Turkish social media personality detained in probe over obscene content, money laundering

ANKARA, Turkey — Prosecutors in Ankara have opened an investigation into Fidan Atalay, a social media personality known online as "Teacher Fidan," on charges of sharing obscene content and laundering the income generated from those posts, authorities said. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said Atalay's Instagram videos and photographs were being examined under Article 226 of the Turkish Penal Code on obscenity and Article 282 on money laundering. Atalay, identified as a former teacher, was detained in Izmir as part of the probe, and prosecutors said investigative procedures were continuing intensively. A preliminary review found that Atalay's Instagram account had more than 701,000 followers and around 12,100 subscribers paying a monthly fee of 79.99 Turkish lira. Investigators estimated her monthly net income from the platform approached 1 million lira, and all of her bank accounts have been placed under review to trace the sources of the funds.