PARIS
Ahmet Kaya, late Kurdish singer who was active during 1980s-90s, was remembered on the 14th anniversary of his death at a ceremony held in Paris on Sunday.
Kaya was immensely popular in 90s, but had to leave Turkey following a media campaign that led to charges of separatist propaganda against him.
Gulten Kaya, the singer’s wife, said that there had been a sad lack of progress in the areas that Ahmet’s protested about and in Kurdish people's destiny, which forced him into exile.
Kaya left for France in June 1999. In March 2000, Kaya was sentenced in absentia to three years and nine months in prison.
Kaya died of a heart attack in Paris seven months later, on November 16, 2000. The photos and the statements from the singer that were used against him were later proven to be forgeries.
The commemoration ceremony was held at Pere Lachaise Cemetery, and during the ceremony, participants also sang his songs.
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