Turkey’s state TV apologizes for broadcasting song with lyrics by Fethullah Gülen

ANKARA

The state-run Turkish Radio and Television Channel (TRT) on April 1 apologized for “mistakenly broadcasting” a song whose lyrics were written by the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is accused of masterminding the failed July 2016 coup attempt.

The broadcast of “Hüzünlü Gurbet” (Melancholy Exile), with lyrics written by Gülen, on the music station TRT Müzik immediately drew a reaction from social media users.

The broadcaster later stated that it had “mistakenly broadcast” the song in the repeat of a program first aired 12 years ago. 

“It is respectfully announced to the public that ‘Hüzünlü Gurbet,’ sung by Ahmet Özhan, was mistakenly broadcast during the repeat of a program produced in 2005,” TRT Müzik stated in a tweet.

The Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), through which Gülen is widely believed to have orchestrated the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt, which left 249 people dead and nearly 2,200 injured.