Background: During the Ottoman Empire (1300 – 1920) there was no problem. The empire was established on a multi national/cultural basis. What the system expected form units, was to pay taxes on regular times and submit armed forces when needed. The drastic change came after the republic (1923). The newborn republic’s intention was to build a new society – a new individual- with a new ideology: One State, one language, one history, one culture; denying the diversity. Those steps were taken:
- To cut the ropes with the past.
Religious organizations were banned, centers closed.
Latin alphabet accepted. New genres were not able to read anything in Arabic letters.
The classical Turkish Music (A la Turca) was also banned officially
(Between November 1934 and September 1936, nearly two years)
- Unification of folk music
New cadres were active in travelling all around the country “collecting” the folk songs Thus, an official “repertoire” was established, folk music works were registered.
But parallel to official ideology, everything was registered as “Turkish” folk music. Turkish lyrics were created for traditional Kurdish, Armenian, Greek or Laz songs. All traditional songs were interpreted by a group of ONE instrument: Baglama.
- Ban on all other languages, music forms
The State Monopoly TRT (Turkish Radio-TV) banned all different music types. Even using Bouzouki was banned. (Also banned by the Greek Junta)
But the most intensive ban was on Kurdish songs. Lasted for many years. Because, even the existence of such a language was denied by the state.
Nowadays
We cannot say that such restrictions continue.
Yet, both the legislation and practice shows that the State can turn back to old practice. Especially Kurdish musicians can be subjected to oppression any time.
Kurdish or Turkish, musicians can be oppressed when they oppose the establishment.
Attila Özdemiroğlu case:
Composer Özdemiroğlu’s crime was to prove that the dialog between Erdogan and his son Bilal – which was recorded illegally and publicized on the Internet was not a “montage” but real. On this telephone conversation, Erdoğan was warning his son about the probable police raid and asking him to evacuate the cash money at home. Özdemiroğlu sent the recordings to serious experts in USA and received reports. Then he explained the fact on TV channels.
He was not arrested and tried but almost all his copyright incomes were cut. (His musicals performed in State theaters were stopped, although all performances were successfully going on, always sold out)
Where is the zoo, where have all the animals gone?
It has nothing to do with music, but this absurd event can give an idea what sort of threats are awaiting people in Turkey today, of course including artists, musicians.
In Ankara, once there was a zoo, in the area of “Atatürk Forest Farm”. A great part of this farm is – illegally- occupied and the new President Palace was built there, despite many court decisions.
A man, went the Farm with his wife and children to visit the Zoo, but it was not there, were it once was. He asked the policemen at the gate of the President Palace: There was a zoo and animals here, where have they gone? Policemen were angry: “What do you mean? This is an insult to the President”. They took him into custody. And worse, the judge arrested him