Actors suspended from City Theaters after failed coup attempt

ISTANBUL

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has initiated an operation at the City Theaters, suspending actors Sevinç Erbulak, Mahberi Mertoğlu, İrem Arslan and Arda Aydın and directors Ragıp Yavuz and Kemal Kocatürk as part of an investigation launched following the failed July 15 coup.

Kocatürk, who is known for his one man shows like “Orhan Veli,” “Ahmet Arif” and “Can Yücel,” announced the decision on his social media account.

“The reason [for the suspension] has been conveyed verbally but it is extremely funny,” he said.

Erbulak also made an announcement on her account, saying, “There is only one truth and it will be revealed one day.”

“I have been removed from my theater where I work hard for a quarter century. Our name has been ‘actor’ since the ancient Greeks. This is what we know and what we do. I hope this mistake will be corrected as soon as possible,” Erbulak said.