Ban on music past midnight still continues despite normalization
Turks are enraged that the government is still keeping the ban on music past midnight in place, despite lifting many of the COVID-19-related measures. Musicians have pointed out that the move proves that the ban was never a COVID-19-related precaution and was always "completely ideological."
Duvar English
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on March 2 announced although many of the COVID-19-related measures have been lifted, the ban on music broadcast after midnight will still continue.
"There is no decision taken by the Scientific Committee regarding the ban on music. I think it will be lifted in the near future," Koca told reporters following a meeting of the country’s committee on the fight against the virus.
Following Koca's announcement, citizens took to Twitter, saying this once again proves that the ban on music broadcasting is "completely ideological" and has nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Since the HES code application [the coronavirus contact tracing system] has also been lifted, they should announce one logical reason to continue the music ban after midnight for the pandemic. Let us say it because it doesn't make any sense: the music ban is a purely ideological and reactionary practice and should be lifted immediately," singer Gaye Su Akyol tweeted.
"If the mask mandate and HES code requirement are over, you should be able to sing your song until the time you want, my dear friend [referring to singers]. In such a difficult period, the music and entertainment sector's way should be cleared, and the decision of silencing music after midnight should be lifted! We are waiting for an urgent statement," singer Demet Sağıroğlu tweeted.
"Almost all the measures have been lifted, but the music ban continues after midnight. With the statement made today, we learned that this ban has nothing to do with the Scientific Committee," radiologist Prof. Dr. Güner Sönmez tweeted.
As part of coronavirus restrictions, in July 2021, Turkey had imposed a ban on music, live or broadcast, after midnight. The announcement had been made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had said at the time: “Take no offense but no one has the right to disturb others at night.”