30.05.2024 18:27
The operator who announced that he would only provide service in Kurdish in a café in Diyarbakır was detained on charges of terrorist propaganda, incitement to hatred or humiliation, and hate crime. In his statement, the operator's brother said, "We can also speak Turkish to those who do not know Kurdish. There is no such thing as refusing customers who speak Turkish, we just provide service in Kurdish."
Diyarbakır'da Ramazan Ş., who runs a cafe, was detained on charges of making terrorist propaganda, inciting hatred and enmity towards the public, and committing hate crimes, following reports made on social media claiming that he announced that he would only provide service in Kurdish.
CAFE OWNER DETAINED An investigation was launched by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office after reports were made on social media claiming that Ramazan Ş., the owner of a cafe located in the Sanat Sokağı (Art Street) in the Ofis neighborhood of the Yenişehir district, announced that he would only provide service in Kurdish. Ramazan Ş. was detained by the Anti-Terrorism Branch of the Diyarbakır Provincial Police Department (TEM) in the morning hours on charges of making terrorist propaganda, inciting hatred and enmity towards the public, and committing hate crimes, and was taken to the police station to give his statement.
In a statement made at the Diyarbakır Bar Association regarding the issue, it was stated that "After the news content that was reflected to the public, the cafe owner was first targeted and subjected to lynching on social media, and then he was detained this morning by conducting a search in the cafe based on the reports. The Diyarbakır Bar Association provides legal support to the person who is under custody."
"MY BROTHER WAS TARGETED" Vedat Ş., the brother of Ramazan Ş., denied the allegations and said the following: "He has been on the agenda on social media in recent days because he provides service in Kurdish to the customers who come here. He was targeted. That's why a detention order was issued. If someone who doesn't know Kurdish comes here, it doesn't mean that they won't receive service if they speak Turkish. They can also be served in Turkish."
"THERE IS NO 'I DON'T SERVE TURKISH CUSTOMERS'" They say tea and coffee in Kurdish or Turkish. The similarity of the languages is also the same. We provide service in Kurdish, but it doesn't mean that we don't serve customers who speak Turkish. For example, our customers who come here don't know Kurdish, so we take their orders in Turkish or welcome them and ask what they would like. Even if they don't know Kurdish, we provide service in Turkish. It was misrepresented in the media. There is no such thing."
Eser K., a customer of the cafe, said, "Every customer who comes here has the right to receive service in the language they prefer. If they want to order in Turkish, our friends will still kindly take their order. They can spend their time here comfortably."