Producer of 'Çiçero' Movie Apologizes for Concentration Camp Mise-en-Scene

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Mustafa Uslu, the producer of the "Çiçero" movie, has apologized for the concentration camp mise-en-scene enacted in the premiere of the movie.

Speaking at the "Ters Köşe" (Opposite Corner) program on Show Radio today (February 1), Mustafa Uslu said, 

"We created this mise-en-scene to prepare the guests for the atmosphere of the movie. We definitely do not have any other purpose. I offer my apologies to our Jewish citizens if we have offended them, even if unintentionally."

Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The premiere of the movie "Çiçero", which was directed by Serdar Akar and produced by Mustafa Uslu, was held in İstanbul on January 16. On the red carpet, there were baby dolls that were piled upon each other.

The pictures showing the guests passing by the 'mise-en-scene' of a concentration camp on the premiere, which was held shortly before the January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day, were denounced by minorities in Turkey as well as various social media users.

The mise-en-scene was also criticized by Turkish-Jewish Community Chair İshak İbrahimzadeh, Şalom newspaper Editor-in-Chief İvo Molinas and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) İstanbul MP Mustafa Yeneroğlu.

January 27, the day when the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp was closed in 1945, has been commemorated as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day since 2005, when the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the Resolution 60/7 to designate the day as such.

According to estimates, between 1.1 million to 1.5 million people, the vast majority of them Jews, died at Auschwitz during its years of operation. (HK/SD)