Turkish rock singing imam hits the stage in New York

NEW YORK – Doğan News Agency

DHA Photo

Turkey’s most famous imam (thanks to his rock music career), Ahmet Muhsin Tüzer, took the stage in New York on April 23 as a part of the Ultima Festival.

Tüzer shared the stage with composer Catherine Christer Hennix and her group “Choros(s)san Time-Court Mirage.”

He sang with the group and recited the call to prayer along with Quranic verses, accompanied by drone music.

Amir el-Saffar, Robin Hayward, Paul Schwingenschlögl, Hilary Jeffery, Elena Margarita Kakaliagou and Stefan Tiedje performed in the group for Tüzer’s performance.

Hennix thanked Tüzer for accepting their invitation to perform together, describing the concert as "amazing."

Tüzer said the concert was a "favor from God to him," adding that he felt "pleased to share Islamic values with Americans."

The rocker-imam also said the concert was "just the beginning," expressing the hope that he could continue to take the stage with Hennix in the future.

Tüzer, an imam in the Mediterranean district of Kaş, hit headlines after putting together a rock band named “FiRock” with his friends drummer İdris Tübcil and Doğan Sakin, who was the founder and guitarist of the famous Turkish rock singer Erkin Koray’s band “Kramp.”

An investigation into Tüzer was opened by Antalya’s Mufti Office after he performed a concert with his band last year.