Muse postpones Istanbul concert amid protests over Erdogan's government

In Turkey, ongoing protests erupted following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025. His supporters accused the government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of politically motivated actions aimed at undermining his upcoming bid for the presidency in 2028. The protests have seen thousands of citizens participate, escalating tensions across the country as nearly 2,000 demonstrators were detained, many of whom are university students. Amid this unrest, Abdulkadir Ozkan, the head of the concert promotion company DBL Entertainment, made inflammatory remarks against the protesters, referencing their actions as 'treason.' This led to calls from Turkish fans and pro-opposition supporters for international acts, specifically Muse and Robbie Williams, to cancel their upcoming concerts in Istanbul, further complicating the musical landscape in the country. Responding to the public outcry, Muse decided to postpone their scheduled concert originally set for June 11, 2025, pushing it back to 2026 to ensure that DBL Entertainment would no longer be involved. This decision aligns with the band's concern over the political climate and their fans' sentiments. They aim to honor their supporters while distancing themselves from the current political turmoil. Meanwhile, calls for a boycott of the concerts continued, with protests intensifying as several other artists, including popular local musicians, voiced their opposition. As a result, the situation surrounding the planned concerts reflects heightened tensions and the intersection of music and politics within Turkey during this unrest.