‘Sensitivities of the Nation’ Obstacle to Sıla Concert

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After the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that singer Sıla Gençoğlu would give a concert in İzmir on July 16 as part of its summer concerts, several social media posts and news reports targeting the singer have been shared on social media

On July 7, the pro-government daily Yeni Akit reported, "It has caused outrage that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has allocated a concert to Sıla, who openly made fun of the values of the nation, and, what is worse, the Ministry scheduled it on the anniversary of July 15 coup attempt. This has led to the comments that the Ministry has rewarded Sıla."

Several social media users have also shared messages, indicating that Sıla Gençoğlu supported Gezi Park protests in 2013, but did not attend the joint rally in Yenikapı, İstanbul after July 15.

Statement by Minister of Culture and Tourism

In response to these news and social media posts, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has stated on Twitter,

"Our state hears the voice of our nation, listens to it and does what is necessary. There is no question of that. The sensitivity of our nation is the sensitivity of ours. It is out of question that we turn a deaf ear to criticisms. Within this frame, we would like to bring it to the public attention that our July concert program will be revised." (DB/SD)