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Turkey:
Busdriver convicted for playing Kurdish song
A court in Diyarbakır sentenced the busdriver Mustafa Tüzün to 10 months’ imprisonment because he played a Kurdish song in his bus.
Mustafa Tüzün was accused of making terrorist propaganda, because he transmitted the song titled ‘Le Amedê’ from the loudspeakers on his bus when he was the driver for Selahattin Demirtas, parliament candidate of Democratic Society Party (DTP), during his electoral campaign before the 22 July general elections in Turkey.
The song was composed by Kurdish composer Hozan Şemdin at the beginning of 1990s.
The Diyarbakır chief public prosecutor demanded a five year prison sentence. Diyarbakir Fifth Criminal Court sentenced him to 10 months in prison according to Article 7.2 of the Turkish Anti-terror Law, but postponed the declaration of the decision. This prevents Mustafa Tüzün from being able to appeal the decision. Translation of the song ‘Le Amedê’
Hey Amed
Amed* is rebellion, Amed is rebellion
It is feast of Kurdish people and Amed is centre of heroes
Amed is graveyard of Vedat Aydın**
Amed wore our flag and it became bride of Kurdish people
Amed is graveyard of Vedat Aydın
Amed wore our flag and it became centre of our martyrs
Amed is shiny and colourful
Heroes of Amed broke all chains
Amed is capital city of Kurdistan
Your name is sweet and you are castle of rebellion, Amed
Amed, you have such a excited name for us
And you are capital city of Kurdistan, Amed
Amed is rebellion, Amed is rebellion
Amed is in the heart of Kurdish people
Amed is graveyard of Vedat Aydın
Amed wore our flag and it became bride of Kurdish people
Amed, you faced bier of Vedat Aydın
All your heroes wore your flag, Amed
Amed, dont worry for our future
Your mountain is full of guerillas with their weapon
Our guerillas spread hopes for you, Amed
Our people have been struggling for thousands years for you, Amed
And now our people are awake again for you, Amed
So Amed, wear our colourful flag and be our bride
All of our people promised to you, Amed
that they will fight against preyer of labour
Our flag with gren, red and yellow is awaiting for you, Amed
And we want to keep our flag flying in your castle, Amed
Amed is rebellion, Amed is rebellion
It is feast of Kurdish people and Amed is centre of heroes
Amed is graveyard of Vedat Aydın
Amed wore our flag and it became bride of Kurdish people
Amed is graveyard of Vedat Aydın
Amed wore our flag and it became centre of our martyrs
To listen to the song, click here: Le Amedê
Notes:
* Amed was the original name for the Kurdish city of Diyarbakir. After the foundation of the Republic of Turkey, the name Amed was changed to Diyarbakir.
** Vedat Aydın was the chairman of pro-Kurdish Party Halkın Emek Partisi (Labor Party of People) and was killed on 5 July 1991.
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Source
Antenna Turkey, Weekly Bulletin – Issue 26/08, 22 August 2008:
antenna-tr.org
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