Khaberni - Today, Thursday, the Turkish authorities sparked a wide wave of controversy after executing a new security campaign, which resulted in the detention of 22 well-known figures from both the artistic and media communities, among them the famous actress Beren Saat and her husband, singer Kenan Doğulu, as part of ongoing investigations related to the drug case, which is media referred to in Turkey as the "celebrity drug case".
According to Turkish media, the Anti-Drug Crime squads of the Istanbul Security Directorate conducted simultaneous operations targeting a number of artists, content creators, and celebrities, following arrest and bring-in orders issued by the competent judicial authorities. The detainees were transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration to complete investigations and take statements before being referred to the public prosecutor's office for necessary legal actions.
The list of detainees today includes prominent names in the Turkish art world, including Beren Saat, who enjoys widespread popularity in Turkey and the Arab world due to her roles in highly successful series, in addition to her husband, singer Kenan Doğulu, his brother, music producer Ozan Doğulu, the actor Enis Arıkan, Kurdish singer Berdan Mardin, singer Ayşe Hatun Önal, and content creator Kerimcan Durmaz, along with other figures.
These developments are part of a broader investigation initiated by the Turkish authorities since October last year to pursue networks suspected of involvement in consuming or trafficking drugs within artistic and entertainment circles.
Detention of artists and influencers
Turkey has witnessed over the past months a series of detentions and summons involving actors, singers, and influencers on social media platforms, as part of what the authorities describe as a comprehensive campaign to combat the spread of drugs and counter activities that threaten public health and community security.
The case has garnered wide interest within Turkey, given the fame of the names involved. Beren Saat is one of the most prominent stars of Turkish drama in the last two decades, while Kenan Doğulu is among the most famous Turkish singers and has represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest. Many of the detainees also have a significant following on social media platforms, which has increased the media and public interaction with the case.
Until now, the Turkish judicial authorities have not issued full details regarding the nature of the charges against each detainee, nor have they announced the outcomes of the investigations or whether formal indictment sheets will be issued against all suspects. Likewise, no official comment has been issued by the majority of the names involved in the investigations or their legal representatives.
The Turkish public is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the investigations in the coming days, while the authorities confirm the continuation of their campaigns against drug networks, amid expectations that the case will reveal more details related to the extent of this phenomenon within certain artistic and entertainment circles in the country.
