In brief
Sozen, known for portraying a double agent, has faced backlash over social media due to costume controversies linked to the YPG militia.
Turkish actress Melisa Sozen has come under investigation by authorities in Istanbul after being questioned regarding her portrayal of a character in the French TV series "The Bureau," which aired in 2017. The 39-year-old star played a double agent who combats Islamist extremists, but her character's attire has sparked controversy, drawing accusations of "promoting terrorist propaganda" related to the Syria-based Kurdish militia YPG, which Turkey classifies as a terrorist organization. Reports indicate that following her return to Turkey from abroad, Sozen provided a statement to police but was not detained. She informed investigators that she was unaware her costume resembled that of a certain terror group and emphasized that the series has never been aired in Turkey, as reported by the DHA news agency.Sozen faced substantial public criticism on social media last August, prompting her to issue a rebuttal on Instagram. In her post, she clarified that the series does not celebrate any "terror organization," explaining that if it had, such claims would have arisen during its seven years of broadcast. "I do not accept the false accusations thrown at me," she asserted, highlighting that "The Bureau" is a widely recognized French crime series, not a covert project.With a career spanning 25 years in Turkish cinema and television, Sozen gained international acclaim for her role in the 2014 film "Winter Sleep," which was awarded the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes. While she insists she's hardened to online hostility, she expressed concern for younger individuals lacking a similar resilience in the face of digital harassment.This investigation comes amid heightened scrutiny and arrests in Turkey relating to Kurdish groups, emphasizing the complex interplay of media representation and political sensitivities in the region.
