Ferhat Tunç Prosecuted for ‘Commemorating Musa Anter’

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Giving a commemorating speech about murdered journalist and writer Musa Anter, artist Ferhat Tunç has been prosecuted.

The investigation initiated by Van Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is run with regards to Tunç’s speech he made at Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) meeting organized at Musa Anter Park on September 20, 2017.

Ferhat Tunç gave his deposition at Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in İstanbul. Tunç was asked about the speech he made at Vicdan ve Adalet (Consicence and Justice) Meeting held in Van.

“I don’t see my speech where I voiced the facts as an artist as a crime. I stand by all my words written in the investigation text. I feel sorry that I have to depose for my opinions that I shared with humane feelings. I am honored to become a subject of such an investigation about Musa Anter”, Tunç said in his deposition.

What did Ferhat Tunç say?

In the commemorating speech, Tunç said: “They conspiratorially murdered this big folk dervish 25 years ago. I am one of your brothers who have the honor of knowing Apê Musa. Those fairy tales that he left for his children now have turned into a grand freedom epic in tongues of those children”.

Also criticizing the attack launched against funeral of Hatun Tuğluk, the mother of Aysel Tuğluk who is HDP Deputy Co-Chair, and Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) policies of State of Emergency in his speech, Tunç said that AKP policies are “worse than those during September 12 military coup”.

There are three more lawsuits against Ferhat Tunç on charges of “inciting people to enmity and hostility”, “insulting the President” and “propagandizing for an illegal organization”. Tunç faces 15 years in prison by these charges.

Freemuse has launched a campaign

Freemuse, which is an independent international organisation advocating for and defending freedom of artistic expression, has initiated an international campaign for the cases brought against Ferhat Tunç to be dropped. The petition launched within this scope still continues. (AS/TK)