NEWS CENTER_ Between years of imprisonment and fears for her health and her voice, artist Nudem Durak continues to write and sing, holding on to music as a means of expression and preserving memory.

Nudem Durak was born in 1988 in the town of Degul in Şırnak in northern Kurdistan. She grew up in a family where the traditions of folk singing were deeply rooted. The singing of the men in her family played an important role in her musical beginnings.

Nudem Durak's interest in music began in her childhood years. At around the age of twelve, she began singing, then later started playing the guitar. It is said that her mother sold her ring to buy her a guitar. For her, music was not just a profession, but also a means of keeping the culture of the region in which she lives and its language alive.

The Role of Art in Transmitting Culture and Women's Struggle

In Nudem Durak's life, her identity as a woman cannot be separated from her art. She was not just a singer, but also a young woman who participated in cultural production. She taught children music, and worked on projects that allowed women and youth to express themselves in cultural fields. She sang in the Kurdish language, and sought to transmit melodies in her language to future generations.

Nudem Durak, who continued her musical studies in her youth, continued her journey as a member of the "Sorkhwin" musical band. She also worked as a teacher of music and playing the daf at the "Mam U Zin" Cultural Center in Cizre, Botan. Her work there focused particularly on children, as she sought to transmit Kurdish folk melodies to younger generations.

Thus, music for her transcended being merely a form of individual expression, and became a tool for transmitting culture. Works based on the folk singing tradition that holds an important place in Kurdish culture combined this heritage with contemporary music, and shed light, alongside the Kurdish language, on the role of women in cultural life as well.

Cultural Activity Turns into a Crime

Nudem Durak was arrested on 22 April 2015. She was charged with "membership in an organization" and "propaganda for terrorism." Her lawyer explained that the charges were linked to her cultural and musical activities. During the trial, particular reference was made to her work at the "Mam U Zin" Cultural Center and her activities in the field of Kurdish music.

It was reported that the total sentences issued against her in two separate trials amounted to 19 years and six months. Her case received continuous discussion for a long time, because it shows how the cultural activities of an artist who sings Kurdish music became subject to scrutiny before criminal courts.

"I Want to Get Out Before I Lose My Voice"

One of Nudem Durak's biggest fears in prison is her voice. During this year, she was afflicted with hyperthyroidism and osteoporosis, and with the worsening of her health problems and the risk of losing her voice, she faced new fears. For a singer, the voice is one of the most important parts of life. Therefore, she said: "I want to get out before I lose my voice." Her fear is not limited to the worsening of her illness, but also includes losing the voice she preserved for years, sang with, and shared with others.

International Support and Continuous Resistance

Nudem Durak's story ultimately transcended the borders of Turkey. Many artists and activists demanded her release. Prominent international figures, such as Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Angela Davis, Noam Chomsky, and Ken Loach, announced their support for her.

This support contributed to her case being discussed not only as an individual matter, but also within the framework of freedom of expression, cultural rights, and freedom of art. In 2023, 46 international figures addressed a joint appeal for her release. Writer Elif Shafak also criticized considering Nudem Durak's singing in her mother tongue a crime.

Nudem Durak's story also sheds light on the role of women in cultural production. Female artists are not just creators of artistic works, but also play an important role in transmitting language, melodies, tales, and collective memory from one generation to another. Today, perhaps what stands out most in her story is that, despite all these years, she has never abandoned music. The poems and songs she wrote in prison show that music remains for her a means of expressing struggle and resistance.