After Adana, Mersin also bans Kurdish adaptation of Moliere play

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After Adana, Mersin also banned a Kurdish adaptation of Moliere's "Tartuffe" for "public security" reasons.  The Mersin Governor's Office had previously permitted the play.

The Mardin Governor's Office banned the same play on December 5.

The Amed City Theater, the organizers of the event, said the metropolitan municipalities of Adana and Mersin, which are run by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), asked them to get permission from the governor's offices even though there is no legal obligation for that.

"Despite that, we notified the governor's offices. Although there was no legal problem regarding the content of our play, the Governor's Offices of Adana and Mersin did not allow our play to be staged due to 'public safety'," said the theater group.

The fact that the Mersin Governor's Office canceled the play 20 hours before the time it was scheduled showed that the ban was "arbitrary," it said. "We are concerned that the fascistic bans on Kurdish and opposition art will continue rapidly."

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Legal action

Cejna Saruhan, an organizer of the events, said they will take legal action against the bans.

She told the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) that the governor's office initially permitted the play and then they signed a contract for the hall where the play would be staged. But then, she said, the Provincial Security Directorate called them to inform them that the play had been canceled.

"A lot of effort was put into it. Announcements were made," she said, adding that the play had been staged many times, and the authorities canceled it without looking at its content.

Also speaking to MA, state actress Elvan Koçer criticized the Republican People's Party (CHP) municipalities.

"We insistently told them that 'You don't have to get permission.' There is nothing about the play's content. It was banned for security reasons. However, there is the municipality's own security personnel in the hall." (AK/AÖ/VK)