A Widely Discussed Question from the Judge to Mabel Matiz: “This Question Is Heartbreaking”
The well-known singer Mabel Matiz appeared before a judge over allegations that the lyrics of his song “Perperişan” contain obscene descriptions. The artist is facing a request for up to three years in prison.
During the hearing, the judge asked a question that sparked widespread discussion, inquiring whether the song had been written for a man. In response, Mabel Matiz stated that he found the question sad and heartbreaking, adding that he believes songs can be sung by anyone and for anyone.
The famous singer, known by his stage name “Mabel Matiz” and whose real name is Fatih Karaca, is on trial on the grounds that the lyrics of “Perperişan” allegedly include obscene imagery and pose a risk to children due to the absence of any age restriction.
The trial began at the 54th Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance. Fatih Karaca attended the hearing as a defendant without detention, accompanied by his lawyers. It was observed that security measures were taken for the hearing and that Mabel Matiz was escorted out of the courthouse in a controlled manner, away from public view.
“I Did Not Write This Song with the Alleged Intention”
In his defense before the court, Fatih Karaca stated that he wrote the song approximately one and a half years ago and said:
“This song was included in the album of a French group. I wrote it with inspiration from Turkish folk literature. There is no meaning as exaggerated on social media. My artistic stance is clear. Children and young people are very important to me, therefore it is out of the question that I wrote this song with such an intention. I do not consider this song obscene. It is a song derived from folk music. The phrase ‘cici toy bebe’ refers to an adult individual. It reflects a bit of the Ankara dialect, and my intention was to describe someone who is young in spirit. In folk literature, ‘kuş’ means fortune and has various meanings, but it does not contain the meaning implied in the accusations. These are expressions describing the magnitude of a fearless lover’s love.”
“I Find This Question Sad and Heartbreaking”
The judge asked Fatih Karaca whether the song had been written for a man. He replied:
“I find this question sad and heartbreaking. If this question had been directed at an arabesque singer, you would not have asked it in the same way. I believe that my songs can be sung by anyone and for anyone, and I would like to emphasize this belief.”
During the hearing, the defense lawyers stated that the legal elements of the alleged crime had not been established and requested the acquittal of their client.
Report to Be Requested from the Board for the Protection of Minors
In its interim decision, the court ruled that the case be reported to the Ministry of Family and Social Policies due to the possibility of harm to children. The court also decided to request an expert report from the Board for the Protection of Minors from Harmful Publications to determine whether the song and its lyrics are obscene.
In order to complete the missing aspects of the case file, the hearing was adjourned until 27 March 2026.
Details of the Indictment
In the indictment prepared by the İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı, it was stated that the lyrics of the song “Perperişan,” belonging to Fatih Karaca, indirectly stimulate sexual desire, create erotic associations through physical and emotional metaphors, and include descriptions related to sexual intercourse that can be easily understood by the public.
The indictment also noted that the song was publicly shared on social media platforms with the consent and approval of the suspect, without any age restriction applied to the digital broadcasts, thereby posing a risk to public order and the protection of children.
Furthermore, it was stated that publishing the song on platforms accessible to children led to an aggravated form of the alleged offense, and that although the suspect denied the accusations in his statement, the defense was found insufficient when considering the song as a whole and the semantic coherence of the disputed lines.
Accordingly, the indictment seeks a prison sentence of six months to three years for Fatih Karaca on the charge of “facilitating the publication of obscene content.”
