Members of the Kurdish music group Grup Hevra have condemned the detention and arrest of their colleagues, accusing authorities of targeting them for their cultural and artistic expression. The group vowed to continue performing despite what they describe as systematic efforts to silence Kurdish artists.
Recent arrests and charges
Gencay Morkoç, a member of Grup Hevra, was detained on Oct. 25 in a house raid in Istanbul and arrested three days later. Authorities cited his participation in a picnic organized by the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), during which he performed Kurdish songs and participated in traditional Kurdish dances (halay), as evidence of “organizational activity.”
Shortly after, on Oct. 30, vocalist Zeynep Doğan was also detained in Istanbul. Members of Grup Hevra have faced repeated detentions and arrests over their performances and songs, raising concerns among rights groups and activists.
Artists speak out
Yusuf Keleş, Grup Hevra’s lead vocalist, called the recent actions part of an ongoing pattern of repression:
“Our member Gencay Morkoç has become the latest victim of this process. He was arrested for attending a picnic, singing songs, and dancing halay. These are clear intimidation tactics. Despite these pressures, we will continue to perform. Even if we are all arrested, we will keep taking the stage and singing our songs. These practices must stop. We will defend our art to the end.”
Edanur Baydoğan, the group’s guitarist, criticized the government’s attacks on Kurdish culture and art:
“The authorities are attacking young people and women to impose their own cultural norms while targeting Kurdish art. The accusations are aimed at suppressing and silencing our creativity. We demand the immediate release of our detained friends. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our art, despite all the repression.”
Baran Sümbül, another member of the group, framed the arrests as part of a broader campaign against Kurdish identity:
“This is not new. The state has long sought to suppress Kurdish culture through policies of cultural genocide. Recently, these pressures have intensified, with concerts banned and artists arrested. Through Grup Hevra, we bring young people together with culture and art, which makes us a target. We are being systematically detained and interrogated solely for our artistic work. This is an attempt to intimidate Kurdish art as a whole, but they cannot silence us. We will continue our music in the face of all attacks.”
Broader context
The arrests of Grup Hevra members highlight the ongoing repression of Kurdish cultural expression in Turkey, where Kurdish-language art and events have faced restrictions for decades. Human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized Turkey for targeting Kurdish artists, accusing the government of suppressing cultural identity under the guise of counterterrorism.
The group emphasized their resilience, declaring:
“We are artists, and our art cannot be extinguished. Despite the repression, we will continue to sing, perform, and share our music with the world.”
