17/06/2013 - German film-maker Fatih Akin appeals urgently to Turkish President Abdullah Gül

Following events on Saturday evening, June 15, in Istanbul, award winning German-turkish film director Fatih Akin (Head On, Soul Kitchen) has called on Turkish President Abdullah Gül in an open letter to stop the combat actions against the demonstrators in Istanbul. "I write to you to inform you about the events of the Saturday evening, because the Turkishbmedia have hardly reported at all about that," Akin stated. "On Saturday evening hundreds of civilians were injured in Istanbul once more by police power.“

In his open letter, the film-maker describes the dramatic events: "A 14-year-old youngster was hit in the head by a tear gas cartridgeand has suffered brain haemorrhages. He has been moved after an operation into an artificial coma and floats in mortal danger. Voluntary doctors who wanted to help the injured demonstrators were arrested because of terror suspicion. Temporary military hospitals were fired on with tear gas. The lawyers who were called to defend arrested demonstrators were also arrested."

The police actions in Istanbul sound as frightening as at the G8 Summit in Genova: The police fired tear gas cartridges in closed rooms in which children have stayed. The threatened and frightened Turkish news stations only showed irrelevant documentary films. The ones that tried to report about the events were browbeaten with high fines and other measures. A memorial service for Ethem Sarisülük who died during the demonstrations was also forbidden!

"Instead, an Assistant Secretary may come out and name all demonstrators terrorists who have appeared in the Taksim place. And you, honoured president, you are quiet!, criticises Akin. "Ten years ago you and your party competed with the promise to take a stand for the fundamental rights and civil rights of everybody in Turkey. I don‘t want to believe that you have abandoned your conscience in order to practice your power. I appeal to your conscience: Stop this madness!"