'Which Human Rights?' Film Festival in Diyarbakır Banned by Governorship

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The 9th "Which Human Rights?" Film Festival that was supposed to take place between December 15-17, in the predominantly Kurdish province of Diyarbakır in southeastern Turkey, has been banned by Diyarbakır Governorship.

The film festival was organized by The Human Rights Organization (İHD) Diyarbakır Branch, and Documentarist to mark the Global Human Rights Week (10th – 17st December).

This year's theme of the festival was "Where is our home" and the festival was planned to take place between December 13-24 in İstanbul, Diyarbakır and Van. The events in Diyarbakır was supposed to start this evening (December 15) in Amed City Theater.

Director Sönmez: Which risks do the films carry?

Arts Director Necati Sönmez from Documantarist stated that they are not surprised anymore about such banns being imposed without pointing to any reasons and noted:

"We are curious, what kind of a risk these films carry with regards to "disturbing the environment of peace and confidence", a phrase they love using".

Sönmez also characterized certain events organized and speeches held by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Government with regards to human rights as "hypocrisy" and said:

"We had prepared a special section for Palestine in this festival. "Banning a film festival that has prepared a special section for Palestine by the mindset that has continuously been addressing Jerusalem for the last days, is an exact testament to hypocrisy".

Sönmez reminded that the festival still continued in İstanbul. (BD/BK/DG/LN)