Ferman Akgül loses lawsuit filed against Redd and Aylin Aslım

A verdict has been reached in the 300 thousand lira non-pecuniary damages lawsuit filed by Ferman Akgül, the lead singer of the band ‘maNga’, against Redd band members Doğan Duru and Güneş Duru, as well as artist Aylin Aslım, alleging that they subjected him to a lynching campaign by portraying him as part of a political entity.

Neither Ferman Akgül nor Redd band members Doğan Duru and Güneş Duru attended the hearing held at the Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance. Both parties were represented by their lawyers at the hearing.

Taking the floor at the hearing, Ferman Akgül's lawyer requested that the lawsuit be accepted.

The lawyers for the defendants, Doğan Duru and Güneş Duru, requested the dismissal of the case.

The court ruled for the dismissal of the case.

Announcing its decision, the court ruled to dismiss Ferman Akgül's lawsuit, with the reasoned decision to be announced later.

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

According to the lawsuit filed at the Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance, Redd band lead singer Doğan Duru made social media posts regarding artist Ferman Akgül, stating, "Setting aside the fact that there are people applauding those who take the stage at Teknofests and the lead singer of a band that does business while musicians are committing suicide during the pandemic. Hey, you are a band, didn't one of you spit in the man's face? Didn't one of you tell him what an artist is? Shame on you, brother.. Being everywhere like an invertebrate reptile."

Redd band guitarist Güneş Duru also posted, "One of the fake rock stars gets one or two million for a promotion, while the citizen lies underneath." Another artist, Aylin Aslım, posted, “I don't know how many millions he got, I can't know. The Turkish rock community. It's one that keeps its dirty laundry inside. But the person mentioned here is Ferman Akgül, the lead singer of Manga, who has been collaborating with the AK Party for years. While we have been on blacklists for more than ten years, why shouldn't this be known? Everything has a limit."

Stating in the petition that the three artists had launched a consistent and systematic smear campaign against his client, Akgül's lawyer Ufuk Kök said, "Throughout his career spanning over 20 years, my client has always kept his identity as an artist at the forefront and has never been part of any political entity. Following false allegations that my client, who posed with TOGG, received 2 million lira for this promotion, my client was lynched and the boundaries of his private life were violated.

Due to the attacks by the three artists, the peace and tranquility of my client and his family have been disturbed, his children, who are at a social development age, have been affected by this situation, and there is a possibility that they may be harmed in their social circles. My client has also become a target of social media, being subjected to insults such as ‘sycophant Manga’ and ‘pro-government band’.

My client's honor and reputation have been severely damaged due to the lynching campaign launched by the three artists by inciting the public to hatred and hostility in the public eye.

We want this to be protected. We request that the defendants, who caused my client, who feels great sorrow and sadness, to be targeted and booed as a political figure and subjected to discrimination, be ordered to pay 300 thousand lira in non-pecuniary damages," he stated.

News Source: İHA