The match in question was a UEFA Cup meet in November 2006 between Celta de Vigo and Fenerbahçe at the Balaídos Stadium in Vigo, Galicia. A few minutes before kick-off, a large banner with the words ‘Freedom for Kurdistan’ was displayed in the stands. Those responsible for the banner clearly seized the opportunity to diffuse their message during an international match that was being broadcast across Europe, as well as in Turkey. Moments later, Turkish security forces in the stadium informed the Spanish police, who immediately took down the banner and ejected two people wearing ‘Kurdistan Solidarity Association’ (ASK) T-shirts from the stadium.

The Vieiros newspaper reported the story when ASK received notification that it would face a court hearing, having denied accusations made against it and refused to pay an 8,000 euro fine. ASK members say that the Spanish judiciary have accused them of “violent behaviour” – despite the fact that it has not been proven that they were responsible for displaying the banner – and highlight the “political motivation” of the accusations brought against them.

The Turkish state has always refused to recognize the Kurdish population, despite the fact that the Kurds inhabit the entire western region of the country. Not only does the Kurdish language lack any form of official recognition, but any attempt to normalize is immediately repressed. Any mention of Kurdistan, the name given to the region where the Kurds live, currently split between Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, is also prohibited.

Further information:

• Vieiros: Oito mil euros de multa por sacar unha pancarta a prol do Curdistán en Balaídos
• Press release by ASK
• Nationalia: Ankara dissolves the municipal council of Sur, northern Kurdistan, for using Kurdish