20.08.2025 03:00
The artist Müjdat Gezen, who is under investigation for the crime of "inciting or insulting the public to hatred and hostility" due to the expressions he used on his personal YouTube channel, gave a statement to the Istanbul Police Department's Security Branch. It has been reported that in his statement, Gezen said, "The words I used in the section that is the subject of the investigation were said for humorous purposes."
The veteran name of the theater and cinema world, Müjdat Gezen, was summoned to give a statement due to the remarks he made a year ago in a program published on YouTube with journalist Ayşenur Arslan. It was stated in the investigation file that Gezen's statements were evaluated within the scope of the accusation of "inciting the public to hatred and enmity."
WORDS BROUGHT TO JUDICIAL PROCESS
The 82-year-old artist participated in a conversation lasting about 10 minutes in the program called "Bizim Ev," prepared and presented by Arslan. In the program, topics ranging from the use of the Turkish language to social structure, from male-female relationships to daily life were discussed. However, after a year has passed, Gezen's words became the subject of a judicial process.
The starting point of the investigation was Gezen's statements made in the program: "In Islam, a deceased person is buried with their mother's name. Because there is a saying in Anatolia; your mother is definitely your mother, but your father may or may not be your father."
HIS STATEMENT WAS REACHED
In Müjdat Gezen's statement at the police station, it was learned that he said, "The YouTube account 'Bizim Ev' belongs to me. The words I said in the part that is the subject of the investigation were made in a joking manner. There is no provocative or derogatory aspect of these statements towards any particular group. The statement made in the program, 'There is a custom among Muslims, when someone dies, they are buried with their mother's name, do you know the reason? Because there is a saying in Anatolia that I love very much; 'your mother is definitely your mother, your father may or may not be your father, isn't that right but guaranteed' is actually a humorous expression of the saying of our Prophet Muhammad, 'Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.' My statement here is meant to exalt the women of my country. I do not accept the accusation against me," he stated. After giving his statement, Gezen left the police station with his lawyer.