Istanbul authorities on Tuesday canceled concerts by two foreign rock bands, Slaughter to Prevail and Behemoth, after accusations of “satanism” were raised by Islamist commentators, reports AFP.
The Besiktas district governor’s office justified the cancellation, citing “public reaction” and the bands’ “incompatibility with our societal values.” As a result, the Zorlu Center, where the concerts were scheduled, was also prohibited from holding events until Thursday.
The opposition was notably bolstered by Yeni Akit, a newspaper with ties to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). It ran an article titled, “The Satanist Children of the Devil Are Arriving in Istanbul,” accusing the bands of spreading satanic propaganda and poisoning youth. It also noted that the bands had been banned in Russia and Poland for similar reasons.
Slaughter to Prevail, a deathcore band originally from Russia but now based in the United States, and Behemoth, a Polish death metal group, have faced similar controversies due to their dark imagery and themes. Yeni Akit emphasized that their lyrics and visuals, often depicting the devil, promote satanism.
In response, Slaughter to Prevail’s lead singer, Alex Terrible, denied the accusations in a video posted to Instagram. He explained that the claims were “completely not true” and stated, “I believe in God.” However, he acknowledged that the band could not oppose the Turkish government, calling the situation “very sad.”
This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions in Turkey between government-backed conservatism and the country's liberal or alternative cultural movements, particularly in music and the arts.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
