System of a Down lead vocalist Serj Tankian has stated that his political activism once led to him being tracked by Turkish intelligence.
The musician, who was born in Lebanon to Armenian parents before moving to the U.S. as a child, has long been known for his activism, particularly in the areas of social justice, human rights and the recognition of genocides. He has notably protested for recognition of the Armenian genocide.
In April 2021, the U.S. became one of more than 30 countries that recognize the mass killings of ethnic Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I as a genocide. Turkey has vehemently rejected this narrative.
Serj Tankian is pictured in London, England, on April 10, 2015. The musician has stated that his political activism once led to him being tracked by Turkish intelligence..
Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images
During a recent appearance on the show Mythical Kitchen, Tankian spoke with host Josh Scherer about how he played shows in 2005 after protesting at then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s office after he blocked a bill to recognize the Armenian genocide. Tankian says he then learned that Turkish intelligence had been tracking him.
Admitting that he was “scared as s***” on finding out that he was under surveillance, Tankian said: “The reason that we knew that is because my head of security detail had friends in the FBI who had kind of given him a flag saying that this is happening, just…because of that action, because we went and visited [Hastert’s office].”
Newsweek has contacted Turkey’s Ministry of Defense (Millî Savunma Bakanlığı) via email for comment.
“The politics gets in the way of music and life sometimes,” Tankian said. “And there are many times that I’ve been on stage playing a show, and there is so much other…not personal stuff, but like, you know, security issues, or whatever—issues that you have to kind of work through, and it’s really difficult.
“It does add something to the music, though. You’re playing a faster tempo. You’re just like, enraged, right? You’re just like, if something’s going to get me, I’m going to, run around. I was going left and right, like a ping-pong.”
The singer-songwriter shared that he has had conversations with his bandmate and brother-in-law John Dolmayan about his commitment to speaking out.
“He always says, ‘Man, you’re just stubborn,'” Tankian said of Dolmayan. “And maybe that’s what it is, that I won’t give up the truth. You know, it’s one thing I am stubborn about, but I think it is inevitable [to speak up].”
“I can’t imagine myself ever saying publicly something that I don’t believe in,” Tankian added. “That, to me, is death. Not physical death, but just reputational death…That’s not me. So it’s got to be truthful, you know.
“But that doesn’t mean it has to be critical truthful. It doesn’t mean it has to be painful truthful or antagonistic truthful. That took me half a lifetime, if not more.”
