Artist Murat Germen was detained upon his return from abroad yesterday. After giving a statement to the prosecutor, Germen was released on 10th of April
Photographer and architect Murat Germen was detained at Istanbul Airport. It was learned that Germen, who was returning from abroad with his wife, was taken into custody around 7:30 PM on the charge of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility.” His lawyer stated that there is a confidentiality order in the case and they are currently unable to access any information about the content.
Speaking to T24, Germen’s wife, Sema Germen, said they had not yet learned the reason for the detention, stating, “We are currently at the Çağlayan Courthouse and waiting.” She further added, “He was someone who constantly collected information and documents. We were working together, especially on environmental issues and urban crimes. I think it might be related to that, but it’s just a guess.” Sema Germen also shared, “There is supposed to be a meeting with the prosecutor from the counter-terrorism unit. I got the case number, but the situation is not clear yet. For now, they are saying that a file has been opened on the charge of ‘inciting the public to hatred and hostility.'”
Germen was released after giving a statement to the prosecutor.
Who is Murat Germen?
Murat Germen is an artist, educator, and archivist based in Istanbul who uses photography as a medium for expression and research. Born in 1965, Germen completed his master’s degree in architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a Fulbright scholarship and was honored with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal.
Germen teaches courses on art, photography, and new media at Sabancı University. He has published numerous works in print and digital formats and has been invited as a speaker at many international conferences.
In his artistic practice, Germen focuses on social and ecological issues such as over-urbanization, gentrification, dispossession, environmental destruction, climate crisis, water rights, preservation of local cultures, and the right to the city. He is also interested in themes like cultural heritage, archiving, and personal and collective memory. Representation, simulation, historical narratives, and dominant structures are concepts he frequently questions. Germen has two monographic books published by Skira (Italy) and MASA (Turkey). His works have been featured in over a hundred exhibitions in countries including the United States, Germany, Japan, France, India, Iran, and Australia. His works are part of significant collections such as Istanbul Modern, Elgiz Museum, Toruń Contemporary Art Center, Benetton Foundation, Yapı Kredi Culture and Arts, Odunpazarı Modern Museum, and Müze Evliyagil.
