In a distressing incident at a Newroz celebration in northwestern Turkey’s Kocaeli province, security forces compelled a young girl with Down syndrome to remove a jersey representing Kurdish football club Amedspor. The event, heralding the Kurdish New Year, took a harrowing turn when the girl, identified as Berfin, was subjected to this act by security personnel, citing the presence of "terrorism words" on the garment.

A video footage shared by Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, an MP from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), depicted the poignant scene. Gergerlioglu was seen comforting Berfin as she cried following the confiscation of her cherished jersey. A bystander could be heard condemning the actions of the security forces, decrying their departure from humanity.

Berfin, emotionally distraught after the incident, experienced a breakdown on the ground. Despite attempts by onlookers to console her with another Amedspor jersey, the young girl expressed her refusal, stating her attachment to the confiscated garment, which she received as a gift from her incarcerated brother.

The situation escalated further when Berfin appeared to suffer from a seizure and was subsequently hospitalized. Gergerlioglu condemned the actions of the security forces, directing his criticism towards the Kocaeli governor’s office and calling for accountability.

Notably, Amedspor has been embroiled in controversies in Turkey due to its adoption of the Kurdish name for the city of Diyarbakir, Amed. The team often faces nationalist and anti-Kurdish sentiments during their matches, leading to violent encounters.

The incident underscores the contentious relationship between Kurdish identity and Turkish authorities, with Kurdish symbols often associated with support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and consequently leading to arrests on terrorism charges. Despite this, Turkish officials have displayed contradictory stances, as some have welcomed representatives from the Kurdistan Region with the same Kurdish flag during official engagements.

As of the time of reporting, neither the Kocaeli governor’s office nor the police have issued official statements regarding the incident. However, the distressing episode has sparked widespread condemnation, raising questions about the treatment of marginalized communities and the respect for human rights in Turkey.

In a related development, security forces detained 75 individuals during a Newroz rally in Istanbul on the same day, further highlighting tensions surrounding Kurdish cultural expression in Turkey.