Belongings stolen from the house of folk singer Ertaş

İZMİR - Doğan News Agency

Late musician Neşet Ertaş’s house, which is slated to become a museum, has reportedly been robbed but authorities say the objects were taken by a relative. DHA photo

A number of personal objects belonging to famous Turkish folk singer Neşet Ertaş, who died of cancer at the age of 74 on Sept. 25, have been allegedly stolen from his home in İzmir’s Karabağlar neighborhood, according to claims.

The master musician’s bağlama, which he used in his concerts and has an Atatürk motif on it, is among the objects missing, as are three reeds and other personal effects.

The house, which Ertaş moved into after living in Germany for many years, has been slated to become a museum. 

Not burglary 

The İzmir Police Department has begun investigating the incident, but officials said the house’s doors and windows were not forced open. According to authorities, the objects were taken by a relative. 
Mustafa Hayırlı, a neighbor whose workplace is across from the house, also said he had not observed any suspicious activity. 

Noting that he did not believe the incident was a burglary, he said: “Everyone loves Ertaş in this neighborhood; I don’t believe that nobody would do such a thing. There may be other reasons for it.” 
Other neighbors also said it was not a burglary but stemmed from a family problem. 

Ertaş, known as the “Plectrum of the Steppe” and the “People’s Artist,” was laid to rest following a massive funeral in his hometown of Kırşehir in Central Anatolia.