Video Footage Showing Detention of Lawyer Battered for Allegedly Insulting President

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Lawyer Sertuğ Sürenoğlu previously stated that after he reacted to the blocking of traffic along the Çırağan Street in İstanbul on April 14 for a wedding ceremony of Demirören and Kalyoncu families, he was subjected to torture by the Presidency security guards.

The video footage of the moment when Sürenoğlu, who is also a PhD student at Galatasaray University, was taken into custody has come out.

As it can be seen in the video, contrary to the allegations that "he run towards the Presidency vehicle by insulting" or "he insulted the police", Sürenoğlu just asked, "Is it just for a wedding?"

Torture at the door where guests entered

Speaking to bianet about the issue, lawyer Sürenoğlu previously indicated that after he reacted to the blocking of traffic, he was forced into a jeep by the security guards of Presidency and subjected to torture for a long time.

Charged with "insulting the President", the lawyer was then referred to court to be arrested. The court ruled that he shall be sentenced to house arrest.

In the minutes that Sürenoğlu had to sign under torture, it was written that he insulted the president. However, making a statement about the issue, the lawyer said that he did not insult the president, but he only reacted to police officers who blocked the traffic for the wedding.

'He run towards the vehicle, shouting insults'

Reporting on the incident, the pro-government Star and Sabah newspapers alleged that Sürenoğlu run towards the official vehicle of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, shouting insults. They further claimed that Sürenoğlu also insulted the police officers who stopped him.

The newspapers added that a certain amount of physical force was used on Sürenoğlu to break his resistance.

Ministry of Interior asked permission for investigation

As reported by Alican Uludağ from Cumhuriyet newspaper, since the judge of the İstanbul 1st Penal Court of Peace, who was supposed to evaluate the objection against Sürenoğlu's house arrest, has taken a leave of absence, the judge of the İstanbul 7th Penal Court of Peace has given a judgement in his/her place and rejected the objection.

As for the investigation launched against the security guards, it has still been continuing at the Civil Servant Crimes Investigation Bureau.

The Prosecutor's Office investigating the incident has requested permission for investigation from the Ministry of Interior on the ground that the incident occurred while the guards were on duty. (EKN/SD)