Turkish singer mabel Matiz Faces Legal Action Over Love Song Lyrics
A rising tide of censorship in Türkiye has ensnared acclaimed singer Mabel Matiz, who is now facing legal scrutiny over the lyrics of his recently released song, “Perperisan.” The case underscores a growing crackdown on artistic expression under the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The controversy began on September 5 with the release of “Perperisan,” which translates too “exhausted” in Turkish. The song, performed by the openly gay 40-year-old Matiz, explores a love story between two men through poetic imagery and metaphor. However, lines from the chorus – “I want to be exposed and placed on a pillow with him,” “Let them find me exhausted,” and “As they crucify me” – have been deemed “obscene” by the Turkish Interior Ministry, triggering a formal complaint.
According to the turkish criminal Code, Matiz now risks a prison sentence of six months to two years for allegedly exposing children “to images, texts or obscene words.” The complaint marks a new escalation in a pattern of legal challenges targeting artists and cultural figures in Türkiye.
The governmentS response extends beyond the initial complaint. the Ministry of Family has also requested that platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music block access to the song.As of today, though, the digital rights NGO Engelliweb reports that none of these platforms have complied with the request.
Matiz himself has defended his work, stating via X (formerly Twitter) that the song is “inspired by popular traditions” and utilizes a “malicious narrative style” familiar to his listeners. He emphasized the metaphorical nature of the lyrics and their connection to established artistic conventions.
https://twitter.com/mabelmatiz
this incident is not isolated. Since President erdogan inaugurated the “family decade” in May – with 2025 officially designated “family year” – a concerted effort to suppress artistic expression deemed to conflict with conservative values has emerged. The government has increasingly targeted works perceived to promote “LGBT perversion” or challenge traditional norms.
The Turkish musical group Manifest is currently under examination for alleged “obscene acts.” Additionally, the screenwriter of the popular television series Kizilcik Serbeti (“Cornwall Sorbet”) faced brief detention after a prosecutor accused them of “incentive to prostitution” based on dialog within the show. The High Turkish Audiovisual Council (RTUK) has also launched an investigation into Kizilcik Serbeti itself, prompting script revisions due to a storyline involving a relationship between a woman and her brother-in-law.
These actions have drawn condemnation from organizations like the NGO “We will stop feminicides,” with a representative stating that “political power uses censorship and oppression to impose its own lifestyle. He tries to silence the votes of women, LGBTQ+people, artists and dissidents.”
the tightening grip on creative freedom in Türkiye is raising concerns about the future of artistic expression in the country. The case of Mabel Matiz is the latest example of a troubling trend, were the defense of “family values” is used to justify increased pressure on the cultural scene.
Despite the intimidation, Matiz and his colleagues appear determined to continue creating without self-censorship. The music platforms have, for now, resisted calls to remove the song. The melody of love, it seems, has not yet been silenced – even am
