In Turkey, a musician stood trial for insulting the feelings of Muslims

Turkish pianist and composer Fazil Say appeared in court on charges of insulting Islam, AFP reported on Thursday.

In April, the musician published a message on the social network Twitter in which he ridiculed the Muslim prayer, which lasts only 22 seconds. "Why such a rush? Is your mistress waiting for you or a bottle of raki (an aniseed alcoholic drink) on the table?" - Sai wrote on his microblog.

Turkish prosecutors accused him of inciting religious hatred and insulting Islamic values.

“I reject all charges,” Sai said in an Istanbul court on Thursday.

At this time, about a hundred of his supporters gathered near the courthouse as a sign of support for the musician. Among the protesters were journalists and representatives of the creative intelligentsia. “Fazil Sai is not alone,” read one of the posters in the hands of activists.

The court rejected Sai's lawyers' request for his immediate acquittal and adjourned the case until February 18.

If found guilty, the 42-year-old pianist faces up to one and a half years in prison.

This is not the first time that Fazil Sai has attracted public attention with his tweets. He became the object of public censure after he condemned the hypocrisy of pious bigots on his microblog. In addition, he often criticized the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and accused it of intending to Islamize Turkey .

“I may be the first person in the world to be the subject of legal investigation for declaring himself an atheist ,” the musician told the publication, adding that he would likely move to Japan to avoid pressure.

Fazil Say is a pianist and composer who performs in Paris, Berlin, London, Tokyo, Vienna and Salzburg.