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The İstanbul 11th Penal Court of First Instance has accepted an indictment against the pop singer Gülşen, who has been put under house arrest because of a joke she made about religious schools.
Gülşen is charged with "provoking the people into hatred and hostility," for which she may receive a prison sentence of up to three years.
In the 48-page indictment prepared by the Press Crimes Investigation bureau of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, there are 702 plaintiffs, including the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM).
"Statements provoking the public"
The indictment says the singer's words provoked "a part of the public against another that has different characteristics in terms of social class."
The prosecutor's office said it had also considered that the video showing Gülşen's remarks were shared on social media by many people with negative comments, and reports that many graduates of the religious schools had filed petitions of complaint against the singer.
Gülşen's words led to "clear and imminent danger against public security," the prosecutors alleged, demanding the singer be sentenced.
What happened?• On August 25, pro-government media outlets and social media accounts began to circulate a video excerpt from an April 30 concert of Gülşen, where she joked about a a member of her band, saying he was "a pervert because he is an imam-hatip graduate." • The imam-hatip schools are religious schools training Muslim clerics and preachers. Many senior government officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are imam-hatip graduates. • Senior government officials condemned Gülşen over her remarks. • Prosecutors quickly opened an investigation, with the singer being detained and brought to the courthouse. A judgeship ordered her arrest for "provoking the people into hatred and hostility." • In her testimony, she said it was an "unfortunate joke" and demanded her release. The court ruled for her arrest. • On August 29, Gülşen was released to house arrest. • Gülşen has long been targeted by pro-government circles because of her support for LGBTI+ rights and stage costumes. |
(AS/VK)
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