Singer Sezen Aksu faces threats, complaint over song from five years ago

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A criminal complaint has been filed against Sezen Aksu, a renowned singer, for "degrading religious values" because of the lyrics of a 2017 song of hers.

Aksu released a new video clip for the song on the new year's eve. Two weeks later, pro-government social media accounts started a lynch campaign against the singer over the line "Say hello to the ignorant Eve and Adam."

After that, politicians, as well as pro-government NGOs and media outlets, targeted Aksu.

Mustafa Açıkgöz, an MP of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), wrote on Twitter that "Enough! End your attacks on our values under the guise of arts, music. You are out of fashion, our people are fed up with people like you!"

Murat Şahin, the head of the National Survival Movement, a pro-AKP group, announced that they will protest Aksu in front of her house at 8.30 today (January 17).

A group led by lawyer Mikail Korkmaz filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. 

Renowned cleric Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü also targeted the singer, calling her "an ignorant person who doesn't know about God's word."

Several pro-government news outlets, including Yeni Şafak and Yeni Akit, reported the events as "Sezen Aksu insulted religious values."

After announcing support for Aksu, singer Mustafa Sandal was threatened by Şahin, who said, "They now put forward Mustafa Sandal. We will go to Aksu's door tomorrow and we will come to you for a drink the next day." (TP/VK)