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'Turkish Madonna' faces prison as Erdogan cracks down on entertainment industry just before elections

2022-09-30 19:22:01Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
'Turkish Madonna' faces prison as Erdogan cracks down on entertainment
Gylshen

Turkish pop star Gylshen (Gülşen), considered the Turkish Madonna, faces jail as authorities in Turkey step up efforts to crack down on the creators of pop music, which is gaining popularity. The crackdown is seen by some as an attempt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to appeal to his religious voter base as elections approach and young people express dissatisfaction with the economy.

One of the biggest stars of Turkish music, Gylshen, due to her music, clothing and support for the LGBTQ community, is widely known as the "Turkish Madonna".

But Gylshen ended up in court and prison after the publication of a private video, where she can be heard joking about religious schools.

"Gylshen has been targeted by Islamists for a long time, not only for the way she appears in her shows, for her clothes, but also for supporting the LGBTQ movement," Nazli Okten from Galatasaray University told VOA.

Gylshen's imprisonment caused outrage and prompted a national campaign for her release.

The US State Department expressed concern about her detention.

She was acquitted but faces prison if convicted on charges of inciting religious hatred.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a recent speech, supported the prosecution of Gylshen. With elections less than a year away and Erdogan remaining a candidate, observers say he may be looking to shore up support from religious voters.

Over the summer, Turkish authorities banned many music festivals, accusing them of corrupting young people.

"These festivals make a lot of money for the industry, not only for the artists, but also for the people behind the scenes. I know that 20 festivals have been canceled recently. For what? For the ethnic identity, the political view of the artist, or for the way a singer dresses?" asks Ipek Kocyigit, president of the Union of Musicians

Pop music festivals, often held in front of tens of thousands of people, have spread even to the most conservative regions of Turkey.

"These gatherings become a symbol of a different way of life, but at the end of the concerts people sometimes come out with slogans. There are such gatherings that, although they are not opposition gatherings, there is a kind of discontent spread", says Mrs. Okten from Galatasaray University

With elections expected next year and inflation nearing one hundred percent, experts say young voters pose the biggest threat to the Turkish president.

"An overwhelming majority of young people in Turkey now prefer a multi-party democratic system to an autocratic system with a strong leader, which is a good thing. The second piece of good news is that over 80% prioritize freedom of expression above all else," Can Selcuk of the Istanbul-based Turkish firm for Economic Research and Consulting told VOA.

Gylshen's trial begins in October, while prosecutors seek her imprisonment. Experts say that this would increase the support of Turkish President Erdogan's conservative base, but risks further isolating an increasingly disaffected youth as the elections approach./ VOA


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