Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly criticized Turkey for arresting numerous Kurds at wedding parties for singing political folk songs. HRW’s statement, released on Thursday, describes these actions as a misuse of power and a violation of freedom of speech. The organization urges the immediate release of all those detained, arguing that the justice system should not be used to suppress Kurdish political expression.
The controversy began when a TikTok video showed women dancing the halay, a traditional Kurdish dance, to a song that referenced militants. As a result, six individuals were arrested in Kurtalan, Siirt, on July 26th. Two women and three girls among them were placed in pretrial detention. Similar arrests have occurred in other provinces in Turkey, including Aydın, Istanbul, and Diyarbakir, where at least 34 people have been detained for weeks before their court appearances.
The Siirt Governor’s Office defended the arrests, highlighting ongoing efforts against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies. However, the European Court of Human Rights has previously ruled that singing traditional songs and chanting slogans related to the PKK’s insurgency should be protected under freedom of speech rights.
HRW argues that the content of the songs and slogans from these wedding parties does not incite violence or pose an immediate danger, and therefore should not warrant criminal charges. The organization criticizes Turkey’s criminal justice system for targeting Kurdish cultural and political activities.
Historically, Kurds in Turkey have faced severe restrictions on their language and cultural expressions. The suppression of Kurdish language and culture dates back to 1937, with prohibitions intensifying after the 1980 military coup. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of anti-Kurdish sentiment, which has been exacerbated by the alliance between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
