Free Palestine
CONCERT
14 January / KadıköySahne
Concert News
After organising human chains in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, on Sunday 14 January the Freedom for Palestine Platform held a concert at Kadıköy Sahne in Istanbul that attracted hundreds of spectators.
The concert featured 12 live performances by 20 musicians, as well as letters and video messages from Turkish-Canadian composer Mercan Dede, Palestinian group Le Trio Joubran, and George Totari, founder of the group Kofia and writer of the well-known protest song Leve Palestina.
Between the musical performances, the audience heard speeches from artists and activists, including BDS Turkey. Among the speakers were three of the founders of the Freedom for Palestine Platform:
Fatma Akdokur spoke of the aims behind the establishment of the platform; Hacer Ansal, announced the platform’s next step, the establishment of a People's Tribunal, inviting everybody to support the initiative; and Özdeş Özbay called for freedom for Palestine from the perspective of climate justice.
Dr Faed Mustafa, Ambassador of Palestine to the Republic of Turkey, sent a special message for the concert in which he summarised the current situation in Gaza and thanked everyone who has given their support to Palestine. Rajeh Nassar from the Palestine Friendship Association also sent a message calling for wider solidarity and a boycott of Israel.
Activists from BDS Turkey also called for a boycott, and in particular called on all artists to join a cultural boycott against the Zorlu Performing Arts Centre, owned by Zorlu Holding which has large energy investments in Israel.
Throughout the evening, the audience chanted slogans such as “Free Palestine, boycott Israel”, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, “No room for racism”, “Free-free-freedom, freedom to Palestine”.
Photo Gallery
Aslı Büyükköksal accompanies Banu Kanıbelli in her song based on Rafeet Alareer's poem "If I Must Die"
Banu Kanıbelli, whom we know for her musical works based on society, literature, children and nature, performs songs from her Dağlarca poems and her composition for Palestinian academician/poet Refaat Alereer's poem "If I Must Die".
Burcu Yankın, a member of "Kardeş Türküler", sings the popular songs of the band together with Selda Öztürk.
Cem Erdost İleri takes the stage with İlkay Akkaya.
Çağıl Kaya, musician of an interdisciplinary approach to jazz and contemporary music, performs with Tamer Temel the chosen songs from her albums.
Eyüp Ömer Bal has been working in different areas of music since 2005, recording and sharing his music for the last 5 years. "I am honored to share the power of my instrument and my words on an anti-war stage that is on the side of the oppressed."
Syrian musician and oud player. Inspired by oriental musical vibes, exploring the complex world of Maqam and its boundless dimensions. Lately, he's on the journey of exploring the space between noise and melody.
İlkay Akkaya, one of the original names of traditional and contemporary Turkish folk music, comes together with Cem Erdost İleri for her beloved songs.
Accordion master, folk music researcher and popular voice of Balkan and Aegean folk songs, Muammer Ketencoğlu, takes stage with his friends...
Ozan Çoban & Güneş Demir Duo tracing songs with social content in their music production, takes the stage with Aylin Çankaya.
A guitarist who speaks the language of emotions through his music. As a Syrian refugee, Alkilani, through the strings of the guitar, takes the audience on an emotional musical journey, sharing a universal message of meaning and unity.
Singer Serap Yağız takes the stage with Taner Öngür, the bass guitarist of "Moğollar", one of the legendary bands of Anatolian Rock.
Selda Öztürk, a member of "Kardeş Türküler", sings the popular songs of the band together with Burcu Yankın.
"We stand with the Palestinian people!" says Stiff who is the saxophonist, keyboard player and clarinetist of Rashit, Kum & Bedeviler, has been involved in music and politics for more than 40 years.
Taner Öngür, bass guitarist of Moğollar, one of the legendary bands of Anatolian Rock, takes the stage with singer Serap Öngür.
Masallarıyla, şarkı ve desenleriyle anlatan-hatırlatan Arbil Çelen Yuca "Başka bir hikaye mümkün"diyecek bizlere.
İsrail üstündeki ekonomik ve siyasi baskıyı artırmaya çabalayan küresel bir kampanya olan - Boykot, Yatırımların Çekilmesi ve Yaptırımlar Hareketi - BDS Türkiye'yi temsilen bir konuşmacı bizimle olacak.
Kadın hakları savunucusu, aktivist Dila Ak, gecenin sunumunu Selin Tuksal ile birlikte yapacak.
İnsan hakları / kadın hakları savunucusu, İlahiyatçı-yazar Fatma Akdokur, açılış konuşmasını yapmak üzere bizimle olacak.
Emekli öğretim üyesi (Prof. Dr.), Barış Akademisyeni ve aktivist Hacer Ansal, Vicdan Mahkemesi'ni temsilen konuşma yapmak üzere bizimle olacak.
Kofia grubunun kurucusu Filistinli müzisyen George Totari'nin, konser ve dayanışma için bizlere ilettiği mesajı okunacak.
Filistin özgürlük davasını 30 yılı aşkın bir süredir destekleyen sanatçı, bizler için yaptığı özel bir dayanışma video mesajıyla aramızda olacak.
Ankara'dan aramıza katılacak olan genç aktivist Selin, gecenin sunumunu Dila Ak ile birlikte yapacak.