State-run news agency censors condolence letter for actor’s passing

* Photo: Ortaoyuncular

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Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) has censored actor Ferhan Şensoy's letter for deceased actor Rasim Öztekin.

Öztekin, who died on March 8 after having a heart attack, was laid to rest in İstanbul after a funeral ceremony held in Ses Theater Hall yesterday (March 10). Unable to attend the funeral due to health problems, actor Ferhan Şensoy's letter for Öztekin was read out by his daughter Derya Şensoy.

In his letter, Ferhan Şensoy has referred to the important role played by Rasim Öztekin in Turkey's traditional theater known as "orta oyunu" (literally, middle play). Reminding the audience that he handed over to Öztekin a symbolic award for traditional theater titled, Hasan Efendi Turban, named after a pioneering comedian, Ferhan Şensoy has said:

"He quitted the stage due to some diseases. He handed over the turban to Şevket Çoruh. The day came and he flied away to the sky. His photo in the turban remains hung in Ses 2885. One day, I will also fly away to the sky. We will meet in a joyous tavern (meyhane*) in the sky."

However, in reporting this letter, the state-run AA covered the entire letter, except for the last three words, namely "in a joyous tavern." The censored version shared by the AA said, "We will meet in the sky."

CLICK - Actor Rasim Öztekin loses his life

(EKN/SD)

* A meyhane is a traditional restaurant or bar in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and the Balkans. It serves alcoholic beverages like wine, rakı, vodka, beer with meze and traditional foods. "Meyhane'' means house of wine and is composed of two Persian words: mey (wine) and khāneh (house).