Artists support Tunç Soyer: 'Vahdettin supporters will be buried in the darkness of history, just like the traitor sultan'

The Ministry of Interior's launch of an investigation into İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, on the grounds that he insulted the Ottoman Empire and the last sultan Vahdettin with words he quoted from Atatürk, continues to draw reactions. 

The Artists' Initiative issued a statement titled "Tunç Soyer is Not Alone" to support Soyer. The statement, which said, "In the centenary of our Republic, it is inconceivable that criticizing the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire, the traitor, collaborator, and pathetic Vahdettin, should be a subject of investigation," included the following remarks:

"In the process we are living through, hostility toward the Republic and Atatürk is practically supported by the powers in government. The words of İzmir's valuable mayor, Tunç Soyer, regarding Vahdettin on the anniversary of the liberation of İzmir, are taken entirely from Atatürk's immortal work, the Nutuk (Speech). It is clear that the subject of this investigation is the founder of our republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Is the Minister of Interior, Mr. Yerlikaya, aware of this? Take your hands off Tunç Soyer. Tunç Soyer is not alone.

We will never allow hostility toward the Republic. Vahdettin supporters will be buried in the darkness of history, just like the traitor sultan." 

The artists who signed the statement, which noted that it is "open for signature by our patriotic people, artist friends, and intellectuals," are as follows: 

Ataol Behramoğlu

Orhan Aydın

Bedri Baykam

Müjdat Gezen

Edip Akbayram

Nihat Behram

Melike Demirağ

Müjde Ar

Rutkay Aziz

Levent Üzümcü

Cahit Berkay

Nejat Yavaşoğulları

Sali

Hasan Yükselir

Nazım Alpman