A coalition of Turkish actors have slammed the closure of theaters as the country mourns the Iranian president who they branded a ‘misogynist and bloodthirsty leader’.

President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, died in a helicopter crash over the weekend, prompting some nations such as Turkey to announce a period of mourning.

"We do not accept the declaration of national mourning for a leader whose hands are stained with the blood of countless innocents," the statement from the Long Live our Theater Initiative read.

Moreover, the group expressed significant concern over the impact of the mourning period on the cultural sector. "Our biggest worry is the cancellation of numerous art and entertainment events across the country under the guise of national mourning. It is unacceptable to stifle artistic expression with such bans," they argued.

The statement concluded, "Declaring national mourning for a misogynist and bloodthirsty leader not only tarnishes our cultural values but also disrupts the customary social life. Art is a social necessity, not merely an activity, and it is an indispensable element of our lives."