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.

Wednesday August 25 2021 11:36 am

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.