Mehmet Arslan, the editor of Radio Dünya, a local radio station in Adana in southern Turkey, broadcasted the folk song ‘Mihemedo’ on 16 October 2007 - the song which 33 years ago was one of the reasons why its singer, Şivan Perwer, had to flee Turkey and go in exile in Germany.

An anti-terror branch in Adana had reported the broadcaster’s alleged ‘crime’ to the prosecution office, presenting a recording of the radio broadcasting as evidence. Prosecutor Duran Yılmaz filed a case on 8 January 2008, in Adana Criminal Court of First Instance Num.2 against Arslan with the charge of ‘inciting hatred and hostility among the people’.

The indictment translated the Kurdish lyrics of ‘Mihemedo’ in this way:

“Let the Turks also feel pain ('May fire fall on the houses of Turks')
They say that they have laid out my Mehmed in the sun
They said, the Turkish soldiers followed my Mehmed
and caught him
for the life of me
Tell them in Diyarbakir and Siverek
tell the fathers and brothers
to take revenge for my Mehmed.”

Expert translated differently
The Adana Criminal Court sent the recording to an expert for translation. The expert’s report stated that there was no phrase in the song as ‘Turkish soldier’. Instead, the expression used in the songs means‘Rumi soldier’, and the song said ‘Let them take Mehmed’s revenge from these non-believers’.

The prosecutor wanted Mehmet Arslan imprisoned for four years and six months. Arslan was put on remand on 13 November 2008 for participating in demonstrations without permission and was charged with ‘membership to a terrorist organisation’ at Adana High Criminal Court with Special Powers Num.8.

Arslan was acquitted in the case over broadcasting the song. The court decision said “There are some hints in the lyrics but it is understood that the suspect did not broadcast it with the intention of committing crime hence acquitted.”

‘Mihemedo’ has since been played on the newly set up state-financed tv-channel TRT6 which has been broadcasting in Kurdish since January 2009.