16.11.2025 18:59
The master of Turkish classical music, Muazzez Abacı, passed away due to a heart attack she suffered in the USA. While allegations of negligence regarding Abacı's death have emerged, her daughter, Aslı Saba Abacı, stated, "After angiography, many people can experience such complications. Antibiotic treatment was started. My mother had an adverse reaction to that antibiotic." A funeral ceremony will be held for Abacı today at the AKM.
Preparations for bringing the funeral of Muazzez Abacı, one of the important figures of Turkish classical music who passed away due to a heart attack while in the USA, to Turkey are ongoing. Abacı's body was brought from Rochester, New York, where she passed away, to the America Diyanet Center in Maryland. Aslı Saba Abacı, Abacı's daughter, and her granddaughter Sera Anderson, who will accompany the body to Turkey, were also present at the Diyanet Center where family members of the late artist gathered.
"OTHER ORGANS WERE AFFECTED DUE TO THE COMPLICATION OF THE ANGIOGRAPHY"
Aslı Abacı stated, "We took my mother to the hospital two weeks ago due to a heart attack. After that, we were at the hospital early. An angiography was performed immediately. The heart vessel was opened. For a day or two, she was very well. She was quite good. However, due to the complications of that angiography, other organs were also affected. She could not recover. The kidney and heart could not agree in some way. After that, we had to transfer her to intensive care. But even while she was in intensive care, we were always in contact, talking. We never thought such a thing would happen. In fact, when we first went to the hospital, my mother said to questions like 'Should we do CPR if necessary, should we intubate?' 'No, my dear, I don't need such things,' she said. She was so full of life. In a way we never expected, she struggled a lot in the last two days. Unfortunately, we lost her when her heart started to fail," she said.
"MY MOTHER HAD A REACTION TO THE ANTIBIOTIC"
Regarding questions about whether the hospital was negligent in the incident, Abacı said, "Nothing done was intentional, of course. I just started to hear that many people can have such complications after angiography. Antibiotic treatment was started. My mother had a reaction to that antibiotic. They did everything they could. Everything was done. I also told my mother every day, 'Whenever you want, if you say I want to go home, we can go immediately.' She said, 'No, let's stay.' Of course, she struggled a lot for the first time. She said, 'This heart attack is very difficult.'"
"I WILL DELIVER MY MOTHER TO HER FATHER IN ANKARA"
Aslı Saba Abacı expressed her gratitude for the assistance provided by the American Diyanet Center and the Ministry of Culture regarding the arrangements for sending her mother's funeral to Turkey, saying, "I have been trying for two days to return to Turkey on the same plane. My mother's manager, Taner Budak, also followed closely from Turkey. We will come to Turkey tomorrow. A ceremony will be held at the Atatürk Cultural Center. After that, I will deliver my mother to her father in Ankara."
HER FUNERAL WAS BROUGHT TO ISTANBUL
Muazzez Abacı suffered a heart attack in the USA on November 5 while visiting her daughter. The artist, who underwent stent placement at the hospital, passed away on November 12 due to complications in her kidneys. After the necessary procedures, Abacı's body was brought to Istanbul from Washington at 3:30 PM yesterday by Turkish Airlines (THY). The funeral was then received by her family.
A FUNERAL CEREMONY WILL BE HELD FOR ABACI TODAY
A ceremony will be held today at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) for the master artist, and she will be bid farewell to her final journey.
Abacı's funeral will be buried at Cebeci Asri Cemetery after the funeral prayer, which will be held following the noon prayer at Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara on November 17.
Having appeared on many television programs and given hundreds of concerts, Abacı was awarded the title of "State Artist" by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 1998.
MUAZZEZ ABACI'S PASSING
Muazzez Abacı suffered a heart attack while visiting her daughter Aslı Saba Abacı in the USA and fought for her life in intensive care after being hospitalized. The news of Abacı's death was announced on November 12 by her manager Taner Budak. Budak stated on his social media account, "With great sadness, we lost our artist Muazzez Abacı on November 12, 2025, on her 78th birthday. She will always be remembered for her love, smiling face, and beautiful heart."
Budak had stated in a previous announcement on October 31 that Abacı underwent angiography due to heart problems the previous week and had a stent placed, and that the contrast fluid given during the angiography caused issues in her kidneys. He also explained that Abacı's kidneys were not functioning properly, causing her lungs to fill with fluid, leading to breathing difficulties, and that she was subsequently placed in intensive care.