Khaberni - The Turkish art scene was shaken after the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office announced the opening of extensive investigations into a case related to drug use, involving several of the leading stars of singing and drama, including actresses Demet Evgar and Ozge Ozpirincci, and the famous singer Hadise Açıkgöz, alongside other prominent names in the art scene.
The Public Prosecutor's Office, represented by the Office for Combating Drug and Economic Crimes, stated that it had initiated an extensive investigation in cooperation with the Gendarmerie Command in Istanbul, during which 19 well-known figures from the world of art and media were summoned to hear their statements and take blood and hair samples for necessary laboratory analyses.
The list of summoned names includes: Erim Derici, Hadise, Demet Evgar, Ozge Ozpirincci, Berrak Tüzünataç, Berge Akalay, Metin Akdülger, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Kubilay Aka, Ceren Moray, Faiza Altun, Duygu Ozaslan, Zenit Sali, Dilara and Engin Polat, in addition to the sisters Derin and Deryn Talu, and Zeynep Aral.
The Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the process is not an arrest operation, but an official summons in the context of the investigation, pointing out that there is a judicial decision on confidentiality of the information, which currently prevents disclosure of the case details.
The artists were transferred in the afternoon hours to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Istanbul for medical examinations, before they were allowed to leave after completing the procedures.
In the same context, the lawyer of singer Erim Derici stated that his client "has no relation whatsoever with the use of any prohibited substances, and she has not even smoked cigarettes for over a year," emphasizing that the investigation is routine and that the test results "will confirm her innocence," he also mentioned that the defense team had not yet been informed of the details of the accusations due to the secrecy imposed on the file.
In the same context, the lawyer of Dilara and Engin Polat stated that her clients "do not know the reason for their summons," explaining that the investigation was based on an anonymous report, and that previous test results confirm "they are free of any drugs."
She added in media statements that the procedure "is not an arrest but merely listening to testimonies and taking samples only."
On another note, the lawyer of the artist Zenit Sali stated that his client is abroad and will return to present her testimony later, confirming that she "has never smoked a cigarette in her life," suggesting her name was mistakenly included in the case.
The police station saw the presence of several close associates of the stars for moral support, where the actress Hatice Aslan visited her friend Demet Evgar, and confirmed that filming of their series was temporarily stopped due to the legal proceedings involving several of its stars.
It is worth noting that the case, which started with a limited investigation, quickly turned into an event that occupies the Turkish public opinion, after the leaked lists and photos of the artists heading to the investigation spread.
Despite the authorities confirming that the procedures "do not mean direct accusation or suspicion," the developments sparked wide debate on social media between supporters and skeptics, and the public is still awaiting the official analysis results, which are expected to settle the debate in the coming days.
