19/10/2022 | Writer: Selma Koçak
More than 100 police officers from various departments like anti-terror, narcotic, smuggling and child, carried out a search and performed an identity check on guests, at the closure event of Pink Life QueerFest Music Hall, by claiming that it was a “routine practice”.
The last event of 11th Pink Life QueerFest for İstanbul, was carried out on October 16. And the opening ceremony in İstanbul was held in the shade of the police.
The fest began with Queer Music Hall event at a venue in Etiler, on October 12. At the end of the event, while the guests were departing from the venue at about 01.00 am; police officers from İstanbul Police Department came and demanded to carry out a search and perform an identity check on guests.
More than 100 police officers from various departments like anti-terror, public security, narcotic, smuggling and child, carried out a search in the venue. Demanding that the guest depart from the venue from the corridor provided by them, police harassed the guests and the participants.
Police officers refused to provide information to Pink Life representatives, who wanted gain information about the reason of the search and identity check, they slurred over the question by saying “routine inspection”. The police also prevented the journalists who wanted to take photos during the search. When the journalists reminded the police that circular, which put a ban on taking the photos of the police, was cancelled, police officers merely said “We know.”
İstanbul Police Department announced that they had visited 11 entertainment venues in Beşiktaş and Şişli on the same night, with a video shared on their official Instagram account. While they remarked that the routine inspection was carried out “under the coordination of Department of Organized Crime Branch and by the polices from Narcotic Branch Office and Public Security Branch Office” within the scope of their statement; on the other hand it drew attention that police officers from anti-terror and child branches were also present at the QueerFest event.
İstanbul Police Department announced that 952 people were questioned as a result of the routine inspection.
Queer Music Hall attracted intensive attention
On the other side, the Music Hall event attracted intensive attention, tickets for the event were sold out, as soon they were offered. The event started with a selection of arabesque songs by Gözde and Efruz.
Then Esila Efser, who gets credit with the song “Sürüne Sürüne Geber Ağla” (Live a life of great mystery, die, cry), gave the audiences both enthusiastic and emotional moments with their song.
Destina, the surprise singer of the night, also sang two songs accompanied by applause. The audience also accompanied Zenne Diva’s oriental performance.
Kübra Uzun, made the audiences travel in time with the selection of Turkish classical music, they concertized the most special songs of music hall culture from the past to today.
Nükhet Duru was the star performer of the night. Duru remained on the stage for one hour and a half. She gave the audience an unforgettable night both with her special classical music songs and her dialogue with the audience.
Tags: human rights, arts and culture
