Peace in Kurdistan tells Turkey: End the repression on Grup Yorum

Helin Bolek’s death was a sacrifice and tragedy. The tragedy unfolding must be ended now, said the campaign.

The Peace in Kurdistan Campaign has issued a statement on the death of Grup Yorum member Helin Bölek and the death fast by a second member, Ibrahim Gökçek who is already on its 296th day of fast, and two lawyers.

The Campaign reminded that "Helin Bölek died on the 288th of a hunger strike-turned death fast. She protested the repression of her group and its supporters in Turkey and abroad by the Turkish government, led by President Erdogan."

The statement added that "Grup Yorum demanded the right to sing freely, an end to the arrest, imprisonment and torture of Grup Yorum members and supporters, and an end to the ban on Grup Yorum concerts, which have been prohibited for nearly three years."

Peace in Kurdistan also reminded that "on 5 April 2020, Lawyers’ Day in Turkey, two lawyers who had defended Grup Yorum and been sentenced for terrorism-related offences, turned hunger strikes into death fasts. A tragedy is unfolding."

The Campaign ended its statement with these remarks: "Those who seek justice in Turkey must not be left alone. We demand that all those who support democracy in Britain, all those in this country who work for justice, and all who enjoy the right to freedom of expression, use whatever means you have to call on the government and other authorities in Turkey to end the repression of Grup Yorum. Helin Bolek’s death was a sacrifice and tragedy. The tragedy unfolding must be ended – now."