Turkish Trans Actress Meli Bendeli Arrested on 'Obscenity' Charges

In Turkey, well-known transgender actress Meli Bendeli was arrested on September 6 on charges of publishing “obscene” materials on social media. According to Turkish media reports, the investigation, initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Kızılcahamam (Ankara province), led to simultaneous police raids across five provinces, resulting in multiple detentions.

Authorities allege that the actress created locked, paid-subscription accounts to distribute explicit videos and images. Following her interrogation at the police department, a court ordered her pre-trial detention. Three other individuals involved in the same investigation were also arrested.

In court, Bendeli denied the obscenity charges, stating that her posts were just glimpses of her daily life and did not contain explicit nudity. The actress emphasized that she was forced to monetize her social media content due to discrimination: after her transgender transition, she was no longer offered roles in film and theater, depriving her of the ability to earn a living through her profession. Before her coming out, she gained widespread fame for her role in the popular Turkish TV series Çukur (The Pit) and had won prestigious acting awards.