Defy the dictators!

After years of performing in the one-man show "Only A Dictator", Baris Atay has been banned from taking to the stage in several Turkish cities.

In Ankara, he was personally told not to perform. In addition, the governors of the northern Turkish cities of Artvin and Hopa have officially banned the play. As has Kadikoy, one of Istanbul's largest and most populous districts. It has been claimed that his play could be a threat to public order and security.

The story of a dictator

"Only A Dictator" was written by Onur Orhan and is directed by Caner Erdem. Atay plays a dictator who struggles with an inner conflict. After the show, the audience is invited to form its own opinion about dictators.

So why has this play, which has been running for three years, suddenly been banned? "We haven′t really changed anything," Atay said. The play alludes to Turkey's present government under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Supporters of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) took offence, expressing their anger on social media. Atay said he thinks the decision to ban the play shows how much pressure Turkey's government is willing to exert on critics.

A political artist

Atay is known for his political activism and convictions. In 2015, he stated, "If there were a dictator, you wouldn't be watching this play."

When police prevented the play from being shown in Istanbul last week, Atay alluded to his 2015 statement, asking: "Do you accept that this ban means our president is a dictator?"

Atay has starred in several TV series and movies. He is a keen follower of societal developments and is not shy of criticising the government.

With almost 1 million followers on Twitter, he has considerable influence on social media. "Turkey is divided: there are those who do whatever the government says and those who question it," Atay said, adding that the former are exerting pressure on those with a more critical mindset.

Sentenced for insulting Erdogan

His critical attitude means Atay is regularly arrested — even when he's not performing onstage. Last year, he was even taken to court after Erdogan and his son complained about an article titled "Hey, Erdogan" that Atay had published in the newspaper Birgun. He was convicted of insulting the president and forced to pay a fine.

Under the AKP government, directors of state and city theatres have been replaced. Many artists critical of the country's political leadership have lost their contracts. Following the Gezi Park protests in 2013, numerous artists who began expressing their discontent were either dismissed from their jobs or felt obliged to move abroad. The state of emergency that was introduced after the failed coup d'etat in July 2016 compelled many to move to Europe. Baris Atay, however, chose to stay.

He said he believes that musicians, artists, theatre directors, authors and other creative types need to work together to bring about change in Turkey. Otherwise, pressure on critics will keep increasing. "If we are already too fearful today to say some things, we must realise that it will soon be impossible to say anything at all," Atay said. "This country will then no longer be one in which we can live."

Atay is adamant that he'll remain defiant and that he will find a way for people to see his performances. "I won′t ever leave the country that I love, just because some people have grown increasingly influential and are putting pressure on us," Atay said. "I will keep fighting leaders who undermine peace."

Gezal Acer

© Deutsche Welle 2018