Semiha Yankı's Kurban Bayram comment sparks Turkish social media backlash

Eurovision 1975 participant Semiha Yankı posted on X that she would not celebrate Kurban Bayram, stating “Bu bayram benim bayramım değil…”. The remark quickly generated a wave of comments and criticism across Turkish social‑media platforms, with many users accusing her of disrespecting the holiday’s religious significance while others defended her personal choice.

In response to the backlash, Yankı posted a second message asserting her freedom to dislike the holiday, saying “Sevmek zorunda değilim… Size ne kardeşim, ben sevmiyorum”. The exchange kept the topic trending on X and remained a focal point of public discussion in Turkey.