Probe launched into Kurdish man for singing in mother tongue during army service in Turkey

A young man is being investigated after a video was shared of him singing in Kurdish during his military service. The young man, identified only as F.P., is facing charges of "leaking confidential information" on the grounds that in the video he is seen in uniform.

Wednesday December 23 2020 12:52 pm

Duvar English

A young man is being investigated for sharing footage of himself singing a song in Kurdish during his mandatory military service, Mesopotamia News Agency reported on Dec. 23.

Identified only as F.P., the young man from southeastern Şırnak was singing “Nazê Nergîza Hewşê” by Kurdish artist Mahmud Berazî when his friends recorded him and shared the video online.

Kürtçe şarkı söyleyen askere soruşturmahttps://t.co/DzluBbr0am pic.twitter.com/Nyw127gfnM
— Gerçek Gündem (@gercekgundem) December 23, 2020

After finishing his military service, F.P. was told by the commander in charge of his station that an official report was made about his behavior, and that he was facing an investigation.

F.P. is facing charges of "leaking confidential information" for the video where he's seen singing in Kurdish, on the grounds that he was in uniform.

It's not uncommon for Kurds to face various charges for speaking their mother tongue, as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has dispersed antagonizing rhetoric about the Kurdish community since the end of the peace process.

Many opposition politicians are imprisoned on unfounded terrorism charges in Turkey, as jurisdictions are quick to label actions propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist entity by Ankara, the European Union (EU), and the United States.