Statement from Merve Özbey's side, who was targeted by the Mayor for not attending the concert.

The 40th Karabiga Priapos Sea Festival, organized by the Karabiga Municipality in the Biga district of Çanakkale, did not perform at the concert it agreed upon as part of the event. Merve Özbey, who showed her reaction to the Mayor Ahmet Elbi, made a statement through her lawyers.

"SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES WERE DETECTED WHEN THE CONCERT AREA WAS VISITED"

In the statement made by Merve Özbey's lawyers, videos of the places where they saw problems on the stage were published, and the following statements were included: "The necessity of making this statement has arisen due to the unfounded allegations and insulting speeches that have been occupying the public since last night regarding our client Merve Özbey. Our client, along with her team, came to the concert area in the morning to perform at the open-air concert in accordance with the agreement made with Alp Ajans Organization Company on 06/07/2024 at the stage belonging to Çanakkale Karabiga Municipality. Before the concert started, as usual before every concert, the technical team of our client examined whether the Technical Specification sent to the Organization company was complied with, toured the concert area, and identified some serious technical deficiencies that could cause serious accidents during the concert."

"WE HAVE EVIDENCE"

"As evidenced by all the details, photographs, and video recordings, some of the columns that support the stage were made of wood, some of them were broken and glued with adhesive tape, and some of them were stuck together with adhesive tape so that the columns could support each other. It is stated that the electrical cables were randomly suspended from the stage without any safety precautions, and only a few of the images regarding other discrepancies are presented to your esteemed citizens in the attachment."

"SHE DID NOT PERFORM ON STAGE TO PREVENT DISASTERS"

"In order to eliminate these issues and prevent possible accidents and disasters, our client contacted both the concert area officials and the Organization Company. It was stated that the concert would be brought to the promised state before the concert in order to ensure that the concert was carried out smoothly and that our citizens did not encounter any problems. Otherwise, it was stated that she would not be able to go on stage in order to protect the health of the society and its employees."

"THE SAFETY OF ALL CITIZENS ATTENDING THE CONCERT WAS ENSURED"

"Because our client has been involved in the music industry for years and in numerous concert organizations, including this organization, Technical Specifications have been sent to the organization companies, taking into account the safety of the stage crew as well as the safety of all citizens attending the concert. In this incident, serious violations were made by the organization company and the relevant administration, even though the issues specified in the Technical Specification were very clear."

"In this regard, our client, who contacted the authorized persons in order to eliminate the security gaps until the last moment and to realize a trouble-free concert organization, unfortunately had to leave the concert area with sadness because she could not see the results of her efforts. This is also her first inability to perform at a concert."

"WE WILL INITIATE LEGAL PROCESS FOR INSULTS AND DEFAMATION"

"Despite all these efforts, since last night, the accounts of the Organization Company officials and other third parties who try to suppress the crime, even though they know very well that they have come to this point with their own shame and faults, and do not hesitate to insult and withhold their words from our client's physical integrity and artist identity, are being followed one by one by our team. We would like to inform you, our esteemed Public, that all legal rights of our client will be defended to the fullest extent on a legal basis, and that a legal process will be initiated against all individuals who make statements contrary to the Turkish Penal Code and other legislation regarding our client and cause damage to her professional career with such insulting sentences and slanders."

MAYOR: WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE SHAME CAUSED BY MERVE ÖZBEY

Elbi, who criticized Özbey for not performing on stage, stated, "Merve Özbey's concert was canceled due to her not performing on the stage where her 27-member Darbuka Rhythm Group performed, citing 'security' reasons and leaving our city. The security of the people working on the stage and our people is provided by our security forces. We consider it a mental blackout that Merve Özbey, a singer, made such a decision in our city, which is a symbol of peace and security like Karabiga, and we see it as an injustice to our people who filled the concert area from early hours and waited for hours, especially our fellow citizens from Karabiga and many other places who came to our city as guests. We apologize to our people for the shame they caused, and leave it to the conscience of our citizens who filled the area from 7 to 77".