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Dear Friends,
the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP)
was informed this last tuesday,
that the popular
Kurdish folk singer
Abdulrahman Omer, known as Bavê
Selah, was
arrested. In Aleppo. Mr. Omer was born in the
predominantly
Kurdish settled region of
Kurdag/Afrin in the
far north-western part of
Syria. At the time of his
detention, the Kurdish artist was in a
condition of
bad health, however the
Syrian security forces followed
their
instructions to arrest without regard to this
circumstance. Omer
was deported to a location currently unknown.
Sincerely,
Kamal Sido
The artist (in
the picture on the right) during a visit in Germany in
September 2006
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Für Menschenrechte. Weltweit.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker /
Society for Threatened Peoples
P.O. Box 20 24 -
D-37010 Göttingen/Germany
Nahostreferat/ Middle East
Desk
Dr. Kamal Sido -
Tel: +49 (0) 551 49906-18 - Fax: +49 (0) 551 58028
E-Mail: nahost@gfbv.de
- www.gfbv.de
GfbV
Berlin – der Blog:
http://gfbvberlin.wordpress.com/
***
Kurdish folk singer Bavê
Selah abducted
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popular
Kurdish folk singer Bavê Selah arrested
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Februar 2010
The Kurdish folk singer Bavê
Selah was apprehended on 25 January 2011 by Syrian security
forces in Aleppo. Giving no explanation, police forced their way
into his home and carried off the ailing 60-year-old to an
undisclosed location. Supporters of the singer are in fear for
his life. Selah suffers from diabetes and needs medication.
According to the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) the
popular Kurdish folk singer Abdulrahman Omer, known as Bavê
Selah, is not a member of any political organization. His only
offense has been his years of dedication to the preservation of
Kurdish language and culture. The artist documents and collects
old Kurdish folk songs. Bavê Selah has been arrested repeatedly
in the past as a result of his commitment to Kurdish culture. He
routinely performs at public events and organizes concerts in
Syria and abroad.
In June 2000 the young Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, who inherited the post from his
father, promised that the Syrian Arab Republic would become
politically open. He also repeatedly assured the Kurds that they
would have more rights. But, on the contrary, the persecution of
Kurds and the repression of the democratic opposition have both
increased. Members of this ethnic minority, as well as some
Christian Assyro-Aramaeans, are daily imprisoned without cause.
Again and again, "inconvenient" human rights activists
are detained and tortured, with references to Syrian law and
accusations of bringing the state into disrepute. Many people
"disappear," as did Bavê Selah, for days or weeks. In some cases
months goes by before their location is known. At present there
are apparently some 3,000 political prisoners in Syria. A
disproportionately high number of them are Kurds.
Conditions in prison are catastrophic. Anywhere from 45 to 100
people are kept in what are called "common cells." In winter it
is extremely cold, hygienic conditions are disastrous, and
medical care is basically non-existent. Torture is practiced
routinely in Syrian prisons and police stations. In addition to
physical injuries, the victims will spend the rest of their
lives with the psychological consequences of the abuse. Some die
of their injuries.
The Kurdish minority in Syria has
been subjected to heavy state repression for decades. Although
the Kurds make up some ten percent of the population of Syria,
they have no political representation. Kurdish parties are de
facto banned, because the Syrian constitution does not permit
parties that are based on ethnic or religious identity. In spite
of some relaxation of policies regarding the Kurdish minority
since Bashar al-Assad took power, civil-society engagement on
behalf of Kurds is still dangerous.
Please support our
appeal to Ruprecht Polenz, Chair of the Foreign Affairs
Committee of the German Bundestag, to stand up for the release
of Syrian-Kurdish artist Abdulrahman Omer, known as Bavê Selah.
Translated by Elizabeth Crawford
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