Censorship of Kırmızı Kedi books by AKP-run municipality

It has been learned that the 6th Eastern Anatolia Erzurum Book Fair, which is set to open on May 17, has banned certain books belonging to Kırmızı Kedi Publishing from being placed on stands.

Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality has decided not to allow  books by certain authors published by Kırmızı Kedi Publishing into the fairgrounds, on the grounds that these works contain political content.

It was learned that this decision was taken upon the instructions of Erzurum Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Sekmen.

 Adnan Atalay, the CHP's candidate for Mayor of Yakutiye, criticized the situation with the following post on his social media account:

"We were invited to the Book Fair organized by the Metropolitan Municipality. However, they stated that they did not want our publications, the works of Kırmızı Kedi Publishing, at our stand. We have withdrawn from the book fair."

We were invited to the Book Fair organized by the Metropolitan Municipality. However, they stated that they did not want our publications, the works of Kırmızı Kedi Publishing, at our stand. We have withdrawn from the book fair. @ilkerbasbugcom @alimahir @muratagirel @timursoykan @merdanyanardag @baristerkoglu pic.twitter.com/Rnt2A7e3Hm

— Adnan Atalay (@atalayadnan25) May 11, 2024

Kırmızı Kedi Publishing Owner Haluk Hepkon: 'This is the extent of the normalization they have in mind'

Sharing his thoughts on the incident via his social media account, Kırmızı Kedi Publishing owner Haluk Hepkon stated the following: 

"We previously heard the name of the Erzurum Mayor when he defended the stone attack on Ekrem İmamoğlu's rally during the elections. Now, they are trying to prevent Kırmızı Kedi authors and books from meeting their readers. This is the extent of the "normalization" they have in mind. Today they are preventing books from reaching readers; tomorrow, if they could, they would ban their publication as well. The support of our readers and authors gives us strength. It is not just Kırmızı Kedi that they want to ban. We protest this tyranny and book-hating bigotry...

We previously heard the name of the Erzurum Mayor when he defended the stone attack on Ekrem İmamoğlu's rally during the elections. Now, they are trying to prevent Kırmızı Kedi authors and books from meeting their readers. This is the extent of the "normalization" they have in mind. Today they are preventing books... https://t.co/PPRL52LBU4

— Haluk Hepkon (@halukhepkon) May 11, 2024

News Source: 12punto