In the third week of March 2025, a wave of protests swept Turkey after the arrest of the popular pop singer GülÅŸen, who had posted remarks about the government that prosecutors deemed insulting to the president. The move, part of a widening crackdown on speech, transformed the country’s music community into the unlikely heart of a political movement.
Musicians, from indie acts to some of the biggest stars in Turkish pop, took to the streets of Ankara and Istanbul, performing at spontaneous concerts that drew thousands. The gatherings, at once celebrations and acts of defiance, were met with heavy police presence, and several artists were detained and released in the following days.
The protests were a striking illustration of how pop culture had become a flashpoint for political expression, and they echoed similar movements in the region, where artists had emerged as unexpectedly central figures in political resistance. The events of late March left Turkey’s creative community both energised and anxious, and they underscored how quickly a single arrest could turn a summer of concerts into a season of confrontation.