Turkish rapper Şehinşah detained for 'insulting president'
Turkish rapper Şehinşah, whose real name is Ufuk Yıkılmaz, was detained on charges of insulting the president, he said on social media on June 5. Insult charges are widely deployed by Turkish courts in retaliation to criticism targeting the president and his government.
Duvar English
Turkish rapper Şehinşah, whose real name is Ufuk Yıkılmaz, was detained on charges of insulting the president, he said on social media on June 5.
"I was detained for insulting the president on my way home at the airport," Yıkılmaz said. "I can't keep track of the cases against me, I take one down and another pops up."
Yıkılmaz was also in court for a divorce in recent months, as his wife pressed charges against him in addition to a restraining order she obtained for six months.
"Wish me patience, that's all I wish (in general)," Yıkılmaz said.
Insulting the president and insult charges, in general, are commonly deployed by Turkish courts as retaliation against criticism of the government and the president.