Investigation Against Lawyer Because of ‘Son-in-Law Speaks, Dollar Rises’ Tweet

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Lawyer Mesut Karavelioğlu is charged with "contravening the Law on Capital Markets Board" because of tweeting, "The son-in-law speaks, dollar rises."

"The son-in-law" expression refers to Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's son-in-law and Minister of Finance and Treasury.

In his deposition, Karavelioğlu said that he commented on the situation of the economy with reproach just like an ordinary citizen. The lawyer added that he did not make a financial gain as a result of his words and that there are no lies in what he wrote.

"It was a reproach"

Karavelioğlu, who is registered at the Gaziantep Bar Association, deposed at the Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on January 18. He said in his deposition,

"I, as an ordinary citizen, just like other citizens of the Republic of Turkey, was affected from the economic downswing and the fluctuations in the dollar.

"I shared this point on my social media account as a democratic expression. It was a reproach. Because I was heavily affected by the fluctuations in the dollar.

"There are no lies in my posts"

"I have been working as an attorney registered to the Gaziantep Bar Association for 20 years.

"Legal elements of the alleged crimes have not occurred because in order for market fraud crime to occur, one must give false or misleading information to affect the tools of capital market and make a financial gain.

"What I wrote were the words of an ordinary citizen who reproaches the economic situation. Moreover, there are no lies in what I wrote."

"Inciting people to hatred and enmity"

Karavelioğlu is facing charges of "inciting people to hatred and enmity" upon the article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and "contravening the No 6362 Law on Capital Markets Board."

The investigation against him is still continuing. (AS/VK)