Poyraz Can
The Adana Governor's Office has prohibited a performance by four members of the Kurdish music group Kolektîfa Rîtmên Azad, scheduled for a women's rally at 3 p.m. on March 9, citing an ongoing investigation into allegations of "membership in an organization" against them.
This ban comes in relation to the Women's Rally organized by the Adana Women's Platform, set to be held at Uğur Mumcu Square with the theme "We will build an equal, free, just, non-violent, and war-free world" in observance of International Women's Day on March 8. The Adana Governor's Office, citing the investigation into the group members Sevda Adırbelli, Zilan Kaya, Hülya Dalmış, and Mehmet Veysel Kılıç for alleged "organization membership," issued a ban on their participation in the rally. The Governor's Office did not provide any formal notice of the ban, instead, the rally's organizing committee was verbally informed by the Adana Security Branch Directorate.
Art cannot be banned
Condemning the ban, members of Rîtmên Azad stated that they had performed in Mersin the day before without facing any prohibitions and described the recent actions as arbitrary. Emphasizing that art cannot be banned, Rîtmên Azad declared their intention to be present at the event.
In a related incident, during Adana's first Feminist Night March on 8 March, a person waving the LGBTI+ flag was stopped by police officers, who confiscated the flag and subjected the individual to a General Information Screening (GBT). The police's remark to the individual, "Don't you know this is banned?" also drew attention. There are expectations of an arbitrary ban on LGBTI+ flags at today's March 8 Rally as well.
