Reactions are coming through following interior minister Ýdris Naim Þahin statements. The minister basically said that the BDP is the other face of the PKK, though hinting that indeed three million voters are actually supporting a "terrorist organization". The statements caused outraged and tension rose further when the minister added that "terror can be supported by artists with their work".

Here some of the reactions.

Painter Bedri Baykam: This kind of an expression by the interior minister means that all kind of truths related to democracy have been burnt in a wasteyard in this country. In the process of so-called ‘advanced democracy’, Turkey continues to draw reactions by imprisoning professors, journalists and leaders of mass organizations. The announcement of a ‘new democracy package’ by the Interior Minister already raises the question “What else will happen to us”. This announcement has already revealed the astonishing context of the new package. We expect the Interior Minister Mr. Günay to make what necessary at the council of ministers. Should we happen to experience the disappointment like the one we experienced while protecting the monument of humanity, we will demand the minister’s resignation or his announcement as to ‘which subjects have the right to be addressed’.

Author Ýnci Aral: I was startled and afraid when I first read the statements by Mr. Þahin. I thought that we will no more see good days as the control and pressure is now imposed on all areas including art, literature and poetry. I gave away to despair in the face of these expressions.

Author Ýpek Çalýþlar: We are not strange to terrorist hunting in poetry, novel, painting and songs. It is possible that Mr. Þahin found the speech of a minister of a military coup period in his drawer box and read it loudly, thinking that it was a ‘wonderful recipe’. However, what is the reason for the imprisonment of all generals who are accused of military coup? If so, release them and arrest us so that everything ‘could become normal’.

Author Hakan Günday: Þahin’s expression isn’t statement in relation to the administrative regulation. This is a world-view which absolutely considers thought and art as a threat. A view that is entirely blind!

Director Özcan Alper: This is a a desperate situation. These kinds of definitions for terror prevent people from expressing their ideas. I am personally unable to understand how someone can perform terror by writing articles.

Poet Yücel Kayýran: The fact that the state hasn’t considered poetry as an enemy for a long time is a consequence of the fact that poets are recently annoying the state. While assigning supporter poets to read poems at the ministry of national education, the state seems to be preparing to arrest some others. The point that we shouldn’t overlook here is that the state is for the first time declaring poets as an enemy.

Director Hüseyin Karabey: the minister is making so many statements that he is at the same time preparing to say that “I didn’t mean that”…He both speaks softly but carries a big stick and talks about freedoms. Kurds didn’t exist earlier according to them, while there are ‘good and bad Kurds’ now. Free artists are the insurance of a society and they are supposed to be natural opponent. Artists criticize those who tyrannise under the cover of freedom when they come to the power. Should artist manage to be the voice of the society, the people may not feel a need to express themselves in other ways. The public may decide to express themselves in other ways if even artists are prevented from expressing themselves. As of that point, it will not make any difference whether you call them as terrorists or freedom fighters…