in Istanbul remanded in custody for singing Kurdish songs

Three people in Istanbul were remanded in custody on charges of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" and "being a member of a terrorist organization" for singing Kurdish songs.

A total of five people, including Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Esenyurt District co-chairs Rojda Yılmaz and Abdullah Arınan, were taken into custody in the districts of Istanbul on 23 August. The reason for the detention was stated to be dancing the halay and singing along to the Kurdish song “Bêrîtan” at the Dem Party Youth Assembly’s Gülistan Doku Football Tournament final match on 18 August.

After the prosecutor’s office completed its procedure, Yılmaz and Arınan were referred to the judge on charges of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization", while the other three people were referred to the judge on charges of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" and "being a member of a terrorist organization".

The court ruled that Rojda Yılmaz and Abdullah Arınan be released on condition of judicial control, while the other three people, whose names could not be learned, were remanded in custody.