Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANKARA50
2008-01-10 13:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKISH PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATES CHILDREN'S CHOIR
how-toVZCZCXRO8785 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAK #0050 0101352 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101352Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4887 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU//TCH// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU RUEHAK/TSR ANKARA TU RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000050
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATES CHILDREN'S CHOIR
FOR SINGING IN KURDISH LANGUAGE IN U.S.
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4(b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000050
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATES CHILDREN'S CHOIR
FOR SINGING IN KURDISH LANGUAGE IN U.S.
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) This is a joint Embassy Ankara-Consulate Adana cable.
2. (SBU) Summary: A Diyarbakir prosecutor's office may file
charges shortly against fourteen local children, ages 12-17,
for singing the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) anthem at a
US music festival. The prosecutor recently completed an
investigation into the children's choir from the southeastern
city of Diyarbakir and is now determining whether to indict
them under a provision of Turkey's Anti-Terror Law that
prohibits propaganda on behalf of an illegal organization.
An attorney for the children believes that, absent outside
intervention, charges almost certainly will be filed. End
summary.
3. (SBU) The San Francisco International Music Festival
sponsored fourteen children from Diyarbakir's Yenisehir
Children's Choir to perform in October 2007. The children,
ages 12-17, sang songs in eight different languages,
including a Kurdish song titled "Ey Raqip" (interpreted both
as "Hey Enemy" and "Hey Rival"),that is considered to be the
KRG anthem. Ey Raqip was penned in 1938 by an Iranian
Kurdish poet and is generally popular among all Kurds.
Regardless of age, the song's resolute phrases such as,
"Kurds' flag is waving and it will never fall" are
provocative to those who profess to fear separatism.
4. (SBU) Diyarbakir prosecutor Ahmet Karaca recently
completed an investigation into the children's alleged
violation of Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law, for
"promulgating propaganda on behalf of an illegal
organization" -- presumably the PKK. Karaca told the press
he had asked the municipality to identify the children and
teachers who participated. The prosecutor's office is now
considering whether to formally indict the participants.
5. (SBU) Baran Pamuk, one of the children's lawyers, told us
he strongly believes the prosecutor will soon press charges.
If convicted, the minors could face sentences ranging from
one to five years, according to Pamuk. He and his legal team
are considering possible defenses.
6. (C) Comment: This latest investigation highlights the
nationalist zealousness of Turkey's prosecutors. These are
children. But the prosecutor has likely zeroed in on their
singing of the KRG anthem, and the (nebulous) threat he and
others like him perceive that Kurdish entity represents to
Turkey's territorial integrity. The irony is all the
greater, given that the PM and opposition leaders were just
in Diyarbakir in the aftermath of the January 3 bombing,
talking about expanded Kurdish language courses and pursuing
a comprehensive approach to solving the Kurdish problem. If
the prosecutor's office proceeds, many, including opponents
of Turkey's EU accession, will see it as further evidence
that Turkey has not absorbed Western principles of free
speech; the KRG will take note as well. Given that charges
may be filed imminently, the window to turn off potential
prosecution is short.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
MCELDOWNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATES CHILDREN'S CHOIR
FOR SINGING IN KURDISH LANGUAGE IN U.S.
Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner, reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) This is a joint Embassy Ankara-Consulate Adana cable.
2. (SBU) Summary: A Diyarbakir prosecutor's office may file
charges shortly against fourteen local children, ages 12-17,
for singing the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) anthem at a
US music festival. The prosecutor recently completed an
investigation into the children's choir from the southeastern
city of Diyarbakir and is now determining whether to indict
them under a provision of Turkey's Anti-Terror Law that
prohibits propaganda on behalf of an illegal organization.
An attorney for the children believes that, absent outside
intervention, charges almost certainly will be filed. End
summary.
3. (SBU) The San Francisco International Music Festival
sponsored fourteen children from Diyarbakir's Yenisehir
Children's Choir to perform in October 2007. The children,
ages 12-17, sang songs in eight different languages,
including a Kurdish song titled "Ey Raqip" (interpreted both
as "Hey Enemy" and "Hey Rival"),that is considered to be the
KRG anthem. Ey Raqip was penned in 1938 by an Iranian
Kurdish poet and is generally popular among all Kurds.
Regardless of age, the song's resolute phrases such as,
"Kurds' flag is waving and it will never fall" are
provocative to those who profess to fear separatism.
4. (SBU) Diyarbakir prosecutor Ahmet Karaca recently
completed an investigation into the children's alleged
violation of Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law, for
"promulgating propaganda on behalf of an illegal
organization" -- presumably the PKK. Karaca told the press
he had asked the municipality to identify the children and
teachers who participated. The prosecutor's office is now
considering whether to formally indict the participants.
5. (SBU) Baran Pamuk, one of the children's lawyers, told us
he strongly believes the prosecutor will soon press charges.
If convicted, the minors could face sentences ranging from
one to five years, according to Pamuk. He and his legal team
are considering possible defenses.
6. (C) Comment: This latest investigation highlights the
nationalist zealousness of Turkey's prosecutors. These are
children. But the prosecutor has likely zeroed in on their
singing of the KRG anthem, and the (nebulous) threat he and
others like him perceive that Kurdish entity represents to
Turkey's territorial integrity. The irony is all the
greater, given that the PM and opposition leaders were just
in Diyarbakir in the aftermath of the January 3 bombing,
talking about expanded Kurdish language courses and pursuing
a comprehensive approach to solving the Kurdish problem. If
the prosecutor's office proceeds, many, including opponents
of Turkey's EU accession, will see it as further evidence
that Turkey has not absorbed Western principles of free
speech; the KRG will take note as well. Given that charges
may be filed imminently, the window to turn off potential
prosecution is short.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey
MCELDOWNEY