Sabahat Akkiray (born February 6, 1955 in Sivas), better known as Sabahat Akkiraz, is a Turkish folk singer and former politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Istanbul between 2011 and 2015 under the Republican People's Party (CHP). Raised in a music-oriented family in Kangal, she moved to Germany during her childhood but returned to Turkey for her professional career. In 1983, Akkiraz released her first album, Şafak Söktü, and has since collaborated with numerous artists such as Arif Sağ, Musa Eroğlu, Muhlis Akarsu, Aşık Daimi, Feyzullah Çınar, and Davut Sulari. She gained international recognition for her contributions to Turkish folk music, giving concerts worldwide and working with musicians from various countries on their albums. The London-based Grand Union Orchestra has collaborated with Akkiraz on the album Echoes From Anatolia and performances at Sadler's Wells Theatre, as part of their show Where The Rivers Meet. In 2023, another halk album was released, titled Harabati featuring tracks like "Bergüzar" and "Gel Gönül Gidelim".
