Turkish court places influencer under house arrest over 'obscene' social media post

A Turkish court has placed influencer Merve Taşkın under house arrest on "obscenity" charges after a Valentine’s Day post. She was detained shortly after her post. Taşkın had previously been acquitted of similar charges related to obscene content.

Saturday February 15 2025 06:10 pm

Duvar English

A Turkish court on Feb. 15 placed influencer Merve Taşkın under house arrest after detaining her on "obscenity charges" over a Valentine’s Day social media post.

Teams from the Public Morality Bureau of the Public Security Branch detained Taşkın over her post and completed her processing at the police station.

Authorities transferred Taşkın to the courthouse. After questioning, the prosecutor referred her to the Criminal Court of Peace with a request for her arrest.

The court ordered house arrest as a judicial control measure.

Taşkın had offered a Valentine’s Day dinner for 400,000 TL for those spending the day alone.

After her post went viral, she noted that her followers reported her to the Presidential Communication Center CİMER, saying, “You’re reporting me to CİMER. I don’t think eating a meal is a crime. If they wish, we can also dine with the police.”

Taşkın was previously acquitted last year of charges related to “facilitating the publication of obscene content” on social media, which carried a prison sentence of six months to three years and a judicial fine.