World-renowned pianist Say slams 'insulting Erdoğan' case against iconic Turkish actor

World-renowned Turkish pianist Fazıl Say slammed a lawsuit against iconic theater actor Genco Erkal on the grounds that the latter insulted President Erdoğan in a social media post he shared in 2016.

Duvar English

World-famous Turkish pianist Fazıl Say protested on Aug. 24 a lawsuit against iconic Turkish actor Genco Erkal on the grounds that he had insulted the president in a 2016 social media post.

Erkal, at 83 years old, is facing up to four years and two months in prison for a social media post where he questioned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's education status and criticized the presidential government system. 

Say shared a photo of Erkal on Aug. 24 in protest of the news, saying that the actor isn't alone and that he's a legendary artist, adding that the insult case against him was "ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS."

"I won't say 'shame on them.' I'll say 'We won't let you touch a single hair on our Genco!'" Say wrote. "Cowards! They should bow down in front of such a great artist instead of suing him. This is a disgrace and we've had enough!!!"

Say himself faced prison sentences and insult charges in the past, a common tool used by the AKP to reprimand persons who don't fall in line with the values of the Islamist-rooted government.

Erdoğan leads in presidential race, outperforms expectations Google excessively recommends pro-government media outlets Half of Turkish men own gun, says foundation THY dismisses pilot for opposing regulation on praying in cockpit Turkey lifts visa requirement for six countries Family left homeless after landlord increases rent by five-fold