Singer in Turkey under investigation for alleged lewd lyrics in a song
In a recent turn of events, popular gay singer-songwriter Mabel Matiz has become the latest target of Turkey's artistic censorship. The song 'Perperisan,' which alludes to Matiz's attraction to a young man, is at the centre of the controversy. Despite a request from the ministry to block the song on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music, it remains accessible.
Matiz, in a post, expressed his belief that public order and collective well-being are not so fragile as to be disrupted by a mere song. He claimed that his lyrics were being 'deliberately twisted.'
The Turkish penal code, Article 226, was cited as the reason for the sanctions against Matiz, as it criminalizes the dissemination of 'obscene' content. The jail term for violating this article can range from six months to two years.
Meanwhile, the popular Turkish soap opera 'Kizilcik Serbeti' is under investigation due to public complaints about its first episode showing the main character having an affair with her brother-in-law. Turkey's broadcasting watchdog, RTUK, opened an investigation into the series on Sunday.
This is not an isolated incident. Prosecutors opened an investigation into the girl band 'Manifest' two weeks ago on charges of 'obscenity' over their dance routines. The investigation was initiated due to the band's actions violating public decency, modesty, and moral norms, with the potential to negatively influence children and young people.
Interestingly, it is not uncommon to find frequent sexual references in traditional Turkish folk songs. Matiz's post claimed that his song was a love story told through metaphors, drawing on the tradition of Turkish folk literature.
In a seemingly related move, the Turkish authorities have increased sanctions on artists and a TV production company as part of 'Year of the Family.' Series screenwriter Merve Gontem was detained a day after the investigation was opened, allegedly over an unrelated matter.
Matiz's YouTube channel has nearly 1,000,000 subscribers, a testament to his popularity. As the situation unfolds, it raises questions about freedom of expression and artistic creativity in Turkey. The authorities prosecuting artists and a TV production company in recent weeks are not explicitly named in the search results, but such cases typically involve government or judicial bodies responsible for enforcing laws related to public order or media regulation. The laws or rules being potentially violated may include restrictions on freedom of expression or related cultural policies, but no specific legal provisions or authorities are detailed in the provided sources. The search results mention general legal principles such as Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights protecting freedom of expression, which can be relevant in cases involving artistic censorship or prosecution.
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