Turkish artists denounce Erdogan’s re-election

Turkish artists are concerned with the fact that Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party, the AKP, took 43% of the vote at the elections.

Turkey's representative at last year’s Venice Biennale, Ali Kazma (photo), wrote an essay titled 'Something Rotten in the Republic of Turkey' in protest to Erdogan's re-election, starting it with the following statement: “Erdogan wins yet another election despite corruption, clamps on personal freedoms, internet censorship, and devious and authoritarian use of his power.”

Kazma acknowledges that “Turkish voters predominantly voted for him”. He says, however: “This will be a long struggle for the citizens of Turkey to keep our basic human rights, freedom and dignity. It can go both ways. Beware of demagogues, wherever you are.”

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan banned the use of Twitter and access to YouTube in the country, until the constitutional court in Ankara dismissed this decision on 2 April.

“The reasoning behind the block is unclear and vague, yet in all matters that deal with freedom of expression the government has acted very heavy-handedly, as reflected by the number of journalists who are in prison,” said Kerimcan Guleryuz, an art dealer from Istanbul. “Everything is very chaotic, the government has a stranglehold on almost all levels of the judiciary system and is leading a private vendetta against anyone who is in opposition.” 


"Freedom of expression and media, along with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, are safeguarded by Turkey’s constitution and other relevant legislation. In this regard, Turkey has been going through a comprehensive reform process in recent years with a view to further strengthening democracy, consolidating the rule of law and ensuring respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.", according to a spokesman for the Turkisk Embassy in London.