-
Media: Turkish singer Gulsen Colakoglu arrested after religious schools quip
Turkish local media reported that pop star Gulsen was arrested on Thursday (August 25) after an Istanbul prosecutor opened an investigation into charges of "inciting people to hatred and hostility" after a remark she made on stage about religious schools.
The singer-songwriter, whose full name is Gulsen Colakoglu, said on Twitter she had made a joke with colleagues during an April performance and apologized to anyone offended, adding her words were seized upon by some to polarize society, Reuters reported, the al-Arabiya English said.
Hurriyet newspaper and other media reported the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office launched the probe, and that the education ministry condemned the comments and opened its own legal process.
DHA news agency reported Gulsen gave a statement to Istanbul police, was transferred to a court and later arrested.
Turkish pop star #Gülşen has been arrested over her remarks about the Islamic Imam Hatip schools. She has later apologized.
— Burçin Tetik 🪬 (@burcin_ttk) August 25, 2022
She has been targeted for months because of her stage costumes and because she openly supports LGBTIAQ+ rights🏳️🌈
Meanwhile men who kill women walk free. pic.twitter.com/ruz9LHnqQ2
The number of Imam Hatip religious schools have risen sharply under President Tayyip Erdogan, whose ruling AK Party is rooted in political Islam and who has overturned decades-old restrictions on religion in the country, irking secularists.
Popstar Shakira faces trial over alleged $14.7M tax fraud in Spain
Critics say he has bent the courts to his will to crack down on dissent and free expression, charges the government denies.
The state-run Diyanet organisation, or Religious Affairs Directorate, has seen its budget and public influence grow in recent years, prompting charges that Erdogan is using religion to boost his ratings ahead of tight elections set for next year.
Source: alarabiyaenglish
