six | Europe 189 22 | Turkey: censorship past and present SANAR YURDATAPAN

Historical background The religious roots of music censorship Music censorship in our past finds its roots in Islam. It is believed that these words were uttered by the Prophet Mouhammad: ‘A woman who lets her melodic voice be heard by a man must be excommunicated.’ This edict has been the reason for forbidding female voices from being heard through the centuries. Even today, choirs singing religious music in ceremonies consist of men only. It is also argued that ‘musical instruments’ are included in that sentence too. But this interpretation is not widely accepted in Turkey. Both in contemporary Ottoman music – based on the music of By- zantium- and military or folk music, many instruments are used.

The Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (1300–1922) was a multinational, multi-cultural union. Every ethnic group could sing its own songs in its own language, in any part of the empire. From time to time songs were banned for political reasons, for example revolutionary Alawia songs, and much more in the time of the ‘Red Sultan’, Abdulhamid II (1876–1909), as his administration censored almost everything. Only the ban on female voices was maintained, together with the social ban on female participation in any branch of the arts. Even during the first two decades of the twentieth century, the stage was open only to women of Chris- tian minorities – Greeks, Armenians, etc. Some Turkish women could step on to the stage and act and sing, but only using a pseudonym and by pretending they were non-Muslims.

After the republic One nation, one music The Ottoman Empire lost most of its territory in the First World War. Even most of Anatolia was occupied by the Allies, including the capital of the empire, Istanbul. But in 1919 a resistance movement led by General Mustafa Kemal (later Atatürk) started, and after an independence war of three years, Greek armies had to leave Turkey. In July 1923 the new Turk- ish state was recognized by the Lausanne Treaty. On 23 October 1923 the new Turkish state was declared a republic.

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- - - Turkey: censorship past and present and past censorship Turkey: Europe | 22 Music producer Hasan Saltık’s licence was cancelled by the ministry, owing ministry, the by cancelled was licence Saltık’s Hasan producer Music security.word: one In reason? The moment. last the at governor the by forbiddenbeen hasconcert the that hear andcountry the South-eastof the to region. his in cassette the ban not will district even or the market. But you can never be sure that the governor of a particular province in them find may you andproduced areKurdish cassettesin musicYes,some Turkish. than other language a in are they if lyrics, the for responsibility legal complete accepting also and Audition’; of ‘Rules thecontradicting production the in nothing is there that declaringproducer, the from demanded is document signed A songs. protest left-wing and tures vote. or speak to right no has but observer, an as meeting the watch may producer The state. the byappointed are members seven the of out five put, Simply Culture. of Minister the by appointed is cian organizationsrepresenting cinema andmusical copyright owners andmusia by sent are members Two Education.National of ministry and (police),terior in the of ministry the (military), Council Security State the by appointed are ministrymembers.president.sevenappointsThethemembersThreeof total ‘auditingTheture.committee’ establishedministryaconsists theandisof by Cul of Ministry the from production each for document’ ‘permission a then media. The producers are obliged to acquire a general ‘producers’ licence’ and videoandaudio other and CDscensorship ofof formopen overseebodiesthe Auditing commissions of the Ministry of Culture on the phonogram industry Turkey.in stations TV or radio small many for end the spelled haveinstitution this by out meted sentences ever.The for or – year months, a few a days, few a -for temporarily transmissions TV or radio ban to thorized what know programmers and editors The bosses. few a just to belong stations radio and doesnot like them. It is almost the same with the press. Many journals and TV cally automati are - exile in died who - Kaya Ahmet and Suavi Tunç, Ferhat Xeco, Ciwan Shivan, Asmin, Koma Jiyane, Denge Koma Amed, Koma Kizilirmak, mediaSelf-censorshipthe and Today As an example of the auditing commission’s activites, in June 2002 KALAN2002 Junecommission’sauditing activites,inthe of example an As It is the same with concerts. Often groups travel over a thousand kilometres language.any on banoutright no is there that think may you Readingthis, cul minority and Kurdish against only works censorship the practice, In au is which Radio-TV), for Institution (Supreme RTÜK is factor Another non grata non not for private radio and TV stations, for they know that the state the that know they for stations, TV and radio private for to do, so direct censorship is not necessary at all. at necessary not is censorshipdirect so do, to

