Turkish influencer detained on religious contempt, obscenity charges

A Turkish influencer, Fatma Soydas, is facing pre-trial detention in Istanbul on charges of "contempt for a religion that represents part of the people" and "disseminating obscene images." Soydas, who has 285,000 followers on Instagram, denies the charges.

Soydas gained popularity in March after participating in a Ramadan chant on a TV program hosted by a well-known Turkish theologian. This program is associated with the government but has also faced criticism for its content. In May, she faced backlash for offering paid content to her followers, earning thousands of euros in the first hour.

The specific image that led to her arrest on Tuesday, ordered by the Ankara Prosecutor's Office, remains unclear. However, the influencer stated on Instagram that AI-generated images depicting her in provocative attire or kissing another woman were circulating online, suggesting these false images may have prompted the complaint.

In the context of Turkey's secular society, such images might not be considered "obscene." However, their inclusion of the hijab, the Islamic headscarf worn by devout women, could be controversial. The charges of "showing contempt for a religion that represents part of the people" have increasingly been used in Turkey in recent years against comedians or critics of Islam, despite the country's secular status and lack of a blasphemy law. Both this charge and the "disseminating obscene images" charge can carry up to three years in prison. The latter has also been invoked against female artists and singers in Turkey for attire previously considered normal.