Greek authorities have banned two members of the Turkish band Grup Yorum from entering Greece.
In the ban on entering Greece at Chania airport the police authorities proceeded for the members of the band “Grup Yorum” who came to Crete on Thursday evening to perform on Saturday at the Chania anti-racism festival.
As stated by “Chaniotika news” it concerns a woman and a man of German and Austrian citizenship, of Turkish origin. Their names are not on the “Schengen” list and the entry ban was a Greek decision.
As stated on the band’s social media page, the band members are detained at the airport “without any justification” while expressing that “we do not accept this situation, our concerts cannot be prevented by banning entry!”
It is noted that the band members have been living in exile from Turkey for years due to their political and activist activities, and have been arrested at times, ie went on hunger strikes and one member died in 2020.
ANTI-RACIST FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
In their statement, the organizers of the 18th Anti-Racist Festival – Celebration of Social Solidarity of Chania state, “some time ago, at Chania airport, two members of the band Grup Yorum, Sena ErkoÇ and Umut Gültekin, who were scheduled to play on the second day of the festival, entered , were banned, as they are considered “dangerous to the security of the Greek state” and are on the “undesirable list”, although they are citizens of European Union countries transit room for immediate deportation abroad.
Grup Yorum was founded by university students in Istanbul in 1985, inspired by the association TAYAD (association of families of political prisoners) and solidarity against the prisoners and hunger strikes until death, which occurred in response to the military coup in Turkey on . September 12, 1980, with the policies of depoliticization and intimidation that they tried to impose on the people.
Previously, the same people participated in an event on the island of Lesvos without the existing prohibitions. What has changed in the meantime? We are constantly learning about the improvement and tightening of the relationship between Greece and Turkey with agreements made underground. These are clearly predicted, among other things, to silence any voice of resistance.
As the Chania Anti-Racism Festival, we condemn these types of policies that try to prevent and criminalize political action and expression through music, and the ongoing struggles for a just life and freedom. We stand by their side, expressing our solidarity unequivocally.
No need to fight
Organization of the 18th Anti-Racist Festival – Celebration of Social Solidarity Chania”