The accusation appears to be related to a video circulating on social media from an April Gulsen concert in which she joked about one of the musicians.
He “graduated from an imam hatip (religious school), which is the source of his perverted side,” she said.
Several Twitter users were seen sharing the video on Thursday with the hashtag calling for her arrest, saying it was offensive to associate school with perverts.
Garsen denies having committed the crime and is appealing for arrest, according to his attorney Emek Emre.
After being detained, Garsen shared a message on his official Twitter and Instagram, apologizing to “anyone offended” by the joke and saying it was twisted by “malicious people who seek to polarize our country.” rice field.
“I joked with a colleague I’ve worked with for many years in the business that it was published by people trying to polarize society,” she said.
“In defense of the freedom I believe in, I see myself being thrown towards the radical end that I criticize. Apologies to anyone offended by my speech in the video.” I will,” she said.
According to Anadolu, she later asked for her release in testimony, saying it was an “unfortunate joke” and that she had children and would come to court or the police station if necessary.
Garsen has been targeted by conservative groups in Turkey for her skimpy stage costumes and support for the LGBTQ community.
Although the Muslim-majority country is officially secular, it is highly polarized on issues surrounding secularism, religion, women’s rights and LGBTQ rights.
Imam Hatip’s school, which teaches religious studies alongside the Turkish curriculum, grew during the two decades that the conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) was in power. These schools are known for training young people to become imams and preachers. Like many of his AKP members, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended school.
Controversy in Turkey
Reactions to the arrest have come from ordinary Turks, celebrities and even political parties.
After her arrest, social media posts showed Grussen fans singing her song in solidarity at a packed football stadium.
Award-winning Anglo-Turkish novelist Elihu Shafak called for Gursen’s release, along with other cultural figures.
Iconic Turkish pop star Tarkan also posted on Twitter on Friday, writing, “This injustice against Gursen must end and Gursen must be released immediately.”
“Those who sexually abuse children, murder women, and rape women are prosecuted without arrest and sometimes released without trial, but when it comes to Gursen, they are quick to act. Our legal system, which ignores the corrupt, steals, breaks the law, slaughters nature, kills animals, uses religion as a tool for its own prejudices, polarizes society, Arrest with a single blow.
Turkish Finance Minister Dr Nurettin Nebati tweeted: It is targeted at our young people who study at our Imam Hatip School and I find it unacceptable. ”
Turkey’s main opposition leader, meanwhile, described the backlash against Gursen as a hoaxed controversy intended to “put our young people against each other.”
“For a long time there has been a wind of peace among young people with different lifestyles. Stay there, there’s more to steal and snap,” Kemal Kirikdaroglu wrote on Twitter.
Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections are both scheduled for early summer next year.
Source: www.cnn.com
