Art workers gather in front of Süreyya Opera House

RTÜK had issued an administrative fine regarding the TV series titled "Kızıl Goncalar" in recent weeks. The Ankara Regional Administrative Court upheld the 2-program suspension and 9 million [TL] fine imposed on the series by RTÜK.

THEY GATHERED UNDER THE BANNER OF "NO TO CENSORSHIP"

Following the RTÜK penalty, workers in the cinema, television, theater, and advertising sectors held a protest in front of the Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy, Istanbul, under the banner of "No to censorship."

The press statement made during the protest recalled that this is not the first time such censorship practices have been encountered, emphasizing that normalizing censorship—which is frequently seen in all areas of art such as theater, cinema, and TV series—would lead to more dangerous consequences than censorship itself.

The statement pointed out that the existence of all creative fields is threatened by censorship, which manifests through methods such as punishment, banning, investigation, targeting, threatening, intimidation, humiliation, obstruction, physical and verbal attacks, criminalization, and marginalization, and that an attempt is being made to create a climate of fear.

Stating that censorship is a common struggle for all creative fields on a universal level, the statement recalled Article 64 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, saying, "As stated in the Constitution, artistic activities, or in our terms 'Freedom of Artistic Expression,' are under the protection of the law."

"THE CONSEQUENCES OF CENSORSHIP ARE VERY SEVERE"

The statement continued as follows:

"Obstacles to freedom of artistic expression do not only appear in the form of broadcast suspensions or fines. For example; theater plays canceled at the last minute with the excuse of 'renovations' that have been ongoing for years, concerts, shows, and exhibitions canceled citing 'public safety,' teams prevented from entering cities, support withdrawn by the ministry, documentaries and films whose screenings were stopped, canceled festivals… The consequences of censorship do not end with the obstruction of performances and works! Teams are targeted, and thousands of workers cannot receive their wages and suffer job losses.

Enough is enough! We cannot breathe due to censorship, bans, and obstacles!

As labor and professional organizations; we have always stood against censorship on stages, in cinemas, on screens, in studios, everywhere and at all times, and we will continue to do so. Censorship cannot be normalized. We invite all our colleagues to stand together against censorship and the indirect consequences it creates.

We are not alone; we will wage this struggle together.

Let the obstacles to our freedom of artistic expression be removed, and let artists and art workers be free."

The professional organizations and unions that signed the statement are as follows:

Unions:

• Actors Union
• Cinema Workers Union (DİSK SİNE-SEN)
• Cinema and Television Union

Professional associations:

• BSB Cinema Authors Professional Association
• Screenwriters and Dialogue Writers Professional Association (SENARİSTBİR)
• Cinema Authors Professional Association (SİNEBİR)
• Cinema Producers Professional Association (SE-YAP)
• Cinema Actors Professional Association (BİROY)

Associations:

• Contemporary Cinema Actors Association (ÇASOD)
• Film and Stage Design Teams Association (FST)
• Film Directors Association (FİLM-YÖN)
• Izmir Theaters Association
• Post-Production Workers Association (POSTPRODER)
• Women in Cinema Association

Foundation:

• Turkish Cinema Foundation (TÜRSAV)

Assembly:

• Free Art Assembly

Initiative:

• Let Our Theater Live Initiative

Cooperatives:

• Ahura Theater Cooperative
• Ankara Theater Cooperative
• Mediterranean Theater Cooperative
• Film Koop
• Filmmor Women's Cooperative
• Black Sea Theater Cooperative Aegean Theater Cooperative
• South Marmara Theater Cooperative
• Theater Cooperative

News Source: 12punto