Bakırköy Chief Prosecutor's Office Opens Investigation into Photographer Bennu Gerede Under Turkish Penal Code Article 226

The Bakırköy Republic Chief Prosecutor's Office has launched an obscenity investigation into renowned photographer Bennu Gerede. The investigation was opened ex officio without waiting for any complaint after Gerede described a necklace he wore around his neck as a 'portable vibrator' during a YouTube program in which he participated.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 226 of the Turkish Penal Code. The article in question defines the public display or dissemination of obscene images, writings, or statements as a crime and carries a prison sentence of up to two years.

Gerede, recognized for his work on the international stage, ranks among Turkey's leading photography artists. The Bakırköy Chief Prosecutor's Office has previously opened similar ex officio investigations citing social media posts and digital broadcast content; some of these investigations concluded with decisions of no grounds for prosecution. No written statement has yet been issued to the public by Gerede's lawyer regarding the current stage of the investigation.