06/10/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
An indictment has been prepared against the singer whose song “Perperişan” was blocked from access and who faced a criminal complaint on grounds of “obscenity.”
Singer Mabel Matiz faces a prison sentence of six months to three years over his song “Perperişan.” Prosecutors found the singer’s defense unconvincing.
The song was first blocked from access on September 18 at the request of the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Shortly after, the Interior Ministry filed a criminal complaint against Matiz on the grounds of “obscenity.”
In its petition to the Ankara Criminal Court of Peace, the Family Ministry argued that “the song’s content could harm the family institution, negatively affect the mental development of children and young people, disrupt public order, and cause public outrage.”
Matiz gave his statement to the prosecutor’s office on September 22.
According to the news outlet Diken, the investigation has been completed and an indictment has been prepared against the singer.
The indictment accuses Matiz of “facilitating the publication of obscene materials” and seeks a prison sentence of six months to three years.
According to Anadolu Agency, the indictment claims that the song poses a threat in terms of “the protection of children” and “public order,” and includes the following statements:
“The lyrics of the song ‘Perperişan’ by Karaca (Mabel Matiz’s real name) indirectly arouse sexual desire and create erotic associations through physical and psychological metaphors. The lyrics include descriptions related to sexual intercourse, and these descriptions and expressions can be easily understood by everyone. The song was publicly shared on social media with the suspect’s consent and approval. No age restriction was applied to its release on digital platforms, and therefore, it poses a danger to public order and the protection of children. Publishing it on platforms accessible to children also constitutes an aggravated form of the offense attributed to the suspect. Although the suspect denied the charges, stating that the lyric ‘Diyo şeytan üstüne atla da sal kuşu hanesine’ (‘The devil says, jump on and send the bird to their home’) was meant to mean ‘sending a message to the home of the person he loves,’ when the song as a whole, and particularly these two lines, are considered his defense was not found convincing.”
What happened?
Mabel Matiz’s song “Perperişan” was targeted following complaints submitted through CIMER, Turkey’s Presidential Communications Center. The Ministry of Family and Social Services requested that access to the song be blocked.
In a statement, the ministry claimed that “the song’s content could harm the family institution, negatively affect the mental development of children and young people, disrupt public order, and cause public outrage.”
The song was subsequently banned at the ministry’s request.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior filed a criminal complaint against Matiz with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office under Article 226 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). The article, titled “Crimes Against Public Morality,” defines the offense of “obscenity.”
Responding to the case, Matiz said:
“I want to believe that our public order and general well-being are not so fragile as to be disrupted by a single song.”
Matiz added:
“I leave it to your pure hearts to decide what part I play in this story. As part of our most ancient cultural tradition of ozanlık (minstrelsy), I may well be both a witness and a storyteller. Finally, I want to believe that our public order and general well-being are not so fragile as to be shaken by a song. Amid these attempts to manipulate perception, I embrace with all my heart every fan whose mind or soul has been hurt.”
Tags: human rights, arts and culture, life, family, lgbti