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193 Turkey: censorship past and present and past censorship Turkey: Europe | 22 192 duction. A cassette by the group Yorum entitledYorum group the by cassette A duction. reinstated.immediatelywas licence his cassette,poetry Ecevit’s Minister Prime of producer the also was Saltık Hasan that reminders with coverage, ayarla umuda entitled cassette a about commission auditing the from report a to group on stage. All went well, and after fifteen songs we came to the last one, last the to came we songs fifteen after and well, went All stage. on group patience.people’s with toying now?’, do you will what on, ‘Come under the sun. Police were trying to provoke them with insulting words, asking waiting morning, early since there been had They walls. city ancient the near them. of one am I women. young eleven of Asmin’‘Koma group music the with festival the at participated Centre Cultural Mesopotamian the year Herne Pesh Sönmez: Serap Msgroup, the ofmember one by me relatedto custodyas concert andtheir of Turkey.and PKK the with do to ing is approximately sixty years old, comes from southern Kurdistan, and has noth Diyarbakir Cultural Festivalthe on of 2 June. The concert song, entitledfinal the at sang they song a for Court Security State Istanbul the at tried were they 2002, August 15 On women. young eleven of consisting Another caseconcerns Koma Asmin,groupfromaMesopotamianthe Appeal. Cultural Centre, of Court Supreme the by prison in months nine and years songs against Cases themselves.censor to legalofficialthereEvennoorifis ban, practicethe continues peopleand have and former laws and officials repeatedly declare that Kurdish is not forbidden. Kurdish. in songs singing were they becauseSouth-east the in Gendarmerie have taken people into custody during a wedding fest somewhere Self-censorshipinlife asresulta ofoppression committed. been had crime a that cept ac not did he thatinsisting pay, to refused He him. againstopened be would case ($US1,750);2,800,000,000 otherwise a lira Turkish of fine a pay toinvited Everybody was excited. We would be the last and most eagerly awaited awaited eagerly most and last the be would We excited. was Everybody It was the last day of the festival. Over fifteen thousand people filled the area TheDiyarbakir Festival ofCulture and Arts isthe biggest inthe region. This story the with close to want I statistics. and words of only consist Reports thoughParliamentevencaseconstitution theamendedstill the hasis This pro another for again trouble in are Saltık Hasan and Music KALAN Now (Forward) , released in 1993. But as a result of strong protests and media and protests strong of result a as But 1993. in released , A Kurdish group – Koma As¸iti – was sentenced to three As¸ititoKoma sentenced– was group –Kurdish A 193 Newspapersreport daily that the FEDA was banned and Saltık and banned was Herne Pesh (Forward), Gününü

- - - Turkey: censorship past and present and past censorship Turkey: Europe | 22 free by the judge. the by free set or custody in remanded be could we that so court to taken be now should We completed. was over and over questions same very us asking and graphs hatred?’ before. evening the off left had they where offices after a nice sleep and full of energy. The insults resumed from the point their to came officers police the all began, day new the Whenmorning. the in speak amongst ourselves, answering their endless questions until eight o’clock came. soon more Two you.’ of all of care alone take cannot policeperson female One ‘No! said: He there. policewoman one only was Therecomplaints. any had we if morning next the him tell could we that introducedthe police also officers to whom we might express our needs He and added statements. our give to just tonight, guests their be would but cells custody the to taken be not wouldWe mistake. a absolutely was received had menthad come to the rescue just in time. The chief said that the treatment we relax.’ pleasechildren, here, faces your ‘Turn saying: voice a heard We happened. unexpected thing to response in if as possible,as loud as music)military(Ottoman Mehter play they bus police the In Law). Procedural Courts’ Criminal (the CMUK with accordance in filed be policethestation surrounded insults,bylonger nowhispered shouted.but orderedthosewhowere notgroup members getoff.to We werebeing taken to we did not get far. Our minibus was stopped as soon as we left the square. Police left. had they after away us take would police the that believing … euphoria such hear, to waiting was everybody finale the was This in. joined hearts and forward.’ going am I But like. you if stay may you or me, join may ‘You women: comes Pesh Herne Buttoday wasthemoment everybody hadbeenwaiting forformonths. The photo and fingerprints our taking of process the when noon nearly was It and anger much this for reason the is ‘Whatmyself: asking helpcouldn’t I to unable but chairs on sittingmorning, next the until there kept wereWe depart Anti-terror the of chief the himself: introduced He this? was Who some then But wall. a beside down us laid they Centre Anti-Terror the At to had report health A hospital. the to us took they station police the After Closingour ears to the insults of the police on both sides, we moved off. But leave, to refusingwere People stage. the belowtrouble be to seemed There throats thousand fifteen but us, of eleven the just Not singing. started We (Forward). This is a very old, traditional song. We think that it be it that think We song. traditional old, very a is This(Forward). Herne PeshHerne . 194 - - - -

