Boycott starts after Turkish writer defends national alcoholic drink 'rakı'

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

Popular Turkish crime ficton writer Ahmet Ümit has waded into the debate caused by Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç's order for a singer not to perform a folk song because it contained the word "rakı," tweeting his support for the drink but prompting a conservative reaction in the process.

"If you remove rakı from life, neither the joy of conversation, nor friendship, nor the evening, nor a full moon, nor love [will remain]... #direnrakı [#resistrakı]," he tweeted.

Ümit began receiving critism after the tweet, with some starting the campaign, "We are not buying Ahmet Ümit's books" (AhmetÜmitKitaplarıAlmıyoruz).

Arınç has been pilloried for ordering a singer last week not to sing the song "Vardar Ovası" due to its reference to Turkey's national drink, rakı.