Danish Dari German Spanish French Turkish Arabic
Click here to go to start page Click here to go to start page
Search Sort content by country/region Sort content by artist Sort content by subject
News stories world-wide
About music censorship
Artists on censorship
About Freemuse
Publications
Study room
Activities
Conferences & meetings
Campaigns and action
Links
Press room
CAMPAIGNS
01 October 2007

Freemuse Press Statement:
Drop the cases against Ferhat Tunç

This stamement has been sent by e-mail to more than 300 selected media houses and journalists.

Freemuse, The World Forum on Music & Censorship, regret that Turkey continues censoring and prosecuting its artists and intellectuals during a time when Turkey’s Human Rights and Free Expression records are under international scrutiny.

We are concerned over the forthcoming trial in Izmir high Court on 4 October 2007 against our Turkish colleague, Mr. Ferhat Tunç, and deeply worried about the continuous harassment of Ferhat Tunç by Turkish Authorities. We respectfully request immediate dismissal of all cases against Mr. Ferhat Tunç.

We also request a review of Turkish legislation, with the aim of removing any remaining laws that can lead to the imprisonment of artists for practicing their right to free expression.

Sincerely

Marie Korpe
Executive Director, Freemuse

Turkish language version

This Freemuse statement is also available in Turkish language:
'Ferhat Tunç aleyhindeki davalar düşürülsün'


Click to open word document

Go to top
Related reading

CD: Listen to the banned
Compiled by the artist Deeyah and Freemuse, this CD compilation album is published on 3 March 2010 by Norway's most successful music label, Grappa Records
15 March 2010
Facts about the CD: 'Listen to the banned'
Compiled by the artist Deeyah and Freemuse, this CD compilation album is published on 3 March 2010 by Norway's most successful music label, Grappa Records
03 March 2010
Press release: New Freemuse CD: Listen to the banned
The new Freemuse CD 'Listen to the banned' is a unique collection of 14 contemporary songs by artists who have been censored
24 February 2010
Turkey: Ferhat Tunç sang at large rally for Alevi rights
Ferhat Tunç was one of the artists who performed in Istanbul on 8 November 2009 in front of 200,000 people protesting for the rights of a religious minority
09 November 2009
Turkey: Pop star both condemned and praised for political statement
A statement in favour of a new plan on how the Turkish government should approach the Kurdish issue turned fans of the popular Turkish pop diva Sezen Aksu up against her
14 September 2009
Ferhat Tunç
Video interview with singer and musician Ferhat Tunç from Turkey who speaks about his personal experiences with music censorship
19 August 2009
Turkey: Singer Ferhat Tunç in his seventh court case
Police brutality against the Kurdish-Turkish singer Ferhat Tunç lead to a court case - not against the police, but against the singer
14 July 2009
USA: Censored musicians spoke at Duke University
In its human rights series, Duke University in North Carolina, USA, presented two censored musicians and highlighted freedom of musical expression
25 March 2009
How Music Freedom Day 2009 was observed in Stockholm
Two seminars and concert in Stockholm on 3 March 2009 became a beautiful, yet serious and powerful manifestation for musicians' human rights
04 March 2009
Human Rights for Musicians – Ferhat Tunç acquitted • Jens-Peter Bonde
Article by Jens-Peter Bonde who is president of EU Democrats and was Danish member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2008
30 January 2009
Human Rights for Musicians – Impressions & Descriptions: Ferhat Tunç
Testimonial by Ferhat Tunc in the anniversary publication 'Human Rights for Musicians - Ten Years With Freemuse'
30 January 2009
USA / UK: Norwegian singer Deeyah wins Freedom Award
Deeyah, an exiled Norwegian singer and activist, was awarded with ArtVenture's 'Freedom to Create Prize' at a ceremony in London on 26 November 2008
27 November 2008
Turkey: Singer Ferhat Tunç's trial postponed again
On 28 May 2008 Ferhat Tunç stood trial over an article he wrote. But once again, the trial was postponed
29 May 2008
Turkey / Germany: Panel debate about Turkish censorship
On 4 April 2008, protest singer Ferhat Tunç performed with his Kurdish songs and discussed music censorship in Berlin, Germany
08 April 2008
Turkey: Singer Ferhat Tunç's next trial postponed
A Turkish court decided to postpone the next trial of the Turkish-Kurdish singer with five months, until May 2008
17 December 2007
Turkey: Kurdish singer Ferhat Tunç threatened in the virtual world
Singer Ferhat Tunç has never felt as unsafe in Turkey as he does now. Death threats against him are published on the internet, and he faces yet another court case
01 November 2007
Turkey: Singer Ferhat Tunç acquitted
The Turkish-Kurdish singer Ferhat Tunc could leave Izmir High Criminal Court as a free man on 4 October 2007. The Freemuse delegation succeeded it's mission
04 October 2007
Turkey: EU Commission to observe Tunç Trial
Senior Political Advisor Ms Selma Kiliçer from the EU Commission office in Ankara will observe the trial against Ferhat Tunç - and thus join the Freemuse delegation
03 October 2007
Ferhat Tunç campaign 2007
International campaign in support of musician on trial for remarks on Kurdish issue. Freemuse request the Turkish State to drop its case against singer Ferhat Tunç
02 October 2007
Freemuse Press Statement: Drop the cases against Ferhat Tunç
Freemuse Press Statement requesting immediate dismissal of all cases against Mr. Ferhat Tunç
01 October 2007