12/06/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
Pro-government media reported that the Ministry of Culture canceled the concerts of artists including Mabel Matiz, Melike Şahin and Cem Adrian not only because they reacted to İmamoğlu's arrest but also because they defended LGBTI+ rights.
Journalist Timur Soykan wrote in his column in BirGün that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism allegedly canceled the concerts of artists who reacted to the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Soykan raised this allegation as follows:
"The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has effectively banned the concerts of artists including Yalın, Sertab Erener, Melike Şahin, Mabel Matiz and Cem Adrian, who reacted to the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, from performing in ancient city theaters. The ministry first sent a positive response letter to the organizers and then called the organizers and said, “These names are not allowed.”"
Following Soykan's article, media outlets close to the government, especially Yeni Akit, said that they welcomed the concert cancellations with joy. Yeni Akit also wrote that the reason behind the concert cancellations was not only the reaction to İmamoğlu's arrest, but also the defense of LGBTI+ rights by some of the artists.
Saying “There is no place for immoral concerts”, Yeni Akit targeted Mabel Matiz by reminding that Matiz unfurled the LGBTI+ flag at his concert in METU. Yeni Akit claimed that the reason behind the concert cancellations was the artists' “support for LGBT and various political posts in their concerts and social media accounts”.
The Ministry did not make any statement regarding the concert cancellations.
Mabel Matiz unfurled the rainbow flag at his concert at METU Devrim Stage in May to draw attention to the oppression against LGBTI+ people and carried the flag while singing his song. Matiz had previously been targeted by pro-government media, especially Yeni Akit, for defending LGBTI+ rights.
Tags: human rights, media, arts and culture
