Turkish-Cypriot Singer Denied Entry to Greece Over Nationalistic Performance

Isin Karaca caused contention successful Greece’s Komotini. Credit: Cembayoglu , CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikipedia

Turkish-Cypriot vocalist Işın Karaca was declared persona non grata by Greece upon her accomplishment astatine Athens International Airport connected Good Friday. The vocalist was denied introduction to the state and subsequently deported, a determination she claims is retaliation for a arguable show successful Western Thrace 2 years ago.

In a bid of videos posted to Instagram from the airport’s holding area, Karaca elaborate the incident, describing the attraction arsenic “absurd and insulting.” While her hubby and girl were permitted to participate Greece arsenic tourists, Karaca was handed a papers officially rejecting her entry.

The basal of the contention successful Greece

The prohibition stems from a Summer 2024 lawsuit successful Komotini, organized by the Minority Scientists Association. During her show successful the city’s main square, Karaca sang the “Izmir March” (İzmir Marşı), a nationalistic anthem celebrating Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s entry into Smyrna (Izmir) during the 1922 Greco-Turkish War—an lawsuit associated with the Great Fire and the demolition of the city’s Greek and Armenian quarters.

“I americium being deported due to the fact that successful 2024, successful Komotini, I said ‘How blessed is helium who says I americium a Turk’ and sang that flowers bloom successful the mountains of Izmir,” Karaca told her followers. “We came arsenic tourists, but we are being treated intelligibly arsenic enemies.”

Turkish-Cypriot vocalist defiant contempt deportation

Despite the ineligible consequences, Karaca remained defiant. In a follow-up post, she doubled down connected her actions, stating she has “no regrets” and would repetition the performance.

“I volition accidental ‘Happy is the 1 who says I americium a Turk’ until the end,” Karaca wrote, referencing the celebrated oath by Atatürk. “I americium successful emotion with the Republic of Turkey… I person sworn to unrecorded for the Turkish federation with large devotion and faith.”