08/05/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
The final hearing in the obscenity case against Mabel Matiz over the song "Perperişan" was held. The Ministry of Family and Social Services requested punishment, while the court ruled for acquittal.
The final hearing in the obscenity case filed against Mabel Matiz over the song “Perperişan” was held today at Istanbul’s 54th Criminal Court of First Instance. The Ministry of Family and Social Services requested that the artist be punished, while the court ultimately acquitted Matiz.
According to MLSA, Matiz did not attend the hearing, while Matiz’s lawyers and a representative of the Ministry of Family and Social Services were present in court. The hearing started an hour and a half late.
Responding to the prosecutor’s opinion seeking punishment for the artist, Mabel Matiz’s lawyer Efsun Türker said: “The opinion is essentially based on a Court of Cassation ruling. We had submitted that ruling as part of our request for the indictment to be returned. The ruling contains a rather general definition and includes assessments regarding democratic society. After the prosecution’s statements, we would have expected them to request our client’s acquittal.”
In the defense statement, Türker added: “In the petition we submitted, we also referred to works by poets such as Necip Fazıl Kısakürek and Cemal Süreya. While songs with much heavier content are played in cafés, bars, and even weddings across different cities, prosecuting this song does not appear sincere. The report prepared by the Board for the Protection of Minors from Harmful Publications should have been drafted by experts. However, we see that there is no expert member on the board. Considering all these factors, we request our client’s acquittal.”
“A ruling here will affect an entire culture”
Another lawyer for Mabel Matiz, Dilek Gürsan, said in the defense:
“Everyone in this courtroom knows very well that Anatolia has never openly expressed its emotions; it has always symbolized them. We all listened to these folk songs—who among us was harmed by them? Therefore, there is no actual harm that has emerged until today. Your Honour, this court is now faced with the possibility of criminalizing this heritage. We believe this will not happen. A decision issued here will affect an entire culture. In short, we request our client’s acquittal.”
After the lawyers spoke, the representative of the Ministry of Family and Social Services requested that Mabel Matiz be punished in line with the prosecutor’s opinion on the merits of the case.
The court ruled to acquit Mabel Matiz.
What was in the indictment?
The indictment argued that the lyrics of the song “indirectly incited sexual desire, contained erotic connotations through physical and emotional metaphors, and included depictions of sexual intercourse.” It claimed these depictions could be be understood by everyone and that broadcasting the song without any age restriction posed a danger to children.
The indictment sought a prison sentence of between six months and three years for Mabel Matiz on charges of “facilitating the publication of obscene material.”
During the first hearing, the judge had asked Mabel Matiz, “Was this song written for a man?” Matiz responded: “I find this question upsetting and hurtful. You would not ask this question if an arabesque singer had sung it. Anyone can sing for anyone.”
Tags: human rights, media, arts and culture, lgbti
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