To address this issue a progressive music group, Grup Yorum, decided to do something about the epidemic. They dared to give a concert. But this was too much for the Turkish government
When a society starts coming undone under corruption, injustice, inequality, racism, poverty and hopelessness, it is understandable when people in that society turn to drugs to ease the pains of the everyday life.
Turkish society is experiencing a huge deterioration under the current regime in nearly every area of life. This has increased both legal and illegal drug usage as well as loss of human values and indifference and empathy for others.
The news of only the last two days shows a very tiny dimension of this trend with a youth organization leader of the ruling AKP party and a police officer getting caught while dealing drugs.
The usage, especially among the children of the working-class families is epidemic. From smelling glue to cheap and readily available street drugs called “bonsai” mostly the working children of Istanbul and other metropolitan are wasting their lives away with virtually no rehab treatment or any other services available.
To address this issue a progressive music group, Grup Yorum, decided to do something about the epidemic. They dared to give a concert. But this was too much for the Turkish government.
Grup Yorum is a musical group that has been targeted continuously by the Turkish government. Their stand on progressive issues, being on the side of the poor, the working class, the women, the children, the minorities and for human rights is not tolerated by Turkish regime.
The group members have been detained, arrested, beaten, tortured and sent to prison with fake charges and accusations. Their cultural center where they and other instructors teach music to disadvantaged kids are constantly being raided by the police and destroyed. In the past the police smashed pianos, guitars, local musical instruments and the walls, windows and doors. Last week, the musical center was raided again during a film screening with people enjoying the screening as well as the center members showing the film were detained and taken to the police station.
The group’s recent decision to call attention with a concert in Adana to the deteriorating social harmony and wide usage of drugs and the ensuing crimes was cut short when the governor banned the concert. The concert’s theme was “Our power and unity against narcotics and decadence.”
The governor did not specify the reason for banning the concert but only declared, “We did not see it fit to have this concert.”
Sendika.Org News
