Ten prisoners in Urfa Closed Prison have been given a disciplinary penalty after they danced to Kurdish songs on 15 August. The disciplinary committee in T-Type Prison No. 1 Urfa had initiated an investigation into ‘unnecessary singing’. Questioned about their action, the prisoners stated that dancing was not forbidden. The disciplinary committee justified the sanction on the grounds that the songs sung included the word ‘Kurdistan’. The ten prisoners concerned were banned from visitation and communication for one month on this basis. Their lawyers have lodged an appeal with the Urfa Prison Court.

On the other hand, İsmail Kaplan and Ahmet Yılmaz, who are held the same prison, were deported to Erzincan High Security Prison without informing their families.