Cool Rock and Roll Muslim Imam Disciplined in Turkey
A Turkish cleric who hit headlines as a "rocker imam," has been dismissed from his profession by Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs, or Diyanet, after co-founding a music band. Imam Ahmet Muhsin Tüzer will be forbidden from preaching in his small mosque in the village of Pinarbasi in Antalya because of his second love: Turkish rock music. Singing 'Anadolu' breaks a taboo:
In July, Diyanet launched the investigation over reports that the 47-year-old imam took stage in concerts and also returned two days late after paid leave to Romania, his wife’s country.
Tüzer’s band was previously allowed by Diyanet to perform concerts in Turkey and the United States.
Saudi Arabia had refused to grant Tüzer’s request for a visa ahead of a scheduled concert in the Persian Gulf country in 2015.
Tüzer put together a rock band named “FiRock” with his friends Doğan Sakin—the founder and guitarist of famous Turkish rock singer Erkin Koray’s Kramp band—and drummer İdris Tübcil. The band also released an album in 2014, combining rock and traditional sufi music.
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