Turkish pop musician Gulsen appeared in court on October 21, 2022, to contest her dismissal following claims that she incited hate and violence in her neighborhood by speaking out against Islamic Imam Hatip schools.
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The Turkish court decided to lift the singer’s earlier requisition that she sign in and out once a week at the neighborhood police station. The limitation on her international travel, however, will remain in place.
Gulsen described to the court throughout the trial how she was attacked by members of the public. She alleges that because of her dress, she has been lynched and beaten numerous times. Due to the cancellation of more than 50 of her performances, her reputation as a performer also suffered. She remarked:
All of this is my punishment for becoming Gülşen, I was verbally and physically assaulted numerous times as a woman, a wife, and a mother.
The 46-year-old will be excused from the hearings, according to court records. The following hearing is slated for December 21.
Gulsen left school to pursue a career in music
His full name is Gulsen Colakoglu (born Bayraktar). She was raised in Istanbul, where she was born on May 29, 1976. Arslan and Nimet, her parents, are the parents of three kids.
She attended Istanbul Technical University to study Turkish classical music after graduating from theremin Anadolu High School. During her first year of college, she began performing in bars and clubs all across Istanbul, but she struggled to match her studies with her excitement. The first year of Gulsen’s studies at the university was her last.
After that, the vocalist launched her career as a musician with the 1995 release of her debut album, Be Adam (Oh Man!). Her distinctive voice contributed to her rapid rise in fame.
But as quickly as the TV sensing board ruled the music video for “Sarşnm (my Blonde)” offensive, so did her popularity. Despite her turbulent career, Colakoglu has gained the nickname “Turkish Madonna” thanks to her blend of pop and traditional Ottoman music as well as her penchant for scandals.
What led to Gulsen’s arrest?
The musician commented a fellow crew member on stage on August 25 and implied that his “perversion” was caused by his attendance at hip school. As stated by the singer:
“I attended the schools run by Imam Hatip.” Where the perversion starts is there.
Following the release of footage showing her making this comment, they demanded her arrest. Despite having a religious base, the Imam Hatip school has been linked to numerous sex assault scandals, making it a sensitive issue in the country. There are rumors that this is a cover for several illegal operations using public funding.
She was held for five days for inciting hate and hostility despite protesting her innocence, and after that, she was given a 15-day home arrest sentence. Gulsen claimed that the two friends commented on fun. The performer said:
I didn’t act in a way that would incite animosity and hate among the populace. I didn’t want to criticize a group in society, a social class, or a third party.
Social media users were outraged by Gulsen’s detention, with many believing that she was the focus of a campaign because of her outspoken support for the LGBTQIA+ community and her liberal ideologies. For her offenses, she is currently serving a three-year prison term.
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