Ankara’s pro-Muslim Brotherhood stance after the June 30 revolution prompted many Egyptian entertainment artists to call for a boycott of Turkish television drama series, while others are calling for a separation of art from politics.

Ankara’s pro-Muslim Brotherhood stance after the June 30 revolution prompted many Egyptian entertainment artists to call for a boycott of Turkish television drama series, while others are calling for a separation of art from politics.

A political crisis was sparked between Egypt and Turkey because the latter regarded the June 30 revolution as a military coup. Egypt believes that Turkey adopts this position given its disparate support of the Brotherhood. The crisis however further took an artistic and economic dimension when a group of Egyptian moviemakers called for a boycott of Turkish drama series. A number of Egyptian satellite stations quickly joined and announced the suspension of Turkish drama series’ broadcasts, despite huge losses, making the issue a hot subject of controversy.

In favor of the boycott

“I am totally in favor of boycotting Turkish art productions, not only because of the stance taken by Erdogan regarding what is going on in Egypt and his open support of the Brotherhood, but also because those drama series do not address serious issues relevant to our society,” says veteran actor Izat Alaili.  He believes that those series have made the Arab audience keenly interested in trivial matters that are the product of a western culture, contrary to the customs and traditions of the Egyptians.

“All I can say is that those drama series do not deserve the tears we shed on them because their creators simply exploit Arab viewers by showing beautiful Turkish landscapes to attract tourists for the sole purpose of boosting the Turkish economy. So boycotting those drama series will be a political response to Erdogan’s stance and it will deal a blow to the Turkish economy,” adds Alaili.

Actress Ilham Chahine says that she was once a huge fan of Turkish drama series, acknowledging that those series have a special place in the hearts of Egyptians. However, Chahine regretted her attitude later on following Ankara’s attitude, which was in support of the Brotherhood. She underscores that she took a decision to boycott not only those drama series but also all Turkish products.

“I believe that boycotting Turkish art productions is the least Egyptians could do for their beloved country because those drama series have generated millions of dollars for Turkey and have been a key factor in reviving tourism there,” says Chahine. “Boycotting Turkish drama series will not affect viewers because there are more than enough Egyptian and Arabic drama series that address issues and topics relevant to our society. The Turkish people will be mostly affected and they will pay the price for the stance taken by their government.”

Veteran actress Samira Ahmad says she was once delighted by the popularity of Turkish drama series in Egypt over the past few years because Egypt receives any well-made art production with open arms, but Erdogan’s attitude made her in favor of the calls for boycotting Turkish drama series all together. Ahmad stresses that such a boycott is an act of patriotism.

“I know that the Egyptians deeply love Turkish drama series and they never miss an episode but the strange attitude of Turkey’s president toward the recent events in Egypt prompts us to sever all forms of relations with Turkey as a mean of exerting pressure on it to review its policy of supporting terrorism in Egypt,” says Ahmad. “I was going to co-star with Turkish actor Engin Akyürek in a new drama series because I believe in boosting artistic exchange between the two countries, but what happened made me change my mind and I cancelled the contract with him as a reaction to Turkey’s attitude and its unjustifiable interference in Egypt’s internal affairs.”

Huge losses

The boycott decision however will have considerable economic impact on the channels that air those drama series and may result in huge losses.

“We had to comply with the demands, raised not only by political activists and artists but also by ordinary citizens, because of our love for and loyalty to our country despite the fact that Turkish drama series generate millions in profit every year,” says Dr. Mohammed Hani, Editor-in-chief of CBC Network.

Hani believes that Turkish drama series not only have nothing new to offer to Egyptian viewers but also convey cultural values that totally contradict ours. The only thing that makes those drama series so popular in Egypt and the Arab world is the intense romantic storylines that do not exist in Egyptian productions.

“We buy more than ten Turkish drama series a year, which is an enormous number compared to other countries. I believe that no country can produce dramatic works that can rival Turkish drama series but the boycott decision will eventually be beneficial to Egyptian drama series and will give them an opportunity to be aired all year long and not only during Ramadan,” he says.

Art knows no boundaries

Many fans of Turkish drama series express reservations over the boycott decision. “What does art have to do with politics? Why do we always insist on mixing different things together?” Wondered Nirmin Hakim, a university student. “It is strange that some people see a boycott as an act of patriotism. I certainly do not concur with such opinions and I believe that it is a gesture expressive of Egyptians’ weakness because we are punishing Turkish television stars rather than Erdogan or other politicians who have adopted attitudes hostile to Egypt and its army. I am particularly stunned by the fact that the boycott calls have been raised by Egyptian artists who are aware that art exceeds all boundaries and has nothing to do with the game of politics.”

She hopes that Egyptian artists will withdraw their boycott calls and that Turkish drama series return to the small screen, given that they give Egyptian viewers things they do not find in Egyptian drama series; namely beautiful and exciting romantic stories, astonishing natural scenery and splendid decorations. All these elements make viewers eagerly await every episode, unlike Egyptian drama series, which show ugly slums, tarnish Egypt’s image and defame the Egyptians, according to Hakim.

Boycott is a term foreign to art

Although a large number of Egyptian entertainment artists and satellite channels have decided to boycott Turkish drama series, art critic Tarek Shinnawi rejects these calls. He believes that “boycott” is a term foreign to art and this is especially true given the fact that Egyptian art is deeply rooted and influential and that it has always received all types of European and American artistic works with open arms and without any discrimination or prejudice.

“Art, unlike politics, exceeds all boundaries and does not recognize political differences and that is why I refuse those odd boycott calls. I believe that the popularity of Turkish drama series should make us air them regularly on Egyptian and Arab channels instead of boycotting them. Those boycott calls only reflect fear amongst Egyptian TV stars as a result of the immense popularity of these series. Therefore, I invite those stars to change their mind and separate art from politics,” adds Shinnawi.