Up to 10 years sought for two social media influencers on charges of ‘promoting drug use’

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul prosecutor has sought up to 10 years in jail for two social media figures on charges of “encouraging the use of drugs,” Turkish online newspaper Habertürk reported on Dec. 20.

The two social media influencers, Pınar Karagöz, who is known as “Pucca,” and Burak Aydoğduoğlu, who uses the nickname “Burry Soprano,” were detained in October. But following an interrogation they were released pending trial.

An indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that following the works carried out by the anti-narcotics branch office, Karagöz and Aydoğduoğlu were detected to have shared posts “promoting drug use.”

The indictment stated that Karagöz was “encouraging” her 1,072,000 social media followers to use drugs.

It further noted that Karagöz had in one of her posts said the people of Medellin province of Colombia were making a living by drug trafficking and thereby “encouraged” the use of drugs.

Aydoğduoğlu, on the other hand, is being charged because of a song he shared on YouTube, called “Mary Jane.”

The prosecutor’s office said that “Mary Jane” meant cannabis in Turkish slang, adding that posting such a song “overtly encourages” drug use.

The prosecutor’s office has demanded both suspects to serve five to 10 years in jail.