‘Son of a Whore’: Famed Pianist Flees Turkey After Tweeting That He’s an Atheist
- Posted on April 25, 2012 at 2:41pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Fazil Say is a world-renowned Turkish pianist and composer. But he’s also a potential theopolitical enemy who is fleeing his homeland after sharing his theology — or lack thereof — on Twitter. Russia Today (RT) claims that he’s been forced to leave (or that he, at the least, feels compelled to exit) Turkey following the admission that he’s an atheist on the popular social media platform.
RT’s version of the story claims that Say, 42, said he was forced from his native country in an effort to avoid jail after he was accused of “insulting religious values.” The offense is apparently worth of up to a year in jail under the Turkish legal system. While the nation is secular in nature, RT notes that there are still very strident laws governing the offense of religions. The Telegraph seems to confirm this account:
Fazil Say, a Turkish composer and pianist, has said that he is going to leave his native country and move to Japan after he was placed under investigation by the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office for “insulting religious values” and offending Islamic belief. His (alleged) crime? Tweeting that he is an atheist: “I am an atheist and proud to have said it loud and clear.” He also gently mocked the call to prayer (”The muezzin has recited the evenin azan in 22 seconds. What’s the rush? Lover? Raki binge?”) and reportedly said that since you get promised drinks and beautiful women for doing good deeds, Heaven sounds a bit like a pub or a brothel.
Here‘s an example of Say’s performance work:
As a result of his proclaimed atheism, AKP party leader Samil Tayyar apparently labeled Say a “son of a whore,” which showcases just how extreme opposition to non-belief is in the Middle Eastern country. In an interview with the Huffiyet Daily, a Turkish news source, Say is quoted as saying:
“When I said that I was an atheist, everyone insulted me and the legal authorities jumped on everything that I wrote on Twitter. I am perhaps the first person anywhere in the world to be the object of a judicial inquiry for declaring that they are an atheist.”
Say will be reportedly moving to Japan to avoid legal ramifications for his atheist comments and because he is disillusioned by the state of conservative Islam in the country.
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Hummmmmm
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 10:34amI think some people are confusing agnosticism with atheism
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 1:03amI’ve alluded to this before. I’ve flat out stated it.
I used to be an Assisted Living Manager. Could NOT trust my own staff to NOT steal the morphine drops for the dying-so I was on call at all hours for those who were dying. I can flat out tell you that the most cantakerous stubborn man STILL acknowleded a higher power. They died peaceful-they all ready told everybody all they needed to say in real life. Smug, sanctimonious people,…geeze! They spill their guts- all the way to illegitimate births and buried lives….they die HARD.
I know this post will go the way of most, but, I’m serious-EVERYDAY BE READY TO MEET YOUR MAKER.
Report Post »God Almighty
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 9:40amI’ve already met and love my makers- Hi Mom and Dad!
Report Post »Aix_sponsa
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 12:58am@Tandem2011
“Atheist? One who is certain there is no God is like someone declaring, like an ant, that no other planet carries intelligent life…like the ant? Many scientists aren’t that arrogant because they realize humans know next to nothing in relation to what need to know to fully understand our universe and the hidden dimensions still untapped by the human senses.
A declared atheist is the polar opposite extreme of the religious doctrinaire — they’re both cocksure about things outside their grasp.”
I’m a declared atheist. I don’t see the dilemma here. It is, simply, the lack of belief in god(s).
I lack a belief in deities. That doesn’t affect my ambition to learn more about “things outside our grasp.” If anything, it helps me understand more effectively; I’m not saying “GOD DID IT!!” when something unexplained arises.
Report Post »jaylew
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:36pm*******************Yawn********************* another boring Muslim story. Good grief can we discuss Methodists or Episcopalians or Baptists? I am totally bored of Islam. Move to France….they are on the verge of setting the Islamic movement on its poisonous proverbial pointed head….give it a couple more months….and NO you cannot wear a Burkah in the voting booth.
Report Post »Whirling Dervish
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:54pm@ Jaylew
Report Post »Lol, hey that will be a good variety of demonetization, however won’t fit their agenda. After all the NWO has a World War III to start, what better way to rev up the propaganda band wagon for the sheep.
