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Major shock for Metin Zakoğlu: His shows at AKM cancelled due to a Murat Kurum joke

The Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM), where theater actor Metin Zakoğlu had signed contracts for Ferhan Şensoy's 'Hayrola Kayrola' and Gogol's 'Diary of a Madman', has cancelled five of his performances. Zakoğlu stated that he was censored due to a joke he made about Murat Kurum.

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Comedian Metin Zakoğlu's five planned plays at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) have been cancelled by the Ministry of Culture.

Zakoğlu reacted by claiming that he was censored after making a joke about Murat Kurum, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate for the AKP and MHP.

Accordingly, Zakoğlu's play titled 'Hayrola Kayrola', written by Ferhan Şensoy, had been staged at the AKM since February. However, following the famous comedian's performance on May 7, five of his plays were cancelled by the Ministry of Culture.

Speaking to journalist Işıl Çalışkan, Zakoğlu said, "We signed a contract with the AKM management in February to perform Ferhan Şensoy's 'Hayrola Kayrola' and in April to perform my plays titled Gogol's 'Diary of a Madman'" and continued as follows:

'MY PLAYS WERE CANCELLED WITHOUT QUESTION'

"But I was censored because of a joke I made in the last play about Murat Kurum that contained no insults. Because of the joke I made regarding Kurum calling the Anatolian Side the Küçükçekmece district, all my plays were cancelled without question. There was no warning in the cancellation notice. I do not have a single sentence that contains an insult."

Stating, "I will never accept this anti-democratic and unlawful situation," Zakoğlu continued his words:

"An artist's mouth is not a bag; no one can tie it shut. Without an official recorded document in hand, no one can kick an artist out of venues belonging to artists over a very innocent joke. My lawyers will make the necessary applications to all relevant units regarding the termination of the contract.

The Atatürk Cultural Center is not an AKP cultural center. It is a precious cultural center that takes its name from Atatürk and where artists meet their audience. No one can impose censorship on an artist. With what audacity can one act to kick me out of the AKM in a way that victimizes both me and my audience?"

The cancelled plays are as follows:

May 24: Diary of a Madman

May 29: Hayrola Kayrola

June 4-12-26: Diary of a Madman