Turkey condemns ‘orientalist’ event at Paris fair

Turkey’s Economy Ministry has vowed to pursue the punishment of those responsible for an “orientalist”-toned organization held at the Turkish pavilion in a Parisian textile fair, describing the activities as an “assault on Turkish culture.”

The pavilion’s use of clichéd figures such as a belly dancer and men wearing fez hats and smoking hookah at the “Who’s Next” trade show raised eyebrows over the weekend on social media.

The show opened at Paris’ Expo Porte de Versailles on July 4, in partnership with Turkey’s Association of Textile Exporters and Clothing, Istanbul (ITKIB) for the Spring/Summer 2015 season, in celebration of
Turkish design.

The Economy Ministry has issued a statement denying any involvement in the installation of the pavilion, saying the controversial activities were held by the main organizers of the fair and outside the knowledge of the Turkish representatives.

“It has been learnt that, with the aim of contributing to the promotion of our country as an honorary guest, some activities that have no relation to our country or our national organization were held by the fair’s main organizer WSN Development on July 4. These took place after the routine daily activities of the companies representing Turkey at the fair ended and after the fair’s official closure time,” the ministry said, in the statement released on July 7.

“Elements that don’t represent our country’s cultural assets, that offend our moral values, and that were presented as Ottoman were used at the so-called organization. We strongly condemn, which was aimed at humiliating our country and history,” the ministry added.

The statement...