762x51
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 9:35pmWhat a sissy. He should try being a Christian most anywhere in the world if he wants to experience religious persecution.
I don’t believe in Atheists.
Report Post »Aix_sponsa
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 12:45amHey, I’m an atheist, and I just wanted you to know that I exist.
Whew, glad I got that off my chest, proving that I actually have a place in the universe and all.
Report Post »eternalwolf777
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 9:44am@Aix_sponsa Nope… I don’t believe in you either. Despite what you say, I‘m going to dismiss the evidence and say you don’t exist. In fact, I’m going to create an elaborate theory to explain why the text written in your name spontaneously popped into existence. Yep, sounds like a plan to me.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:01amThere are no priests in foxholes.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 6:47pmWell, don’t come to America! The Talibangelicals are just as likely to behead you as are their Islamic Theocrat cousins.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 6:50pmJust so you know, if Social Conservatives ever manage to get “insulting religious values” turned into a crime anywhere here in America and then try to use it against me, when you come to arrest me, bring at least as many body bags as you have guns. I won’t go quietly.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 7:35pmYou are thousands or millions of times more likely to be shunned, pitied, ignored or “proselytized to” than beheaded.
But you keep up with your delusions & hold a pity party & I‘ll bring the world’s smallest violin :)
Report Post »Mrs.M
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 7:39pmLPHP, I am sorry you are so angry at people of faith. I don’t know what has happened in your life, but you need to know that the people who are being threatend ARE those of faith. You have it backwards.
Report Post »Bulldog2036
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 9:20pmThe insult here is that you and those of your ilk exist……just retreat back into your worm hole and play GI Jane with your pop gun…..
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:05pm@ Mrs. M:
I’ve got not the first problem with the EXISTENCE, as Bulldog 2036 put it, of people of faith. I want people of faith to exist, to live, love, laugh, worship whatever magic man you want from whatever holybook you want, wherever you want, whenever you want… right up to the point where you are attempting to use the power and authority of MY government to do it.
My right to swing my fists ends at the tip of your nose, and your right to proselytize ends at the point that it utilizes MY tax dollars.
@ Walkabout:
Report Post »I respect your right to BELIEVE that me and mine don’t face death on any given day for merely BEING who we are, but I think Bulldog 2036 just made lie of that claim.
Walkabout
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 10:35pmIs Bulldog 2036 a church goer much less a Christian?
I could be wrong, but then I have been the only white guy in a black fraternity. So that makes me somewhat unique & maybe a little special in ways both good & bad (delusional).
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 12:56amHonestly, this might come as a shock to you, so sit down and/or hold on to something….We really could give a sh*t.
Do whatever it is you feel you need to do.
Report Post »Tandem2011
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:38pmMuslims who trash “whores” to label people they want dead (like the famed pianist) are misogynists — haters of women. In fact, Islam’s damning flaw is its gaping sexism. Ironically, Islam spreads largely through breeding, using women as its vessel to reproduce countless radical misogynists. Look no further than the Taliban — who get their outrageous understanding of women by mostly watching pornography (as the women around them are shamelessly covered head-to-foot in burqas).
Report Post »xenophyle
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:23pmThis is what we can look forward to if the religious right in this country wins. Just sayin’….
Report Post »Tandem2011
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:45pmThe “religious right” in this presidential race were only represented by Rick Santorum who recently lost because a majority Republicans think he’s a divisive extreme. Mitt Romney as a Mormon, despite the Mormon Church’s past, is a fair-minded moderate at heart, who won’t hold women back. Not all Republicans are religious, as a good many are agnostic.
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 6:29pm@TANDEM2011
” who won’t hold women back”
… Wont hold women back? The right to choose is reason enough for women not to elect him.
Report Post »Teufel Hunden
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:55pmAn Atheist huh? He should find solace amongst his “Cross Hating” kind here. On a personal note, I wonder how these Atheists react to bright sunlight and garlic??? I also wonder what goes through their minds when they encounter a telephone or power pole??? Do they stop, drop and roll? Do they sue the phone or power companies?
