SİYAD statement on Akın Aksu: 'We condemn the message full of harassment and threats'

Akın Aksu, one of the screenwriters of The Wild Pear Tree and About Dry Grasses, sent a threatening message to Zeynep Ocak from the Kutsal Motor team, who criticized his series titled 'Ufuklar ve Sınırlar', which will be broadcast on TRT's digital platform Tabii.

In his message, Aksu also targeted Kaan Karsan and Hasan Cömert, who host the program with Ocak. Ocak revealed Aksu's message in the latest episode of Kutsal Motor, which was broadcast yesterday (November 10).

'I WILL MAKE YOU EAT THOSE ATTITUDES'

According to what Ocak reported, Aksu said, “You have spoken back and forth without knowing anything about me. I live in Istanbul. I have lived in Cihangir for 1 year and in Kurtuluş for 4 years. I am not a 'poor man'. Learn this well, I will make you eat those attitudes you display by calling me 'teacher' (hocam).”

Also according to Ocak, Aksu demanded the phone numbers of the program's other commentators, Hasan Cömert and Kaan Karsan, saying, “Send me the phone numbers of the men with you. If I try to find the numbers of those wretches myself, my anger will multiply. The penalties and regrets of your friends will increase manifold.”

SİYAD ISSUED A WRITTEN STATEMENT

Following the threatening message, Akın Aksu faced backlash from the industry. Altyazı Cinema Magazine and the Association of Cinema Writers (SİYAD) condemned Aksu.

The written statement issued by Siyad is as follows:

"We condemn the message full of harassment and threats sent by screenwriter Akın Aksu to Zeynep Ocak from the Kutsal Motor team. No justification can be an excuse for critics to be directly targeted and threatened. While emphasizing that we stand in solidarity with our colleagues, including our member Kaan Karsan, we also call on the cinema world to take a stand against this behavior."