ISTANBUL - World-renowned Turkish pianist Fazil Say appealed to the government on Thursday not to be ‘afraid’ of artists after his works were removed from a state-funded orchestra’s repertoire.  The 44-year-old virtuoso, who has had many run-ins with the authorities, wrote an open letter to the government in which he denounced a ‘crackdown’ on artists. Say said his works had been removed from the Presidential Symphony Orchestra programme for the upcoming season.