195 Turkey: censorship past and present and past censorship Turkey: Europe | 22 194 half-time. And after that Brazil scored two goals and the subject was closed. was subject the and goals two scored Brazil that after And half-time. came Then sport. the for sympathy our gaining in succeed not did but times football.national Turkish by oppressed group music female Kurdish a years: four in once only game. the watch to wanted we if monitor a us bring could they surprise: the came Then finished! dead,almost arefeeling national their lost have who people how of expalnation complicated and long chief’s the to listen to had Wenegative. was answer The game. the about happy were we not or whether her asked and policewoman the to turned he OK, was everything whether us departmentchief.askingtheAfter happiness?’.came Then of song a sing you lose,otherwiseit.forpaymight havetowe didn’t they hopedWe won. Turkey if happy so be wouldeverybody but game, Maybetheywill letgo,honourus to thewasgoalItonly… the beginning theof 0. Brazil 1, GOOOOOOOAL!Turkeysudden, a of all And game. the ing glued to the TV screen. We can only hear the reactions of the policemen watch againstBrazil. The whole country, including police, prosecutor and judge, was Cup, World the in game first its playing was team football national Turkish 13

But we could not convince them. The chief repeated his offer at least three least at offer hisrepeated chief The them.convince not could we But football.’ for much too care not do we ‘but said, we lot,’ a ‘Thanks face could one whichoppression of type strangedifferent, a was Well,this Then a female police officer asked us: ‘Why don’t you feel happy? Why don’t We were totally forgotten, and we made jokes among ourselves. Who knows? andinterrogatedsuccessful concert bytheanti-terror department. The Kurdishgroup KomaAsminweretakentoapolicestationafter 195

- Turkey: censorship past and present and past censorship Turkey: Europe | 22 tones, usedbyAnatolianGreeks. strument amongTurksandKurds.Thebouzoukiisacorruptversion adaptedtotwelve Note tanbul Is Centre, Cultural Mesopotamian Asmin, Koma musician, Sönmez, Serap door.the at later. her.for sorrow deep a was ‘ sing to trying was She words. the up mixing and mistakes of lot a making song, a country.’this in either.equalEverybody’s hindered not was betrayal.‘I am apolice officer. Nobody hindered me. My father is a colonel. He nationalabouttheseparatismsingcanonkepthymn.’ she And Iyou.like and not am I But too.Kurdish am I Urfa,from am ‘I us. hurtcould she deeply how from?’ come you?’ aren’t too, women areother.You her own questions. ‘Of course you won’t answer. Because you’re jealous of each tendingto be asleep, just to avoid her endless interrogation. But she answered we,where were we from, whose voice was the most beautiful, etc. We were pre was dark and looked like us, and asked us questions all the time: how old were wa qomando çı imane çı qomando wa One of the policewomen gazed at us constantly with disgusted looks. She looks. disgusted with constantly us at gazed policewomen the of One Astringed instrumentmadeofwoodwithalongfingerboard.Itiscommonin 1 … continue will song theYes, release our for waiting were People end. an to come not did song our But tried be to released were we and judge, the and prosecutor the came Then felt we What we. were so woman, a was She we, were so Kurdish, was She Then she wanted to prove that she could sing in Kurdish as well and started guess could us of none but cities, Kurdish some of names the offered We I where ‘Guess to: up leading been had she question the asked she Finally Bingol ShewitiBingol , but no doubt she did not know the meaning of the words:the ofmeaning the know not did shedoubt no but , ! …(How cruel is this commander!)’.this is cruel …(How ! 196 - - -