The Turkey-based Conference Center against Discrimination and for New Speech, Dialogue and Democracy hosted a discussion on discrimination in Turkish soap operas. According to Agos Weekly, among the participants were famous Turkish cinematographers Tomris Giritoglu, Gaie Boralioglu and Nilgyun Ones, who addressed the discrimination in Turkish soap operas and the involvement of other ethnic and religious groups.
Scriptwriter Gaie Boralioglu stated that it is very hard to engage representatives of minorities and brought up the Kurdish issue as an example. “This is the biggest issue, but it has never been presented in a soap opera. We can’t address the issue of religion, religious clashes and disputes over faith. For instance, based on the script of one of the Turkish soap operas, a boy has to introduce his mother to his girlfriend, who is an Alevi, but before the meeting, the girl asks the boy not to mention that she is an Alevi during the first meeting. This part was cut just two hours before the soap opera was aired.”
Turkish film director, scriptwriter and producer Tomris Giritoglu said the following in regard to discrimination in soap operas: “Sometimes I think what we did in the past was crazy. I have noticed that this country doesn’t like the Kurds, the Alevis or the Armenians in general.”
Scriptwriter Nilgyun Ones addressed sexual minorities, stating that the purpose of showing homosexuals in soap operas is to mock them.
Tomris Giritoglu considers the issue cowardice. According to him, productions and television companies are censuring themselves.
“Perhaps they attach too much importance to the issue. Productions and television companies should be braver. For instance, I would love to address the events that took place at Gezi Park, but it is impossible, I can’t even hint it.”
