Murat Abbas is one of 106 people who were arrested along with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in the early hours of March 19th, 2025 in an operation devised by the government.
Letter from Murat Abbas, general manager of Kültür.Istanbul
04.04.2025
I would like to start by apologising to you all about my terrible hand writing. Your messages have given me strength, energy and love. I am incredibly happy. It might sound a little cliché, but I am so glad to have you. Although I don’t know them personally, I would also like to extend my love and respects to the youth and our dear people who are standing in solidarity with us.
Don’t ever worry about me being here. I’m good, great even. I want to reunite with you, my city and country as soon as possible in order to serve you and them with even more determination. We will organise the greatest festivals and events together, we will open the best bookshops together. I haven’t forgotten about my promise to open the world’s biggest bookshop in Istanbul! We will also open brand new venues together. Together, we will make sure that our children, youth and people can have access to culture and arts. I love you all. Don’t forget about my birthday on the 5th of April.
My love and respects,
Murat Abbas
İSTASYON editions EN 