A popular Turkish actor, well-known to international audiences, was forced to cancel his scheduled participation in a Greek theater production as he became a victim of Erdoğan’s regime censorship. The actor in question is Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu, star of Netflix’s miniseries Rise of Empires: Ottoman Empire, who was set to perform in Anestis Azas’ play The Dogs, reopening on April 25 at Kivotos Theater. However, he will not be able to travel to Greece, as he has been issued a travel ban from Turkey.

Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu in a scene from The Dogs.

The 31-year-old actor was arrested by Turkish authorities on April 3 on charges of discrimination crimes and inciting hatred and hostility due to his participation in mass protests following the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Specifically, his arrest was linked to a social media campaign calling for the boycott of companies aligned with Erdoğan’s government and an initiative advocating a total halt on purchases and payments on April 2 in response to the arrest of 301 students during recent mass demonstrations.

Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu has starred in Netflix series and films.

“Boycotting is a form of protest that falls under the framework of freedom of expression, the dissemination of thought, and the right to assembly and demonstration, as guaranteed by our Constitution. It is explicitly protected under Articles 25, 26, and 34 of our Constitution,” he wrote in a post on X, which he accompanied with photos from the protests he participated in alongside his Turkish theater group.

These acts of resistance, which the Turkish government labeled as “sabotage against the country,” led the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office to launch an investigation, resulting in the arrest of 16 people, including Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu. His arrest sparked widespread reactions from fellow artists and ordinary citizens alike. He was eventually released but under strict conditions, including a travel ban preventing him from leaving Turkey.

Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu as Mehmed the Conqueror in Netflix’s Rise of Empires: Ottoman Empire.

Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu’s most famous role is that of Ottoman Sultan Fatih Sultan Mehmed, known as Mehmed the Conqueror, in Netflix’s Rise of Empires: Ottoman Empire (2020). He has also starred in the Netflix film Kin, the acclaimed Greek play The Democracy of Baklava by Anestis Azas, and several popular Turkish TV series.

His prosecution is not an isolated incident, as freedom of expression—especially artistic expression—remains under close scrutiny and, at times, outright suppression in Turkey. However, his recent arrest has amplified voices worldwide in opposition to censorship. Among those who publicly expressed their support for the actor was the team behind the Greek play The Dogs, in which, unfortunately, he will not be able to perform this time.