Imam hatip schools are religious schools that have been booming in Turkey over the past twenty years.
The 46-year-old pop singer is suspected of inciting hatred and hostility because of the comment. She was arrested at her home by the police, had to appear in court and is in pre-trial detention.
In particular, President Erdogan’s Islamic ruling party AKP reacted furiously to Gülşen’s remark during the concert. “Targeting part of Turkish society with the accusation of perversion and trying to divide Turkey in that way is a hate crime and a disgrace to humanity,” said AKP spokesman Ömer Celik. Ministers also reacted angrily.
The secular opposition party CHP stood up for the singer. Party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu called on young people to vote in the next elections in such a way that artists like Gülşen can no longer be jailed. Football fans of the club Fenerbahce sang a song by Gülşen en masse during a match in solidarity.