Joint statement by 57 bar associations against concert bans: 'Don't be afraid of arts'

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Fifty-seven bar associations have released a joint statement about the recent bans on concerts, festivals and other cultural events across the country.

The statement entitled "Do not be afraid of arts, arts emancipate," said, "There is a direct relationship between the notion of freedom and art. We do not accept these outdated restrictions and bans that have become systematic. We strongly condemn artists being prevented from freely performing art in this country."

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Full text of the statement:

"We observe with concern the intensifying pressure on freedom of expression in our country. The new target of this approach, which does not have a chance to survive in democratic systems, is freedom of artistic expression. In recent months, illegal decisions regarding the cancellation of events such as concerts, theater plays and festivals throughout the country have been given and events whose preparations are completed are being canceled.

"Considering the events and artists subject to bans/cancellations, it is seen that these decisions are given with discriminatory, arbitrary and political motives against the mother tongue, culture, way of life and genders.

"Statements that incite the public to hatred and animosity are accepted by municipalities or governor's offices and end in interventions into arts. One of the important resource centers of civilization is artistic production.

"There is a direct relationship between the notion of freedom and art. We do not accept these outdated restrictions and bans that have become systematic. We strongly condemn artists being prevented from freely performing art in this country. Silencing arts and artists means leaving society out of breath."

The statement was released by the bar associations of the following provinces: Adana, Adıyaman, Ağrı, Aksaray, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bartın, Batman, Bilecik, Bingöl, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Çanakkale, Çankırı, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Hakkari, Hatay, Iğdır, Isparta, İstanbul, İzmir, Kars, Kastamonu, Kırıkkale, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Muğla, Muş, Nevşehir, Ordu, Trabzon, Dersim, Sakarya, Samsun, Siirt, Sinop, Urfa, Şırnak, Tekirdağ, Tokat, Uşak, Van, Yalova, Zonguldak. (RT/VK)