Movie Theater Protestors Intervened By Gas Bombs

On Sunday, while protesting against the demolition of historical Emek Movie Theater in downtown Istanbul, a massive group of demonstrators has been intervened by police with gas bombs and cannoned water. Police detained four protestors - who were released this morning.

The protest was attended by several movie actors and directors including Costa Gavras, Erden Kıral, Ezel Akay, Onur Ünlü, Tuncel Kurtiz, Ahmet Mümtaz, Taylan, Cem Davran, Derya Alabora, Can Bonomo, Rıza Kocaoğlu and Serra Yılmaz.

Demonstrators demanded that the demolition of the movie theater to be stopped immediately and the establishment of the building as cinemateque - as the public way it deserved to be.  

Departing from Taksim Square in downtown Istanbul, hundred of activists, directors, actors and cinephiles marched across Istiklal Avenue to the steps of Emek Movie Theater building. Willing to check out the building, protestors were confronted by police barricades at the street entrance on the ground that the street was "dangerous for pedestrians".

Protestors longtime awaited for the release of police barricade - which yielded no results. After protestors' attempt to surpass the barricade with slogans and dances, police intervened with gas bombs and cannoned water, which affected several passers-by and demonstrators.  

Following the intervention, police detained Özgür İpek, Hazar Berk Büyüktunca, Mehmet Ferit Aka and Berke Göl, a movie magazine editor. This morning, police released the four protestors.

On March 31, activists from Emek Bizim Initiative also occupied the movie theater and launched an alternative opening ceremony for the ongoing  Istanbul International Film Festival.

Gavras: “Demolishing this movie theater is a mistake"

Addressing to the protestor crowd on Sunday, director Costa Gavras said tearing down the movie theater would be a mistake with social and political implications. He reiterated that the movie theater should live as the way it used to.

Mehmet Ali Alabora, an actor from Turkey, said cities had their souls, sounds, emotions, artists, musicians and cineasts. "When we demolish a city's soul," Alabora continued, "culture and art dies too. All we have left is shopping malls then. We are screaming, but nobody hears us. Emek Movie Theater, hence the city of Istanbul, is ours."

In a statement, Renovators and Conservators Association claimed that the renovation project for the movie theater aimed to demolish its building rather than preserving it. (BK)

* Photo credit: Beyza Kural