Supporters of Turkish government’s radical Islamist ally attack state theatre play

A group from the radical Islamist party HÜDA-PAR targeted the play "My Wife's Husband" staged by the state theaters in Diyarbakır, claiming it was “immoral.” The group gathered in front of the theater and chanted religious slogans.

The new poster of the play (L) with the altered title and featuring only the "wife" does not prevent radical Islamists to gather in front of the theatre (R).

Duvar English

In eastern Diyarbakır province, the play "My Wife's Husband" by Croatian writer Miro Gavran, staged by the Turkish State Theaters, on Dec. 24 was attacked by a radical Islamist group in front of the theater building on the grounds of being "immoral." 

An hour before the performance, members of the government’s radical Islamist partner Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR) gathered in front of the theater, chanting religious slogans and making a press statement.

The play, which uses satire to critique polygamy, tells the story of a woman with two husbands. The title was faithfully translated into Turkish as Karımın Kocası from the original and premiered in the city without alterations.

The original poster shows the direct translation of the title, featuring the "two husbands."

On Dec. 17, the Diyarbakır State Theater officially announced the play "My Wife's Husband" would be staged, sharing its poster and synopsis.

Just one day later, HÜDA-PAR's Diyarbakır Provincial Directorate publicly targeted the play, claiming, "This immoral theater play deliberately attacks our social structure and values. This Croatian writer's work mocks and insults our Islamic and moral values."

The radical Islamist party demanded the play's ban, stating, "Projects like these, which target society's moral values and attempt to normalize the immoral act of a woman living with multiple men simultaneously, are deliberately being implemented."

Following the targeting, the play's title and poster were altered across all official platforms. The Directorate of State Theaters, under the Culture and Tourism Ministry, listed the play on its official website with the new title "Marriage Comedy" (Evlilik Komedisi in Turkish).

The group gathered in front of the theater after the changes in the play.

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Topics HÜDA-PAR radical Islamists state theaters Diyarbakır play