2 Children Pardoned as They Apologize to Erdoğan and Memorize a Poem

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Standing trial on the allegation that they insulted President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on social media, one child has been pardoned on the condition of memorizing the National Anthem of Turkey and apologizing to Erdoğan and the other child has been pardoned on the condition of memorizing the 34-stanza poem "Yağmur" (Rain) by Nurullah Genç and offering apologies to Erdoğan

As reported by Fevzi Çakır from Habertürk, the Conciliation Office of Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office informed Hüseyin Aydın, the attorney of Erdoğan, about the case files of two children put on trial.

Aydın said that if one of the children memorized the 10-stanza National Anthem in full and the other memorized the 34-stanza poem "Yağmur" by Nurullah Genç and offered apologies to Erdoğan, they would be pardoned.

As the children learnt the poems by heart and apologized to Erdoğan, they have been absolved of the offense charged.

'Memorize 34-stanza poem and apologize'

In the wake of an investigation launched against V.E. over his social media messages about the then Prime Minister Erdoğan, an indictment was issued against the child. As it was understood that the file fell within the scope of conciliatory proceedings, the Van 1st Juvenile Court sent the file to the Conciliation Office of the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Erdoğan's lawyer Hüseyin Aydın was informed about the issue. As V.E. expressed remorse, Aydın accepted conciliation on the condition that "the child recited the 'Yağmur' poem by Nurullah Genç and apologized to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan".

'Memorize the anthem and apologize'

Accused of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on social media on March 28, 2014, child A.Ç.'s file was also sent by the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to the Conciliation Office.

Erdoğan's attorney Aydın was similarly informed about the issue. As A.Ç. expressed remorse, the attorney accepted conciliation again on the condition that "the child recited the 10-stanza National Anthem of Turkey and apologized to President Recep Tayyio Erdoğan".

As the children have fulfilled both conditions of memorizing and apologizing, their case files have been closed.

(EKN/SD)