ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on Sunday condemned the recent arrests of Kurds seen dancing in viral videos while chanting slogans in support of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), labeling the arrests as “organized racism.”
On Friday, Turkish police detained six women in Siirt province for dancing in a video to a song that praised Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters. The women were shown wearing traditional Kurdish clothes in the video. On Sunday, Mother Filiz Taskesen and her three daughters, who appeared in the video, were put under house arrest in their family home in Batman.
“I condemn the anti-Kurdish mentality that punishes a mother and her three daughters for singing in their own language and wearing traditional clothing,” DEM Party co-Chair Tulay Hatimogullari said on X, after a visit to Taskesen in her house.
“No force can stop our dance of freedom. This evening, in many centers, we will dance together and say no to organized racism,” she added.
Turkish security forces recently arrested over 20 people on charges of “terrorist organization propaganda.” These individuals appeared in viral videos dancing while chanting slogans in support of the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, and anthems praising the group.
The PKK is a Kurdish group that has waged an armed insurgency against the Turkish state for decades in the struggle for greater Kurdish rights and is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara.
Gulistan Kilic Kocyigit, deputy head of DEM’s parliamentary bloc, said during a Sunday speech inside the Turkish parliament that the phrase “Biji Serok Apo,” meaning “Long Live Leader Apo,” used for praising Ocalan is not a crime according to Turkey’s laws.
“The phrase… has been ruled by dozens of court decisions as not being a crime, stating that this slogan falls under freedom of thought and expression. Despite these rulings, the policies being implemented are a result of a fascist mentality,” Kocyigit said.
The recent arrests coincide with intensified clashes between Turkish forces and the PKK fighters in the Kurdistan Region. This escalation in attacks is a part of Turkey’s stated plans to eradicate the Kurdish group along its southern border.
In March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara is close to completing a zone that will “permanently resolve” the security issues along their border with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq by summer.
Turkey has deployed a large number of troops in Duhok province since mid-June as part of its military operation against the PKK.
