7.4.2013 İstanbul Beyoğlunda Emek Sinemasının kapatılmasını protesto eden; aralarında ünlü isimlerin de bulunduğu gruba, polis tazyikli su ve biber gazıyla müdahale etti. Bugün yapılan geniş katılımlı eyleme polis gaz ve tazyikli suyla saldırdı, dört kişiyi gözaltına aldı.

Police deployed water cannon and tear gas on April 7 to disperse a group of thousands, including Greek-French director Costa-Gavras and many actors, who had marched on Istanbul’s iconic Emek Cinema to protest the demolition of the historic building.

Police had already blocked off access to the side street where the theater is located, forcing protesters to remain on İstiklal Avenue, the heart of Istanbul’s entertainment area. Following a warning that the demonstration was unauthorized, police started spraying water at the group, as well as tear gas, according to witnesses. According to officials, the historical theater will be shifted to a higher story in the new construction, but critics say the plans amount to a destruction of the cultural landmark.

“It will be a mistake to close down Emek,” Costa-Gavras, best known for his political films, including “Z,” said at the protest. Mike Newell and Jan Ole Gerster were other international filmmakers at the protest, which took place on the second weekend of the Istanbul International Film Festival.But [Culture and Tourism] Minister Ömer Çelik, have you seen the renovation plans? Emek Theater will only be protected if its doors are open to the streets,”