Sub-governor bans Grup Yorum's online concert

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Grup Yorum music band has been banned from staging an online concert by the Beyoğlu Sub-governor's Office in İstanbul, it said on Twitter yesterday (July 1).

"The recording of our concert that we will do with our artist friends was going to be on July 1. Our concert has been arbitrarily banned by the governor's office," the band said, publishing the order sent by the sub-governor.

"We don't accept these bans. Sooner or later, we'll do our concert," it said.

Grup Yorum also recalled its two members who died on a death fast protesting the longtime concert ban on the group, saying, "Helin and İbrahim gave their lives for the right to perform a concert."

Helin Bölek and İbrahim Gökçek lost their lives last year after continuing a death fast for 288 and 323 days, respectively.

A band known for its politically charged songs, Grup Yorum has long been accused by the government of having ties to "terrorists," with several of its members imprisoned for "terrorist propaganda."

CLICK - Grup Yorum band members released after detention during rehearsal

1 Temmuz'da sanatçı dostlarımızla birlikte yapacağımız internet konserimizin çekimi olacaktı. Valilik tarafından internet konserimiz keyfi olarak yasaklandı. Biz bu yasakları kabul etmiyoruz. Eninde sonunda konserimizi yapacağız.

GRUP YORUM HALKTIR SUSTURULAMAZ! pic.twitter.com/U8U5aLezuZ

— Grup Yorum (@Grup_YORUM) July 1, 2021

(KÖ/VK)