Turkey’s Education Ministry has removed the name of world-famous Turkish pianist Fazıl Say from the draft curriculum of the music lesson in middle school, according to Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Zeynep Altıok.
Altıok has submitted a parliamentary question meant for Education Minister İsmet Yılmaz in which she asked why Say’s name was taken out of the draft curriculum of the music lesson and whether there are other such artists whose names have been removed from the curriculum.
Say has played with the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and others, and has served as a cultural ambassador for the EU. He is known for his anti-government stance and recently announced that he would vote against a constitutional reform package that will introduce an executive presidency in Turkey.
The reform package, which will strengthen the powers of the president and weaken Parliament, will be put to a public vote on April 16.