Groom and guests arrested for wearing yellow, red, and green colors at the wedding

Photo:A wedding dress shop display window, yüksekovahaber.com

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

The groom and the guests who were detained for wearing traditional Kurdish shawls in the colors red, yellow, and green during the wedding in the Esenyurt district of İstanbul were arrested yesterday (June 15). They were also accused of spreading terrorist propaganda by singing strans (Kurdish folk songs).

The groom Mesut Karçık, the wedding owner Tahsin Karçık, Savaş Karçık, Aydın Kaplan, İbrahim Kaplan, Umut Kaplan, İbrahim Baran, Cahit Karçık and Burhan Topçu were arrested on charges of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" and sent to Silivri Closed Prison.

During the police interrogation, the detainees were accused of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" on the grounds of the colors of their clothes, the music at the wedding, and the shouting of "Biji Serok Apo" (Long Life Apo) slogans.

In their defense at the police station, they denied the accusation, stating that the yellow, red, and green was their national colors and does not represent any "organization", but they were referred to the Büyükçekmece Public Prosecutor's Office and brought before the Criminal Court of Peace with a request for arrest. Then 10 people were arrested on propogandizing for an organisation.

Musicians were also detained

After the arrest of the groom, and guests, musicians Celadet Döner, Orhan İdiz, Senar Ok, and Hakan İdiz who performed at the wedding were also detained at Kıraç Police Station. They will be transferred to the Büyükçekmece Court house today (June 16).

HDP MP Beştaş took the arrest warrant to the parliament

People's Democratic Party (HDP) Deputy Meral Danış Beştaş took the arrest of the 10 people to the parliament.

Düğünde sarı kırmızı renkli puşi takıldığı ve Kürtçe türküler çalındığı İçin İçin damat ve düğünde olan 9 kişi bugün İstanbul’da tutuklandı.

Acziyet, korku, düşmanlık hepsi bir arada.

Kürdün rengine, kültürüne, diline, kendisine düşman bir iktidar bu ülkeyi yönetemez. pic.twitter.com/iQqvzO7ECP
— Meral Danış Beştaş (@meraldanis) June 15, 2022

"This is the court report of hostility against Kurds,"said Beştaş during her speech at TBMM General Assembly.

"This is the question that was asked to them during the interrogation. 'Who brought the yellow, red, and green colored piece of cloth representing the terrorist organization inside the wedding hall that you had your pictures taken with?' "

MP Beştaş said, "We have a ruling power that is afraid of colors, is hostile to colors, and is hostile to all values of the Kurds."

"If they could, they would even remove yellow, red, and green from the traffic lights, shame on them. Won't people be able to wear the color they want at a wedding? Won't people be able to listen to the music in the language they want? What is the explanation for the arrest of a groom and his family of nine? On what basis do the prosecutor and judge give this decision? This is what AKP and MHP government does."

These three colors, red yellow, and green are known as "kesk u sor u zer" in Kurdish and are associated with Kurdish culture. Many Kurds living in different countries wear these "Kurdish colors" as part of their traditional clothing.

CLICK - Clothes not let in prison 'due to their color' worn by HDP MP at the Parliament

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Court of Cassation jurisprudence: Stating "Biji serok Apo" is not a crime

In a trial on October 28, 2015, the Court of Cassation, the top appeals court of the country, demanded the release of the defendant who was convicted for the slogan "Biji Serok Apo". Prosecutor Alpaslan Mamak stated that the slogan is one of the common statements used in that region and does not pose danger. 16th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals overturned the decision.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) also has ordered Turkey to pay 4,000 euros intotal to two people who chanted "Biji Serok Apo" and were prosecuted for that in December 2019 . The ECHR said in its ruling that Turkey had violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides the right to freedom of expression.

(AEK/TB)