Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu recounts the moments just before his detention: 'I had Atatürk's elegance in mind'

The protest actions that began during the process following the detention and arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu turned into a consumption boycott on April 2.

Famous actor Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu, who supported the boycott, was first detained and subsequently released under judicial control with a travel ban.

Üzümoğlu recounted his experiences during this process to Binnaz Saktanber from T24.

"I HAVE AN OPPOSITIONAL NATURE, I HAVE BEEN AN OPPOSITION FIGURE SINCE CHILDHOOD"

The young actor gave the following response to the question, "What were the reasons that pushed you to speak out, the injustices that bothered you?":

There are so many things. Femicides, child deaths, economic hardship, teachers remaining unemployed, doctors being forced to work without limits, people who want to create art not finding space or financial means... Whoever you touch, there is a problem. From the elderly to the child, from the cat to the dog, everyone living in this country has so many troubles.

When there are such major problems in every field and these problems are constantly worsening rather than healing, one needs to say something. I was always someone who spoke up, but I wasn't someone who used social media actively. All these reasons already pushed me. The fact that justice is used so much according to the wishes of one person is not an acceptable situation anyway.

During the detention process, the police officers didn't eat anything either, just like us. I mean, if you are hungry, they are hungry too... My issue is not just me. My issue is also them. Why should I despise the police just because one officer treats me poorly? There is such a thing as human rights and dignity. These issues strike me so hard that it is impossible not to open my mouth. That's why I open it. Also, I already have an oppositional nature. I have been an opposition figure since my childhood.”

“I HAD ATATÜRK’S ELEGANCE IN MIND”

Describing the moment of his detention, Üzümoğlu said, “I was expecting to be detained. Before that, I was with a theater actor friend I love very much. The targets were pointing at him. I said, 'Brother, don't worry, they will come for me before they come for you.' The door knocked the next evening anyway. When the police arrived, the first thing I said was, 'I was waiting for you too.' Of course, I wasn't waiting at home dressed up (laughs). But when I realized they had come, I said, 'They will probably take me to court. I should dress elegantly then.' In a way, I had Atatürk's elegance in mind. That seems like a magnificent stance to me. The state of being elegant and orderly everywhere. In that sense, I have taken Atatürk as a very good example. I didn't put on my suit and go, but at that moment I said, 'Let me wear a white shirt,'” he stated.

Emphasizing that he cannot remain silent, Üzümoğlu said, “Whether I go inside or not, I will continue to speak; if I don't, I cannot be myself. I don't claim to do anything with a leadership quality, but this is my existence, my self. I have to say something. If I don't say it, I will die. Maybe 90 thousand people were following me when I first said it, now 600 thousand people are following me and I continue to say it again. Not to 'become something.' But of course, I will continue to speak,” he said.

“I WOULDN'T EVEN PASS BY TABİİ”

Due to their support for the boycott, many actors, directors, and screenwriters were removed from the series on TRT's platform called Tabii. Üzümoğlu gave the following response to the question, "Would you act in Tabii?":

“Of course I wouldn't act in Tabii. Of course, I wouldn't act on a platform that produces content with the public's money, asks for money for people to watch this content, and where actors, screenwriters, and directors are fired for openly expressing their own opinions. I wouldn't even pass by it.”

News Source: 12punto