Turkish-Cypriot singer Işın Karaca was declared persona non grata by Greece upon her arrival at Athens International Airport on Good Friday. The singer was denied entry to the country and subsequently deported, a move she claims is retaliation for a controversial performance in Western Thrace two years ago.
In a series of videos posted to Instagram from the airport’s holding area, Karaca detailed the incident, describing the treatment as “absurd and insulting.” While her husband and daughter were permitted to enter Greece as tourists, Karaca was handed a document officially rejecting her entry.
The root of the controversy in Greece
The ban stems from a Summer 2024 event in Komotini, organized by the Minority Scientists Association. During her performance in the city’s main square, Karaca sang the “Izmir March” (İzmir Marşı), a nationalistic anthem celebrating Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s entry into Smyrna (Izmir) during the 1922 Greco-Turkish War—an event associated with the Great Fire and the destruction of the city’s Greek and Armenian quarters.
“I am being deported because in 2024, in Komotini, I said ‘How happy is he who says I am a Turk’ and sang that flowers bloom in the mountains of Izmir,” Karaca told her followers. “We came as tourists, but we are being treated clearly as enemies.”
Turkish-Cypriot singer defiant despite deportation
Despite the legal consequences, Karaca remained defiant. In a follow-up post, she doubled down on her actions, stating she has “no regrets” and would repeat the performance.
“I will say ‘Happy is the one who says I am a Turk’ until the end,” Karaca wrote, referencing the famous oath by Atatürk. “I am in love with the Republic of Turkey… I have sworn to live for the Turkish nation with great devotion and faith.”