Turkey Ministry of Family and Social Services files complaint against influencer

The Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services has filed a criminal complaint against social media influencer Ersan Gülmez, also known as E. D., following his announcement that he would sell the socks he wore during a Fenerbahçe-Liverpool football match for $10,000.

Gülmez claimed the proceeds from the sale would be donated to children under state protection. However, the Ministry stated that linking children to the sale of used socks and using the Ministry’s official social media accounts to turn the event into a spectacle is unacceptable. The Ministry also clarified that the foundation mentioned in the influencer’s donation receipt is a separate non-governmental organization and is not affiliated with the Ministry.

The Ministry requested the removal of the content and access blocking, alleging that the posts could be evaluated under Article 301/1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns the “openly insulting the State of the Republic of Turkey.” The Ministry emphasized its commitment to legal and administrative measures to prevent the use of children for personal image building and to protect the reputation of state protection services.