Artist Onur Akın issues 'nullity' ultimatum to Kılıçdaroğlu: 'Do not use my songs'

Renowned artist Onur Akın has joined the chorus of criticism against Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who has returned to the CHP chairmanship by complying with a court ruling of "absolute nullity" regarding the Özgür Özel administration. Akın, who composed the famous campaign songs that Kılıçdaroğlu used in rallies in the past, issued a stern written statement, declaring, "My songs should not be used by your administration, which I do not consider legitimate, and they should be removed from digital platforms. Otherwise, I will resort to legal action."

The change in leadership at the CHP via a court order has caused a major rift in the art world as well. Onur Akın, a powerful voice of the left/social democratic line who composed anthems and special campaign songs for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during the 2014 local and general election processes, described Kılıçdaroğlu's return to office via a court ruling as "the biggest trip-up for a party marching toward power."

"YOU DELIVERED THE BIGGEST TRIP-UP, IT DID NOT SUIT YOU, MR. KILIÇDAROĞLU"

Onur Akın recalled that Kılıçdaroğlu had given hope to opposition masses in 2009 with his honest stance in revealing corruption documents, and that he himself had composed the famous "Kılıçdaroğlu Anthem" at 4:00 AM with that excitement. However, stating that he is experiencing great disappointment at this point, Akın expressed the following:

"After 13 election defeats and the mistakes made, you dragged the masses into pessimism. With your loss of the party to Özgür Özel and Ekrem İmamoğlu at the democratic convention, the CHP soared and became the first party after 47 years. What was expected of you was to congratulate this young team and stand by them. However, on top of the dozens of traps set by the government and 'masterminds,' you delivered the biggest trip-up by complying with this nullity ruling. As Pir Sultan said; 'It is the friend's single rose that wounds me...' It did not work out, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, it did not suit you. Those who applaud you are in a historical delusion."

"REMOVE THE SONGS THAT MENTION YOUR NAME FROM DIGITAL PLATFORMS"

Declaring that he does not see Kılıçdaroğlu's current administration as "legitimate," Onur Akın issued a clear ultimatum regarding copyright and usage rights:

"For these reasons, I demand that my works, especially those in which your name is mentioned among the many songs I have composed for the party, absolutely not be used by you and the administration I do not find legitimate."

"I also want my works to be immediately removed from the party's and your personal official digital platforms."

"I hereby inform you that if the use of my songs continues in violation of the law, I will resort to legal channels through my lawyers. Enough, do not harm this country, gentlemen!"

In the CHP corridors shaken by the Ankara Regional Court of Justice's decision, the fact that symbolic artists who have served the party for years are issuing such stern ultimatums following Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's statement that "I will not go to the convention without a purification" shows that the crisis is deepening at the social and cultural base as well.

Here is the full text of Onur Akın's statement: 

"We loved you for your stance when you were the CHP Group Chairman in 2009, with your calm, self-confident, and honest demeanor that gave hope to opposition masses, where you made appearances on TV, based on documents, where you made your AKP rivals sweat, forced them to resign, and exposed the government's corruption to their faces…

As an artist with leftist values who has been close to the problems of his people throughout his life, who has been sensitive, who has participated in every labor, peace, democracy, and freedom-oriented action and platform where needed, and who has composed songs in this line, you also excited and mobilized me…

The sensitive artist responsibility I felt made me compose the Kılıçdaroğlu anthem at 4:00 AM… I do not regret having made this song, which changed the perception of campaign songs in political parties and started the tradition of zero (new) compositions that increased quality, under the conditions of that day… I have always put my hand under the stone when I needed to for my country, my party, and my people with the intellectual responsibility I felt, and I would do it again...

However, at this point, due to 13 election defeats, political mistakes made, duels that for some reason are no longer held, documents that do not emerge, and your failures, you have once again dragged millions of left-wing, social democratic, secular, Kemalist, and Republican masses into hopelessness and pessimism… This rightfully caused you to lose the intra-party power through democratic means against the young, hardworking, and promising general chair candidate Mr. Özgür Özel and our presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu in the elective convention, and the party historically soared and became the first party in the first election…

What I expected from you, as a former general chairman, was to congratulate this young and successful team, shake their hands, and celebrate them for the success of your party… It was for you to support them by standing by them when necessary, like other former general chairmen… But I am unfortunately saddened by the point you have reached… You delivered the biggest trip-up to the party that became Turkey's number one and is marching toward power, by complying with the nullity ruling, on top of the dozens of traps set by the government and 'masterminds'…

As Pir Sultan said, it is the friend's single rose that wounds me… It did not work out, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, it did not suit you… Rest assured that those who applaud you are in a historical delusion and what you have done will not be forgotten… For these reasons, I want my songs in which your name is mentioned, among the many songs I have composed for the party, not to be used by you and the administration I do not find legitimate, and to be removed from your digital platforms…

Enough, do not harm this country, gentlemen!..

I also inform you that I will resort to legal channels if the use of my songs continues…

Sincerely…"

News Source: 12punto