‘Cranberry Sherbet’ Screenwriter detained Over Years-Old Comments on Economic Hardship
Istanbul, Turkey – Merve Gören, the screenwriter for the popular Turkish television series Cranberry Sherbet (Kızılcık Şerbeti), was detained from her home in Istanbul tonight, reportedly over statements she made in a YouTube interview four years ago. The detention stems from comments regarding the economic challenges faced by young women in Turkey.
According to journalist Birsen Altuntaş, Gören was taken from her residence in the Cihangir neighborhood. The legal process was initiated due to statements made by the screenwriter concerning the financial difficulties experienced by young women and their coping mechanisms. In the 2021 interview, Gören stated, “the girls found a fun way to realize their dreams. Thay have sex for money, but in this. This motivation gives them the conditions of the country.”
The detention arrives amid heightened scrutiny of Cranberry Sherbet from the Radio and Television Supreme council (RTÜK). RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin recently stated that complaints received regarding the series were being “meticulously evaluated,” and that “necessary transactions” would be undertaken. Şahin highlighted the importance of 2025 being declared “Family Year” in Turkey, emphasizing the role of family and tradition in society. He further asserted that publications perceived as targeting the family structure “directly spread…to the spirit of our children, the future of our youth and the presence of our society.”