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GreekReporter.comGreek NewsCultureGavras "Directs" Emek Theater Protest

Gavras “Directs” Emek Theater Protest

gavrasFollowing a warning that the peaceful Emek Theater protests on April 7 were unauthorized, Turkish police started spraying water at the group along with tear gas, according to witnesses, the newspaper Hurriyet reported.

Among the group of thousands of protesters was acknowledged Greek-French director Costa Gavras and many actors, who had marched on Istanbul’s iconic Emek Cinema to protest the demolition of the historic building.

According to Hurriyet, Gavras addressed a letter to the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, condemning the violence outside the theater. He wrote that, “The violent incidents which followed this peaceful gathering should not make us forget its very reasons; moreover, the provokers are still unclear.”

Gavras highlighted that the demolition of the theater would be equal to erasing an important piece of history and would represent a political, social and artistic mistake.

Movie critic Berke Göl and three other demonstrators were taken into custody while a group of 200 demonstrators camped camping in front of Beyoğlu police department to demand their release, according to daily Radikal.

One of the most venerable Turkish directors, Erden Kıral, reportedly passed out during the incident. The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) stated: “We condemn what has been inflicted to cinema lovers who did nothing other than protect Istanbul’s cultural memory.”

 

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