“Kara Leke,” a play written by Associate Professor Dr. Rüstem Mürseloğlu, Head of the Department of Performing Arts at Istanbul Medeniyet University, and directed by Kubilay Erdelikara, will be performed in Antalya in commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the deportation of Ahıska (Meskhetian) Turks on November 14, 1944.
Organized by the Association of Volunteer Educators of Ahıska Turks and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the production aims to keep historical memory alive and raise strong social awareness among its audience.
Following its premiere in Ankara, which received great attention, “Kara Leke” was also staged in Istanbul and Bursa. Yahya Kemaloğlu, President of the Association of Volunteer Educators of Ahıska (Meskhetian) Turks, stated that after the Antalya performance, the play will also be presented in countries where Ahıska Turks reside, including Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
With its dramatic narrative and powerful performances, “Kara Leke” brings the painful deportation story of Ahıska Turks to the stage, creating an emotional bridge between the past and the present. The production also highlights the cultural influence of diasporas, one of the most important instruments of soft power today, aiming to preserve the memory of Ahıska Turks through the unifying language of art.