CHP Leader’s Attorney Sued for ‘Insulting President’ Over His Plea of Defense

* Photo: Celal Çelik / Twitter

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A lawsuit has been filed against Celal Çelik, the attorney of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Çelik has been charged with "insulting the President" over his remarks in the plea of defense presented to court board in another case.

Çelik uttered the remarks in question in his defense in the suit for damages filed by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in December 17-25 period, when a corruption and bribe investigation was launched against several figures in politics and business.

Attorney Celal Çelik has announced the lawsuit on Twitter:

⁦@kilicdarogluk⁩ ‘nu savunmaktan ötürü Avukatı hakkında dava açılamayacağını düşünenler olur diye hakkımda düzenlenen ve Dünya Yargı tarihine (utanç belgesi olarak) geçecek İddianameyi kamuoyunun bilgisine sunuyorum!.. pic.twitter.com/lmuCaf9s5w

— Celal ÇELİK (@CelikBaskan06) January 7, 2020

"Just in case there are people who think that no lawsuits are filed against his attorney for defending Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, I am bringing the indictment that is filed against me and will go down in the legal history of the world (as a document of shame) to the public attention!.."

Shortly after CHP leader said, "And they tell us that we are un-national, that we are not national, they tell us that we are not local. You are actually the ones who are not local, you are actually the ones who are not national, you have handed over all parts of this country", President and AKP Chair Erdoğan filed a suit for non-pecuniary damages against him.

Attorney Celal Çelik submitted a plea of defense in the ensuing lawsuit filed at the Ankara 6th Civil Court of First Instance. Çelik is now facing the charge of "insulting the President" over this plea.

He faces up to 6 years in prison

After attorney Celal Çelik submitted his defense to the court in a petition, the attorneys of President Erdoğan filed a criminal complaint against Çelik. The Public Prosecutor's Office asked the Ministry of Justice for permission to launch an investigation against the attorney.

As the Ministry of Justice granted the necessary permission for investigation in August 2019, a lawsuit has been filed against Çelik on charges of "insulting the President" and "misconduct in office". Çelik is now facing up to 6 years in prison on the offenses charged.

The indictment issued against the attorney has indicated that "in his reply petition submitted to court on January 5, 2018, the tapes that were allegedly featuring a phone call between President and his son and were actually acquired by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PDY) in an unlawful and unrealistic manner by being montaged were presented as evidence [by Çelik]..."

First hearing on February 24

The first hearing of the case filed against attorney Celal Çelik will be held at the İstanbul Anatolian 6th Heavy Penal Court on February 24, 2020. (HA/SD)