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Kurdish Children Arrested by Turkey After Singing Kurdish National Anthem in San Francisco
Turkish Military State continues Its Oppression of Kurdish peoples by arresting Kurdish young people for singing the Kurdish National Anthem at a music festival.
Kurdish Children Face Five Years In Prison For Singing Kurdish National Anthem Ey Raqip in San Francisco
By Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Istanbul
June 19, 2008
Members of a Kurdish children's choir face up to five years in prison as they go on trial in Turkey.
The choir - whose members are aged from 12 to 17 - is accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdish guerrilla group, the PKK.
The charges were brought after the group took part in a world music festival in San Francisco, and sang a march in Kurdish.
The prosecutor's indictment claims the song is the anthem of the PKK.
In a statement on the case, Amnesty International argues that singing an historic anthem cannot be judged a threat to public order - and is therefore a matter of free expression. It warns that the children will be considered prisoners of conscience if they are found guilty.
The children's choir performed in America in several languages, but it is a march in Kurdish that has caused the controversy.
The prosecutor claims the song "Ey Raqip", or "Hey, Enemy", is the anthem of the PKK: the separatist militant group Turkish troops have been fighting for two decades.
The indictment also says PKK flags were displayed at the music festival - and accuses the children of making propaganda for "terrorists".
One of the singers told the BBC the lyrics to the march were in an old form of Kurdish, and he and his friends did not even understand them. He said the choir wanted to showcase Kurdish culture, not engage in politics - and they only sang the march in response to a request from the audience.
Three teenagers - aged 15 to 17 - will be tried in an adult, serious crimes court in Diyarbakir - in the mainly Kurdish south east of the country.
They face up to five years in prison if they are convicted.
Six younger choir-members will be tried on the same charge, in a children's court in July. There is far more freedom in Turkey today to speak or sing in Kurdish than when the PKK took up arms - in the days when the very existence of the Kurds was officially denied here.
But there are still limits. State prosecutors regularly file criminal charges - at any hint of Kurdish nationalism, that they deem to be separatist.
Kurdish human rights groups also say many children who were involved in street protests that became riots in the south east two years ago are still on trial there. They have been charged with supporting the PKK - or even belonging to it.
http://kurdistanobserver.servehttp.com/june-2008/19-6-08-kids-face-jail-singing-ey-reqib.html
The lyrics to the song:
(Sometimes translated as "Hey Enemy")
Hey Guard, the Kurdish nation is alive, its language is yet spoken
We shall not be defeated by the weapons of any time
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
We, the youth are the red colour of the revolution
Look how much blood we have been forced to shed
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
We are the children of the Medes and Cyaxares
Both our faith and religion are our homeland
Both our faith and religion are Kurd and Kurdistan
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth have risen like lions
To adorn the crown of life with blood
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth are ever present and
Forever will be ready to sacrifice their lives
They will sacrifice each life they have, each life they have!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ey_Req%C3%AEb
By Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Istanbul
June 19, 2008
Members of a Kurdish children's choir face up to five years in prison as they go on trial in Turkey.
The choir - whose members are aged from 12 to 17 - is accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdish guerrilla group, the PKK.
The charges were brought after the group took part in a world music festival in San Francisco, and sang a march in Kurdish.
The prosecutor's indictment claims the song is the anthem of the PKK.
In a statement on the case, Amnesty International argues that singing an historic anthem cannot be judged a threat to public order - and is therefore a matter of free expression. It warns that the children will be considered prisoners of conscience if they are found guilty.
The children's choir performed in America in several languages, but it is a march in Kurdish that has caused the controversy.
The prosecutor claims the song "Ey Raqip", or "Hey, Enemy", is the anthem of the PKK: the separatist militant group Turkish troops have been fighting for two decades.
The indictment also says PKK flags were displayed at the music festival - and accuses the children of making propaganda for "terrorists".
One of the singers told the BBC the lyrics to the march were in an old form of Kurdish, and he and his friends did not even understand them. He said the choir wanted to showcase Kurdish culture, not engage in politics - and they only sang the march in response to a request from the audience.
Three teenagers - aged 15 to 17 - will be tried in an adult, serious crimes court in Diyarbakir - in the mainly Kurdish south east of the country.
They face up to five years in prison if they are convicted.
Six younger choir-members will be tried on the same charge, in a children's court in July. There is far more freedom in Turkey today to speak or sing in Kurdish than when the PKK took up arms - in the days when the very existence of the Kurds was officially denied here.
But there are still limits. State prosecutors regularly file criminal charges - at any hint of Kurdish nationalism, that they deem to be separatist.
Kurdish human rights groups also say many children who were involved in street protests that became riots in the south east two years ago are still on trial there. They have been charged with supporting the PKK - or even belonging to it.
http://kurdistanobserver.servehttp.com/june-2008/19-6-08-kids-face-jail-singing-ey-reqib.html
The lyrics to the song:
(Sometimes translated as "Hey Enemy")
Hey Guard, the Kurdish nation is alive, its language is yet spoken
We shall not be defeated by the weapons of any time
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
We, the youth are the red colour of the revolution
Look how much blood we have been forced to shed
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
We are the children of the Medes and Cyaxares
Both our faith and religion are our homeland
Both our faith and religion are Kurd and Kurdistan
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth have risen like lions
To adorn the crown of life with blood
Let no one say Kurds are no more
The Kurds are alive
The Kurds are alive, their flag will never fall
The Kurdish youth are ever present and
Forever will be ready to sacrifice their lives
They will sacrifice each life they have, each life they have!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ey_Req%C3%AEb
For more information:
http://kurdistanobserver.servehttp.com/jun...
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IMC Network
BBC - By Sarah Rainsford
A Turkish judge has thrown out a case against members of a Kurdish children's choir, who faced up five years in prison over a song they sang.
The choir - whose members are aged from 12 to 17 - was accused of spreading propaganda for the outlawed Kurdish separatist rebel group, the PKK.
Charges were brought after the group sang in a world music festival in San Francisco, and sang a march in Kurdish.
But as three of the choir appeared in court, it decided to drop the case.
A new prosecutor in the court in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir said there was no criminal case for the three teenagers, aged 15 to 17, to answer.
The judge agreed, saying the children had not intended to commit a crime.
The case against six younger choir-members, aged 12-15, which had been scheduled for July, is expected to be thrown out too, a lawyer for the children said.