Kurdish singer Kasım Taşdoğan was sentenced to 30 months in prison for "making illegal organization propaganda" on the grounds of Kurdish songs. Taşdoğan was tried and acquitted for the Kurdish son he sang at the Newroz celebrations in Qers (Kars) in 2023 and for the Kurdish songs he sang in Çanakkale. 

 

Izmir 20th High Court acquitted Taşdoğan on 19 March 2024. The prosecutor appealed the verdict. The 2nd Criminal Chamber of Izmir Regional Court sentenced him to 10 months each for 3 songs, 30 months in total.

 

Speaking about the decision against him, artist Taşdoğan pointed out that the songs he sang are songs performed by dozens of artists. Taşdoğan said, "There is no ban on 3 songs. We presented this to the court with a letter from the record company. The acquittal decision was a very obvious situation. However, we know how the system works. This decision is a forward-looking decision regarding the ban."

 

Emphasizing that the verdict did not cause any loss of motivation, Taşdoğan said, "I see it as a motivating thing to do better. I will continue to sing my songs."

 

Taşdoğan stated that they will appeal against the decision.