The oldest annual culture and arts festival in the Turkish-speaking communities, organised by the Day-Mer solidarity group, begins today.
Day-Mer sözcüsü Ahmet Sezgin festival etkinliklerine katılım çağrısında bulundu.
The festival was opened on Wednesday night with a reception at the group’s Tottenham building, attended by representatives from many other associations.
Speaking at the event, Day-Mer director Aslı Gül said the festival was talking place at a critical time for Britain and Turkey and that it was events like these that united our communities with other migrant groups, and workers.
She said the British government was pursuing policies that would provoke prejudices against immigrants and that UKIP’s recent electoral success was a symptom of these policies.
Day-Mer Başkanı Aslı Gül festivalin Türkiye ve İngiltere içöin kritik bir dönemde gerçekleştiğine dikkat çekti.
Also in attendance was the Reverend Paul Nicholson, who made headlines last summer when he refused to pay council tax in protest against benefit cuts.
Rev Nicholson had spoken from the dock to appeal for leniency for those who cannot pay.
Organisers said they were paying particular attention to children in their festival programme this year, with music recitals and a theatre performance day on Sunday.
On Friday, the festival will see a screening of a documentary entitled “Soma: The true face of privatisation and subcontracting”.
Events will conclude on Sunday 6 July will a festival in Clissold Park that will feature a football tournament, a picnic, photography exhibition and outdoor theatre.