Actors Union demanded for arrested Izmir Yenikapı Arts Theater actress Nazlı Masatçı to be released and for all pressure against actors, actresses and theater plays to be revoked.
Masatçı has been sentenced to 1 year and six months of imprisonment due to “making illegal organization propaganda” due to her performance during a press statement she participated in at the theater building in December 2015 to protest detainments. The actress was arrested on January 30th for the execution of her sentence, which was approved by the Court of Cassation, and was taken to Izmir Women’s Closed Prison.
Another lawsuit was filed against Masatçı due to the play “The Overcoat” by Nikolai Gogol they performed during the demonstration organized in 2010 to demand rights of conscientious objection as well as the release of arrested conscientious objector Inan Süer. Masatçı and other actors/actresses have stood trial due to “alienating the public from military service” with the performance; the actors were sentenced to six months of imprisonment each and the announcement of the sentences were deferred. Masatçı’s lawyer Kamil Ağaoğlu announced that following the final sentence for 1 year and six months, this additional six-month imprisonment sentence will also be effective. Izmir 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will hold a retrial in March. The court will either announce the imprisonment sentence or reverse it.
05.02.2019
bianet.org