Popular Turkish singer Gulsen was arrested after being targeted by conservative groups over what she said was a joke she made about religious high schools during a concert.
Gulsen. Photo: Gulsen/Facebook
Turkish police on Thursday arrested pop singer Gulsen Bayraktar Colakoglu, best known as Gulsen, over a remark about a religious high school graduate that she made during a concert in April, which caused her to become a target for criticism by conservative groups.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said that Gulsen “incited people to hatred and animosity” with her comment.
During a concert in April, Gulsen called a religious high school graduate a pervert. She insisted in her testimony to the prosecutor that it was a “joke between colleagues”.
“A joke I made in the working environment was broadcast by people who aim to polarise society. I’m sorry that my words gave ill-intentioned people who want to polarise our country what they wanted,” Gulsen wrote on Instagram, apologising to anyone who was offended by her remarks.
The Turkish pop star has long been criticised by conservative circles and pro-government newspapers due to her stage costumes, music videos and public support for the LGBT community. Gulsen has sometimes raised LGBT flags at her concerts.
Bu gönderiyi Instagram’da gör
Pro-government media and social media accounts began to circulate a video excerpt of the remark at the April concert and this sparked critical reactions from conservative groups, government ministers and the Turkish Religious Authority, Diyanet.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office started an investigation and Gulsen was quickly arrested.
Critics said that the arrest of Gulsen was illegal and disproportionate.
“The arrest is being used as a punishment tool,” the Union of Turkish Bar Associations said in a written statement on Friday urging Gulsen’s immediate release.
Source link: balkaninsight.com
