Turkish prosecutors have opened an investigation into alleged personal drug use by singers, actors and social media influencers in İstanbul, ordering them to give statements and blood samples, in a case that has sparked debate over optics.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said its Bureau for Smuggling, Narcotics and Economic Crimes is leading the probe into “the use of narcotic or stimulant substances.” İstanbul’s Provincial Gendarmerie Command took the suspects from their homes early Wednesday and delivered them for questioning and laboratory tests. Officials said there were no formal detention orders and that those summoned would be released after procedures.
Media outlets named 19 public figures called in for statements and samples: Dilan Polat, Engin Polat, İrem Derici, Kubilay Aka, Kaan Yıldırım, Hadise Açıkgöz, Berrak Tüzünataç, Duygu Özaslan Mutaf, Demet Evgar Babataş, Zeynep Meriç Aral Keskin, Özge Özpirinçci, Mert Yazıcıoğlu, Feyza Altun, Derin Talu, Deren Talu, Ziynet Sali, Birce Akalay, Metin Akdülger and Ceren Moray Orcan.
The Gendarmerie, a law enforcement force under the Interior Ministry that polices rural areas, carried out the pre-dawn pickups instead of the urban police. Some lawyers emphasized that their clients had already been invited to testify and denied wrongdoing. Ziynet Sali’s lawyer said the singer was abroad and would testify upon her return. İrem Derici’s lawyer said she was going to give a statement and had not been briefed on the case file.
The operation triggered immediate reactions on social media.
Journalist Cüneyt Özdemir described it as Turkey’s largest celebrity-focused drug probe in recent years and questioned why officials had highlighted the absence of detention while deploying gendarmerie teams for early-morning house pickups.
Writer and director Gani Müjde urged authorities to target traffickers rather than staging headline-driven sweeps of public figures.
Communications professional İnan Mutlu noted that blood testing has no link to the separate offense of “encouraging drug use,” which concerns lyrics or social media posts.
Burhanettin Bulut, a lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), questioned the choice of the gendarmerie, the timing and the focus on celebrities, many of whom he said are critical of the government.
In recent years prosecutors have pursued cases against artists over alleged “encouragement” of drug use in songs or social media posts. The current investigation, however, is focused on suspected personal use.
By Wednesday afternoon prosecutors had not announced any charges. Reports said those summoned were expected to give statements and samples and then be released pending review of the case file and laboratory results.
Article 191 of the Turkish Penal Code (Law No. 5237) criminalizes use, possession or acceptance of narcotic or stimulant substances for personal use, generally punishable by two to five years in prison.
However, in practice Turkish courts often suspend prosecution for up to five years, subject the accused to probation, treatment and regular testing, and drop the case if they comply — but violation of those conditions or repeated use can lead to opening a formal trial.