Cem Karaca, 58; Leftist Musician Was Exiled From Turkey
Cem Karaca, 58, an influential rock musician whose leftist politics temporarily cost him his Turkish citizenship, died Feb. 8 of heart failure in his native Istanbul.
Born to an Armenian Christian mother and Muslim father, Karaca mixed Turkish themes with Western rock music, creating more than 20 albums. He was also known for his leftist politics.
In 1979, amid street fighting between nationalists and leftists, Karaca fled to Germany. After the Turkish military restored order with a 1980 coup, the government demanded Karaca return to Turkey to face criminal charges of inciting violence. When he refused, he lost his citizenship.
In 1987, with the help of Prime Minister Turgut Ozal, Karaca was able to return to Turkey. His later music had a more conciliatory tone.
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