Another case that has brought the limits of freedom of expression in Turkey back to the fore is in the spotlight, following the arrest of influencer Fatma Soydas , who is particularly known on social media for her appearances wearing a Muslim headscarf. Turkish authorities proceeded to arrest her following a prosecutorial investigation into her posts on TikTok and Instagram , which they deemed may violate the law on the protection of religious values.
Soydas, known to her online followers by the username “fffatmaase_” , was arrested in Istanbul following a warrant issued by the Ankara General Prosecutor’s Office . After being brought before the judicial authorities, her detention was ordered, while the prosecutor’s investigation is still ongoing.
According to the prosecutor’s announcement, the prosecution is based on Article 216, paragraph 3 of the Turkish Penal Code , which concerns “public insult to religious values” , while the influencer also faces the charge of publishing obscene material .
Prosecutors have not clarified which specific post formed the basis of the prosecution. However, Turkish media reports that the microscope found photos showing Soydas kissing another influencer , as well as images revealing her legs , which caused strong reactions in conservative circles.
For her part, she claimed that the images in question were staged and that some had been created or modified using artificial intelligence , rejecting the accusations made against her. So far, however, her claims have not affected the course of the legal proceedings.
Along with her arrest, the 5th Peace Court of Ankara ordered the blocking of access to her social media accounts , where the controversial posts were hosted. The decision is part of the measures taken by Turkish authorities to remove content they consider to violate applicable law.
The authorities’ stance was publicly defended by Turkish presidential advisor Oktay Saral , who described the actions of the judiciary as completely justified and launched a fierce attack against those who, in his opinion, insult religious faith.
As he stated, “those deviant mindsets that try to promote insults against our faith with cheap and disgusting content should know that Turkey is not a country where enemies of religion can roam free,” giving the political stigma with which the government deals with similar cases.
Fatma Soydas’s arrest is expected to spark a new round of debate both within Turkey and internationally, as it brings back to the fore the age-old dilemma between the protection of religious symbols and freedom of expression on social media. At the same time, the prosecutor’s investigation continues, while the final judgment on the case will now belong to the Turkish courts.
