Turkish Cypriot Isin Karaca, who had sung a march for the destruction of Smyrna in Komotini, was banned from entering Greece

Turkish Cypriot singer Isin Karaca has been deemed a person of interest to Greek authorities, she has denounced in a video she posted on Instagram.

According to Karatza, the decision, which was served on Good Friday upon her arrival at the Eleftherios Venizelos airport, concerned her provocative actions at an event in Komotini in the summer of 2024.

In the video posted from the airport waiting area, Isin Karaca described that while her family was allowed entry, for her the decision was negative: “This is Isine Karaca speaking to you from Athens. The document in my hands is the refusal of my entry into Greece. The document I have on my desk is a copy of my application for asylum. Because in 2024 in Komotini I said ‘What happiness to say that you are Turkish’ and sang ‘In the mountains of Smyrna flowers bloom’ (İzmir Marşı). Because of this, I am being deported at this moment. My daughter and my husband were able to pass, but I was banned.”

Continuing her complaint, the singer spoke of abusive treatment by the airport authorities: “I am experiencing an unreasonable treatment that I have never seen in my life. There is no one to give us even a glass of water. We have been here for hours. We are being sent back to our country. We came as tourists and at this moment we are clearly being treated as enemies.”

However, in a subsequent video she said she “would do it again” for what happened about two years ago in Komotini.

In the same post the Turkish Cypriot singer writes, among other things, “I will say “Happy whoever says I am a Turk 🇹🇷” until the end. I am in love with the Republic of Turkey… I have vowed to live for the Turkish nation with great devotion and loyalty… I cannot allow a single letter of the great Republic of Turkey to be violated…”

The challenge of 2024

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In the summer of 2024, the Turkish Cypriot singer had performed in the central square of Komotini, at an event organised by the Minority Scholars Association, and had interpreted the “March of Smyrna” (İzmir Marşı), Kemal’s march for the destruction of Smyrna.