Istanbul- The Mesopotamia Cultural Center (Mezopotamya Kültür Merkezi, MKM) has released a written statement demanding the immediate release of Kurdish musician Emel Çiftçi, who was detained while going to a hospital for cancer treatment in Amed (Diyarbakır) and then sent to prison on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization”.

The statement stressed the ongoing attacks of the ruling party against the Kurdish identity, art and language. “The arrest of Emel Çiftçi is one of these attacks.” Recalling that the artistic activities of Kurdish artists were recently prevented, the statement said:

“It is not a coincidence that those who work for Kurdish culture and art are subjected to these (attacks). They know that a nation exists only with its culture. For this reason, the aim of the arrest of musician Emel Çiftçi is to enslave free Kurdish women’s identity and to keep committing the genocidal policy against Kurdish culture.  We call on all our colleagues, friends and those who make efforts for Kurdish culture and art to raise their voices with us. Emel Çiftçi must be immediately released from prison.”