The journalists and citizens in Gaziantep, who stated that they wanted activities and services that would benefit the society instead of concert and festival that are incompatible with the spiritual values, beliefs, and customs of the people, addressed to authorities.

Concerts and festival-like events organized recently by the municipality and other institutions in Gaziantep attract the public's reaction.

Journalist-author Hamza Mercanoğlu said that he did not find festivals aimed at entertainment as right and said that such activities should be performed in a way that is more appropriate to the customs and traditions of the people.

Mercanoğlu said, “We are passing through a very serious danger to the country. We are in war from near and far. There are operations against PKK/PYD at there are cyber wars. We have just got over from a coup and occupation attempt and the danger hasn’t passed yet. At this moment, there is a serious struggle with the FETO organization both nationally and internationally. I do not think it is appropriate to have festivals for this kind of entertainment in such a period.”

Mercanoğlu stated that bringing artists with a huge budget to the concerts and festivals is not correct, he said that calling the artists to the city for the ‘10th International Antep Pistachio Festival Culture and Art Festival’ caused serious reactions.

“This money given to the artist would be better if to be invested”

Mustafa Ademoğlu, who reacted strongly to the concert events organized by the municipalities, said, “These artists do not come with little money. The works in the outskirts of the city are very few. The money given to the artists is better invested in the works.”

Ahmet Zülfü Bars stated that such organizations are not necessary for an environment where many problems are experienced.

“They do not address the problems of pistachio and farmers”

Peanut producers Mehmet Yılmaz witnessed the first peanut festival by expressing that the presentation of hazelnut in the Black Sea, reminded the deputies made.

Yılmaz said, “We have two ministers in Gaziantep, and there are so many deputies and ministers in the region. They do not express the problems of the pistachio and the farmers. They did not tell the value of the pistachio. They do not drive to the market. The artists invited to win the society. It would be better if the budget is given to singer to give farmers.”

“This money needs to be spent on the public”

Halil Kılıç, who expressed that the activities of concerts and festivals resulted in moral corruption, said: “These artists come with huge budgets. We do not know how much the municipalities give them. They do not enlighten the people at this point. The money given to the artists is not good. These money should be spend for people. There are unemployed people. I find these kinds of things unnecessary. And besides my home is in the center of Antep. It is still in the garbage and filth. When it is a wind we close the doors and the windows. Instead of wasting money with these activities, they should spend money for services.” (İbrahim Koçyiğit - ILKHA)