Turkish judiciary considers listening to Kurdish music 'criminal evidence'

A lawsuit has been filed against 11 HDP members in Aydın province on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization" and conducting "terrorist propaganda". "Listening to Kurdish music" was considered as criminal evidence in the indictment.

11 female members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were detained on February 14, 2021 on charges of "conducting propaganda for a terrorist organization" during a political genocide operation in Aydın province and its districts. While the women were released later on, a lawsuit was filed against them. The indictment prepared by the Aydın Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has been upheld by the Aydın 2nd High Criminal Court.

The indictment cited events and press statements as “criminal evidence”, as well as listening to Kurdish music at events. The interviews the women in question gave to media outlets were also included in the indictment.

The first hearing of the case against the HDP women will be held at the Aydın 2nd High Criminal Court on November 11.