Mabel Matiz is one of Türkiye’s most prominent gay pop stars, and prosecutors are seeking to indict him on obscenity charges linked to his latest music video because it features a scene showing two men dancing together.
The clip for Ha Leyim includes a scene of people dancing at a traditional wedding. Gradually, the other dancers become tired and fall to the ground until only Matiz and another man remain dancing. The two men do not physically touch one another.
Prosecutors argue that the scene breaches acceptable standards and are seeking to put Matiz on trial. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of between six months and three years, as well as a fine. Prosecutors contend that concerns relate partly to the presence of two men dancing together and the way they move their arms and hips.
Matiz, whose real name is Fatih Karaca, denied the allegations when questioned by prosecutors on 21 August.
“Two people looking at each other and dancing together is not a crime,” he said, adding that they could be looking at one another with love, anger or resentment.
It is the second time the singer has faced obscenity accusations. In 2025, he was charged over the lyrics to his song Perperişan, with the country’s Family and Social Services Ministry seeking to have the song blocked, arguing it could threaten public order, public health and family values.
Matiz was acquitted in May 2026 after a judge found prosecutors had failed to prove the song met the legal threshold for obscenity.
The latest legal action comes amid broader concerns about the treatment of LGBTIQA+ communities in Türkiye. Rights groups say a campaign promoted under the slogan “My Family Is Safe” has resulted in arrests, raids on community organisations and legal action against journalists who report on LGBTIQA+ issues. Local publications have also reportedly been shut down.
Homosexuality is legal in Türkiye, but President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and members of his government have increasingly criticised LGBTIQA+ organisations, describing them as a threat to society.
