Penalty against Actor for “Insulting Erdoğan”

Actor Haldun Açıksözlü has been convicted of paying 6000 Turkish Liras as monetary fine for allegedly insulting of former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his political stand up show while playing the character “Laz Marks”. On Thursday, Açıksözlü was taken into custody at the Atatürk Airport.

Açıksözlü, taken into custody after the Supreme Court of Appeals approved his penalty, proceeded on his way only after paying the monetary fine.

On 16 April 2014, while playing political stand up Laz Marks, Haldun Açıksözlü was sued for insulting former Prime Minister Erdoğan.

His detention has been posted on his private Twitter account by Açıksözlü. He has posted:

“I don’t need this! I was taken into custody to be taken to the court while I was going abroad… Let’s see what happens next…  I have been convicted of paying monetary fine because of my Laz Marks show which dates to 16 April 2014. I’d be free on the condition that I’d pay 6000 Liras. I paid it (6000 Turkish liras), I’ve been trying to catch my plane…”

Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) Tokat District President, Önder Konuk, was arrested allegedly with insulting the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on social media yesterday. ÖDP Party Council member and United June Movement İzmir Coordination member Onur Kılıç and Şafak Kurt who said “I’m committing the same offence,” in the press statement performed in Akhisar city of Manisa Province, have been arrested. (AS/BD)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.