Turkish queer pop star Mabel Matiz faces up to three years in prison over music video showing two men dancing
In early October 2026, prosecutors in Istanbul completed their investigation and filed an indictment against prominent Turkish pop singer Mabel Matiz (real name Fatih Karaca), who is openly gay. The musician has been charged under Article 226 of the Turkish Penal Code concerning “obscenity” in connection with the music video for his song “Ha Leylim” (“Oh, My Beloved”). If convicted, the 41-year-old artist faces between six months and three years in prison, along with a judicial fine.
According to a report by LGBTQ Nation and reporting by the independent Turkish news outlet Bianet , the indictment focuses on a sequence starting at the 3-minute-51-second mark of the video. Set against an open-air traditional wedding celebration, the scene shows guests resting on the ground as the groom removes his suit jacket and begins dancing face-to-face with Matiz’s character, who is dressed in a yellow suit. Prosecutors deemed repeated movements emphasizing the arms and hips, along with sustained eye contact between the performers, to be “obscene,” despite the fact that both men are fully clothed and never make physical contact.
Matiz firmly rejected the allegations of wrongdoing. During questioning at the Istanbul Palace of Justice in Çağlayan, the singer told investigators that two people dancing and looking at one another cannot constitute a criminal offense, regardless of whether their expressions reflect love, hostility, or hurt feelings. The performer maintained that the video is a work of cinematic art open to diverse interpretations, arguing that authorities are targeting him due to his sexual orientation. “I do not accept that criminal intent is systematically inferred from my work simply because of my identity,” he stated. Matiz remains subject to judicial supervision and an international travel ban, with the court set to decide whether to uphold or lift the restriction.
The prosecution comes amid a broader state-led campaign targeting Turkey’s LGBT+ community, championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration under the banner of the “My Family is Safe” initiative. In mid-September, Turkish security forces carried out coordinated raids on queer venues, civic organizations, and activists’ private residences across 12 provinces, issuing over 160 arrest warrants, while judicial authorities blocked access to dozens of independent media outlets and social media accounts.
Mabel Matiz is one of Turkey’s most celebrated contemporary pop artists, recognized as an accomplished songwriter and recipient of numerous national music awards. His repertoire blends Anatolian musical heritage with contemporary synth-pop and electronic arrangements. As one of the few high-profile figures in Turkish mainstream music to openly acknowledge his homosexuality, Matiz has repeatedly encountered regulatory censorship and opposition from conservative groups.
Previously, Urania reported on the initial prosecutorial inquiry into the “Ha Leylim” music video in August 2026, as well as an Istanbul court ruling in May that acquitted the singer of obscenity charges related to his 2025 release “Perperişan.” Additionally, the publication covered the court-ordered blocking of Turkish news outlet T24 over LGBT reporting and the launch of the nationwide ‘We Want Freedom’ campaign by civil society advocates.
