#FreeEzhel Call on Social Media for Arrested Rapper Ezhel

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Following rapper Ezhel being arrested on charge of “promoting use of drugs”, hashtag FreeEzhel has become TT on Twitter in Turkey in a short time.

Ezhel (28) released his Turkish rap album called “Müpthezel” on Spotify last year. Released on probation after being detained last month, Ezhel was arrested and sent to prison yesterday (May 25).

In a statement issued by KOVL, which Ezhel established together with Buggy and Dj Artz, it was stated that Ezhel went to the police station on his own will to depose and he was arrested by the court on duty.

Ezhel would take stage first in İstanbul with US rapper Wiz Khalifa on July 4, and at Sziget Festival in Hungary in August.

Ezhel’s latest interview was published on BirGün daily newspaper with the title “I become irritated with the authorities!”

Offense of promoting use of drugs is penalized with from 5 to 10 years in prison, according to the Turkish Penal Code.

Support by artists

In the wake of the arrest, a great number of artists, journalists and music writers including Moğollar, Serken Altuniğne, Yasemin Mori, Harun Tekin, Murat Meriç, Ceza, Derya Bengi, Amberin Zaman, Işıl Cinmen called for release of Ezhel via their tweets. (ÇT/HK/EKN/TK)