Court Rules Grup Yorum Member Aracı Shall Remain Behind Bars

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Arrested Grup Yorum music band member Ali Aracı had his first hearing at the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court today (June 9).

Charged with "leading an organization," Ali Aracı has not been released in today's hearing. His next hearing will be held on September 3.

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42-year-old Ali Aracı has been playing the flute and end-blown flute at Grup Yorum for 22 years. He has been arrested since June 19, 2019.

'I naturally perform my art'

Behind bars in Silivri Prison at the outskirts of İstanbul, Aracı attended his first hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). Presenting his statement of defense, he argued that "he was put on trial just because he was a member of Grup Yorum."

Aracı briefly stated the following in his defense: "I stood trial based on this file and was released before. There is no reason for my arrest now.

"While the statements about me are contradictory, it is basically mentioned that I am a member of Grup Yorum. I am accused of 'being in charge of Grup Yorum choir.' I was, of course, in charge of the choir, I am a musician. Without any exaggeration, I am a musician who gave concerts to millions of people in Bakırköy and Sıhhiye. I naturally perform my art.

"We are arrested over and over again based on the same filed and on the same charges. Helin Bölek and İbrahim Gökçek were also put on trial based on this file and they were released. These two young musicians had to go on a death fast for a simple right, for their right to hold a concert. We want to perform our art and be tried fairly."

The court heard the statements of the attorneys following the defense of Aracı. After a brief recess, it has ruled for the continuation of his arrest.

What happened?

The İdil Cultural Center in Okmeydanı, İstanbul has been raided by the police for over 10 times over the last two years. During the raids, instruments of Grup Yorum members were either broken or gone missing, their music books were also damaged. According to the statement made by the group, a total of 30 people were arrested in these raids.

The death fasting Grup Yorum members had the following demands:

* End the police raids against İdil Cultural Center, which is constantly raided, attempted to be terrorized and where the group is conducting its activities

* Remove the Grup Yorum members from the wanted lists of the Ministry

* Remove the ban on the concerts of Grup Yorum, all concerts of which have been banned for almost three years.

* Drop the lawsuits filed against Grup Yorum members

* Release all arrested Grup Yorum members

Having turned her hunger strike into a death fast, Grup Yorum member Helin Bölek lost her life on the 288th day of her death fast on April 3, 2020.

After the band applied to the Governor's Office of İstanbul to hold a concert, İbrahim Gökçek ended his death fast on the 323rd day and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance on May 5, 2020. Gökçek lost his life at the hospital two days later on May 7.

Gökçek started his hunger strike in prison and also turned it into a death fast. He was detained in a raid against İdil Cultural Center in İstanbul on February 26, 2019. Taken into custody as part of an investigation, Gökçek was arrested by the İstanbul 1st Penal Judgeship of Peace on March 1, 2019. Gökçek was released on February 24, 2020.

Though Grup Yorum applied to the İstanbul Governor's Office to hold a concert in Yenikapı, their request for permission was rejected in early June 2020.

(AS/SD)