Kurdish singer says denied concert hall by İstanbul Municipality

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The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has rejected a Kurdish singer's application for a concert hall, citing "repair works," according to the singer, Onur Evin.

Having released a new album in March, Evin applied twice to the municipality's Department of Culture on May 16 and August 2, he told the Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

The department rejected the first application because "an application can't be filed individually," he said.

"After our second application, they said, 'Our colleagues had given you false information. You can also apply individually with a petition.'

"We applied with a petition on August 2. Three days later, they called us back and said, 'Our halls will be under repair until the 2022-2023 season, so we can't give you a place'."

Evin criticized the mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), recalling his election promises.

"Heading to the elections with the demands of freedom and democracy for the people, the CHP and Ekrem İmamoğlu had said, 'In our administration, Kurds, Laz people, Circassians, Alevis, and all peoples will be equal. After winning the election, they have know showed their true colors," he said.

"The IMM should give the people what it promised during the election process. Otherwise, they have no difference to the [ruling] AKP," he added.

Over the past three years, dozens of concerts of Kurdish musicians and Kurdish theater plays have been banned across the country, mostly by municipalities run by the ruling party and governors. Among the musicians was Aynur Doğan, a world-renowned singer. (RT/VK)