In Turkey, where the hunt for alleged ‘terrorists’ is becoming increasingly absurd, even dancing to Kurdish music has recently become a suspect in the alleged propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In a latest in a new 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 and Siirt and in Istanbul in recent days due to the traditional circle dance (halay in Turkish and govend in Kurdish). The state action against Kurdish dance is mainly based on denunciations by pro-government internet trolls on social media. These trolls disseminate videos of people dancing to Kurdish music and declare them the target of attacks.

In Mersin, 9 young people were first detained and then imprisoned for dancing halay to a song played on a beach on charges of “making propaganda for an illegal organisation”.

In Ağrı, 5 people were detained on the grounds of dancing halay and shouting slogans at a wedding in Doğubeyazıt district.

In Siirt, 5 young women were taken into custody after images taken at a wedding in the Kurtalan district and shared on social media. Four of them were remanded in custody and sent to prison.

In Istanbul, 18 people were detained for dancing the halay to Kurdish songs at weddings held on different dates. 11 of the Kurds who were brought to court were sent to prison on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”, while the other 7 were released under judicial control.

Following the detention of dozens and imprisonment of over 20 people in Mersin, Ağrı and Siirt, Turkish state fascism targeted weddings in three neighbourhoods of Hakkari province on the grounds of Kurdish songs and halay.

State forces detained a number of musicians, employees of a production company shooting weddings and some wedding guests on the grounds of ‘political songs’.

The detentions took place on the allegation of ‘making organisation propaganda’. The exact number of detainees was not immediately available.