In a latest wave of repression against Kurdish society in Turkey, many have been detained and imprisoned in the southern coastal city of Mersin, the Kurdish provinces of Ağrı, Siirt and Batman and in Istanbul in recent days due to the traditional circle dance (halay in Turkish and govend in Kurdish). Those affected by the state’s war on the music and dance of the Kurdish people are accused of spreading propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Dozens of people were detained and over 20 were remanded in custody as a result of the operations.

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Van branch made a statement in front of the provincial building in protest at the arrest of Kurdish citizens for dancing. A banner ‘Em bernadin vê dîlanê’ [We do not give up the dance] was unfurled and the slogan ‘Zimanê me rûmeta me ye’ [Our language is our honour] was chanted during the demonstration.

Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayors Neslihan Şedal and Abdullah Zeydan, DEM Party Van MP Mahmut Dindar, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and DEM Party provincial and district organisations, members of MEBYA-DER (Association for Assistance and Solidarity with Families in the Cradle of Mesopotamia), TUHAY-DER (Association for Assistance with the Families of Prisoners and Convicts), TJA (Free Women’s Movement), Peace Mothers, DEM Party Youth Assembly and many people attended the protest.

DEM Party Language and Culture Commission Co-spokesperson Heval Dilbahar said that the world has made great progress in many fields, but the government of Turkey is still attacking the Kurdish language. Heval Dilbahar said: “They will not be able to destroy the Kurdish language, culture and dance through these attacks. There have been repeated attacks on Kurdish citizens in recent days. In Mersin, Istanbul, Ağrı, Batman, Siirt and Hakkari, many people who were dancing to protect the Kurdish language and culture were detained and imprisoned. Our language is our honour.”

Heval Dilbahar also denounced the deletion of Kurdish traffic warnings, saying: “They do not even tolerate a couple of Kurdish words. This is against humanity and unacceptable. Just as the Turkish, Arabic, Persian and English languages are sacred and valuable, the Kurdish language is equally valuable and sacred. First Kurdish, then Kurdish and Kurdish everywhere.”

After the statement, people and party members danced halay for a while. Afterwards, tensions erupted between the police and those who wanted to march to the party building chanting the slogans ‘Bijî Serok Apo’ [Long Live Leader Öcalan] and ‘Bê ziman jiyan nabe’ [No Life Without Language]. The police then blockaded the party building for a while.