A group of intellectuals and art critics held a protest action in Izmir, criticizing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for calling the monument to Armenian-Turkish friendship “monstrous”.

“The Prime Minister showed disrespect to the monument by Mehmet Aksol and caused bewilderment among the intellectuals. Erdogan should take back his words and apologize, otherwise disrespectful attitude towards art and freedom of speech will not remain without response,” the intellectuals said in a statement, Haberoku reports.