In brief
Actress Melisa Sozen has been questioned by Turkish authorities regarding her role in the French TV show "The Bureau," with claims that her character's uniform resembles that of a designated terrorist group. She denies any wrongdoing and argues the series has been mischaracterized.
Turkish actress Melisa Sozen has found herself under police scrutiny in Istanbul, with investigations stemming from her role in the 2017 French TV spy drama "The Bureau." The 39-year-old actress portrayed a double agent combating Islamist extremists, but has recently faced backlash on social media due to her character's costume—allegedly similar to that worn by the YPG, a Kurdish militia that Turkey classifies as a terrorist organization.Reports indicate that upon her return to Turkey from overseas, Sozen was questioned by law enforcement but was not taken into custody. According to the DHA news agency, she explained that she was unaware of any resemblance between her show's costume and those associated with a terror group, emphasizing that "The Bureau" is not available for viewing in Turkey.In response to online attacks that began last August, Sozen addressed her audience via Instagram, firmly stating that the show does not glorify any terrorist groups. She voiced that if there were any valid claims against the program, they would have surfaced throughout its seven-year airing period. "I do not accept the false accusations thrown at me," she asserted, defending the visibility and popularity of the series.Sozen, who has a storied career in Turkish television and cinema, also gained notable acclaim for her performance in "Winter Sleep," which was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. She voiced concerns regarding the increasing difficulty for younger actors to navigate the challenges posed by the harsh criticism prevalent on social media, a struggle she has previously learned to handle over her 25 years in the industry.
