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Legal investigation of singer Mabel Matiz in Turkey

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2026-08-21 13:50 UTC → 2026-08-22 06:20 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an ex officio investigation into Turkish singer Mabel Matiz (Fatih Karaca) regarding his song and music video ‘Ha Leylim’. Authorities are examining the lyrics and visual content under Article 226 of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns the crime of obscenity. Following the announcement, an access ban was reportedly placed on the music video on YouTube in Turkey. During testimony at the Istanbul Justice Palace, Matiz denied the allegations, stating the song is a work of art and that the music video was intended to depict traditional Thrace weddings. He defended scenes featuring two men dancing together, arguing such depictions are part of “art, cinema, and literature” and do not constitute a crime. He also expressed frustration regarding the systematic interpretation of his works through the lens of his identity, questioning if similar scrutiny would be applied to other artists. Following the investigation, Matiz has been issued a ban on traveling abroad. This follows previous legal challenges for the artist, who was recently acquitted of obscenity charges related to his song ‘Perperişan’ after a court ruled that the legal elements of the offense had not been established.

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