Report Post »formidable_foe
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:21pmCan someone explain to me why The Blaze continues to run stories on athiests in the FAITH section of their site? Kind of an oxymoron isn’t it?
Report Post »Aix_sponsa
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 12:50amWhen I’m exposed to ultraviolet light rays from the sun, I normally experience a warming sensation. I heard sunlight is actually GOOD for life on earth, or something like that…
Oh yeah, and I love garlic. It actually goes well with onions and the like in a variety of foods!
On the subject of the telephone poles: I have no idea what the heck that sentence even meant.
It’s kinda funny… Atheists are human beings just like you.
Not vampires.
Report Post »Teufel Hunden
Posted on April 26, 2012 at 1:10pmAIX_SPONSA: “On the subject of the telephone poles: I have no idea what the heck that sentence even meant.”
Telephone poles, for the most part, are shaped like crosses. You know the items, the sub culture fears?
Report Post »Lurchbus
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:44pmI am a Cristian Man and I say let him seek Asylem in the USA!!!! We don’t believe in the same God are no God but a man should not be punish on his beliefs alone!!!!
Report Post »Tandem2011
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:53pmAmerica was founded by people who fled religiously repressive or persecuting countries. He’d make a good American after getting asylum and then waits out the very lengthy process to become a legal citizen. But don‘t tell that to the Democrats who’ll bypass that process all day long to win votes from illegal immigrants.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:29pmI have never found an Actual Atheist. What there are… is Deists… who do not worship God… and who reject Organized Religions!
Report Post »SouthSideLib
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:38pmWell you’ve found one now…I am an “Actual Athiest” a Diest believes that god set the world in motion, We on the other hand do not believe god exists
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:20pm@SOUTH…
Report Post »So… you just Create your own Morals… reject National Laws (Morals)… and cannot live Socially, because you cannot agree with any other Atheist who does the same?
xenophyle
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:21pmI’m an atheist, too. :)
Report Post »Tandem2011
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 5:02pmAtheist? One who is certain there is no God is like someone declaring, like an ant, that no other planet carries intelligent life…like the ant? Many scientists aren’t that arrogant because they realize humans know next to nothing in relation to what need to know to fully understand our universe and the hidden dimensions still untapped by the human senses.
A declared atheist is the polar opposite extreme of the religious doctrinaire — they’re both cocksure about things outside their grasp.
Report Post »jonahmendy
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 5:21pmWell, actually tandem, there are 4 categories. There are gnostic athiests, who claim to know there is no god, agnostic atheists, who don‘t claim to know that there is no god but believe there isn’t one, and the oppposite for agnostic theists and gnostic theists.
Report Post »Fiddlesticks
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 7:33pmEven Richard Dawkins is a 9 of 10 on his own Atheism scale, and that is basically because he can’t disprove the existence of an omnipotent being who created the universe. A true 10 of 10 Atheist believes/thinks that there is no omnipotent being who created the universe.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:02pmCome to the U.S. Fazil Say! You’re an atheist, you were born in a foreign county…hell you could be president. You guys eat dogs over there?
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:09pmWait, now Obama’s an athiest? I thought he was a radical “collective salvation” Christian influenced by Rev. Wright. Then I thought he was a radical Muslim, influenced by his time in Indonesia. I guess what people REALLY meant to say was that he’s an atheist. I can‘t wait to see what religion he’ll be next week.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:17pmI have been cosistent in my opinion of this.
Report Post »formidable_foe
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 4:20pm@Mammalone,
Obama‘s favorite people aren’t Christ OR Mohammed… they’re Lenin and Marx.
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 2:49pmNever mind the state of our country, this is the REAL NEWS!
Report Post »themachinist239
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 2:57pmThis is the wrong site to look for ‘real news’.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:01pmMachinist, Obama is the wrong place to look for leadership.
Report Post »themachinist239
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:13pm….I agree…..but this article, nor my comment, nor the comment I was replying to, had anything to do with Obama so…
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 3:15pmIt is real news. Seeing how a the authorities will deal with a political or religious minority tells you how they will deal with you or the country you belong to.
Q.E.(F.) D.
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 2:47pmsad
Report Post »