Artists pledge support for democratic initiative

The request has been well received, with Erdoğan hosting the country's leading artists on Saturday for a breakfast at the Prime Ministry's working office and urging them to help spread the idea and feeling behind the widely acclaimed initiative to the most distant corners and every citizen through their work. “Your songs have the power to transcend deaf walls. You are the heartfelt voice of this country. I ask you to help this movement of change with your artistic sensitivity.” he said at the meeting, where 62 important names from the Turkish world of art were present.

Among them were İbrahim Tatlıses, Bülent Ersoy, Seda Sayan, Sertap Erener, Fatih Kısaparmak, Erol Evgin, Ferdi Tayfur, Nükhet Duru, Kayahan, Orhan Gencebay, Arif Sağ, Mustafa Sandal, Yavuz Bingöl, Zerrin Özer, Kenan Doğulu, Emel Sayın, Neşet Ertaş, Kıraç, Kubat, Emel Müftüoğlu, Murat Göğebakan, Nilüfer, Bülent Ortaçgil, Nihat Doğan, Onur Akın, Sinan Özen, Safiye Soyman, Rojin, Mustafa Sağyaşar, Cengiz Kurtoğlu, Hakan Peker, Nuri Sesigüzel, Işın Karaca, Funda Arar, Zekai Tunca, Alişan, Şahin Özer, Ferhat Göçer and Teoman.

Following the establishment of the republic, the state policy was one of ignoring and denying differences. This policy persisted long thereafter. But Turkey in recent years has come to a point at which a more pluralistic approach has been adopted by the government towards the people. As a reflection of this change at the administrative level, the democratic initiative was given momentum by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) last year to elevate democratic standards and extend freedoms as well as to better comply with the contemporary understanding of human rights in the country.

PM Erdoğan meets with famous artists, including Emel Sayın (R), Muazzez Ersoy (second from right) and Orhan Gencebay (third from right) to support the government’s democratic initiative.

In order not to allow it to fall victim to political bickering, Erdoğan and his government embarked on an effort to broaden the appeal of the project and to make it supra political. Interior Minister Beşir Atalay previously had talks with leading academics and journalists while trying to determine concrete steps to be taken as part of the project. The prime minister’s meeting with artists was the most recent of such moves.

Erdoğan addressed the audience during the event and asked them to put their hearts into the initiative, which he believes will bring a much brighter future for Turkey. “I believe neither flying bullets nor political orations can suppress and draw limits to your tunes. You are the ones who will understand a mother’s scream the best. You are the ones to feel from the heart the pain of a youngster who gets shot and falls to the ground, no matter where he is. You have cemented our brotherhood through your songs and you will again be the ones who will ensure that this country will have brighter days,” he stressed. Participating artists echoed similar feelings after Erdoğan’s address and offered their support for the initiative’s success.

Bingöl said he did not vote for the AK Party but backs the government’s project. “My world view may not be the same as yours, but I support you in this matter. Please do not lose anything from your courage,” he said. Composer and lyricist Özdemir Erdoğan told the audience that his mother is of Armenian origin and that his father is from the Black Sea region, a multiethnic family composition which he said is very common in Turkey. “Differences coexisted here in this country peacefully for ages,” he commented. Commending current developments, leading pop music singer Özer stressed that she was, as an Alevi, very happy to see Turkey going in that direction, too.

Justice and equality were common aspirations at the meeting. While most participants drew attention to the fact that Turkey suffered enough because of domestic quarrels, they all called on everyone to unite in order to not allow another drop of blood to be spilled in the country.

Duru, Evgin and Soyman said the meeting was very positive and that they were satisfied with what Prime Minister Erdoğan had said. Having sat next to Kurdish singer Rojin, Özen said he wanted the country’s ability to hold differences together to continue. Rojin also left the meeting pleased. “Let’s sing our songs in every language altogether,” was her wish. Gencebay, Arar and Peker joined those who said pain would come to an end as the country becomes more united around common desires while there is a political will to translate this desire into concrete action.

The meeting, which became a venue for a sincere exchange of views and feelings, ended with pledges on both sides to take a more courageous and united stand against bloodshed.