Naz?m Hikmet to be remembered in Germany

Turkish poet and writer Naz?m Hikmet will be commemorated on the 114th anniversary of his birth with a large event in Essen, Germany, on Jan. 31. 

The Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu; artist and writer Zülfü Livaneli; actors Tar?k Akan and Rutkay Aziz; poet-writer Ataol Behramo?lu; journalist Nebil Özgentürk; writer Sunay Ak?n and producer Dilek Dündar are expected to attend the event along with a number of German politicians. Turkish band Karde? Türküler will give a concert at the event at the 7,000-person capacity Essen Grugahalle, which will be presented by Turkish theater actor Levent Üzümcü. 

Speaking ahead of the event, CHP Cologne Association President Günay Çapan said Turkish journalist Can Dündar was also invited to attend the event but cannot attend due to his continued arrest for an article.

"Can Dündar is at the same time the person who made a documentary on Naz?m. His documentary will be presented by his wife, Dilek. Also, she will sign Dündar's books," Çapan said. 

Dündar, editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet newspaper, and its senior editor, Erdem Gül, were arrested on Nov. 26 last year over the publication of footage purporting to show Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (M?T) helping send weapons to Syria. 

The fee for the event is 10 euros, said Çapan, adding that Livaneli would perform a few songs composed by Naz?m Hikmet's poems.In Photos: Security ops continue amid ruined homes in CizreThousands bid farewell to leading businessman Mustafa Koç at funeral in IstanbulIn Photos: Tanks roll through Cizre's ruined streets as operations continueIn photos: Turkey commemorates Rumi with 'Night of Union' ceremony in KonyaIn Photos: Ta?yaran Valley in Aegean region to become nature...