Who Is Melek Mosso? Turkish Singer Cuts Hair On Stage To Support Iran Protests

Turkish singer Melek Mosso cut her hair onstage during a show in support of the protests in Iran. Protests erupted in Iran after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by the morality police for not wearing her hijab properly.

During a performance, singer Melek Mosso was seen cutting her hair as the audience applauded. Iranian journalist Omid Memarian shared a video of the singer cutting her hair on stage in solidarity with Iranian women.

Who Is Melek Mosso?

• 33-year-old Melek Mosso is a Turkish musician and teacher who began composing when she was just 8 years old.
• When she was 9 years old, she began taking music lessons and continued her education at Fine Arts High School.
• Mosso completed her university education at Adnan Menderes University, in the School of Education, Department of Music Teaching.
• Her cover of Vursalar Olemem by Yildiz Tilbe gathered over 100 million views on YouTube. She also lent her voice for a song featured in the television series Cukur.
• Mosso cut her hair onstage in a show of support for Iranians protesting Mahsa Amini’s death and strict hijab laws. The incident does not mark the first time she’s used her stage to speak about women’s rights and issues.
• In 2020, the musician was taken off the stage after she criticised the release of a police officer convicted of rape in Turkey.
• Following the incident, Mosso said, “I’m taken off stage for speaking up against these rapes and murders. What sort of a system is this?”
• In May 2022, Mosso was banned from appearing and performing at the Isparta International Gul Festival by Isparta Municipality. In a previous appearance on stage, Mosso had said, “If you want to be open, open up, if you want to talk, speak up. You don't need anyone to tell you how to act, what to do, how to dress, girls. You have your own wings”.
• Her statement was criticised and she was banned from appearing at the festival. Mehmet Kaya, a member of the New Welfare Party described her as an individual “known for attacking our culture, belief, and mortality”.
• Mosso responded to the criticism and said she was a “woman of this country” who had her own ideas and visions. She added, “A few ignorant people cannot question my morals or insult my femininity”.

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