Verdict of Non-Prosecution for Professor Who Called Hayko Bağdat ‘Leftover of the Sword’

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The Prosecutor's Office has ruled that there is lack of grounds for legal action against Prof. Dr. Yahya Mustafa Keskin, the Head of Sociology Department of Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, who called Armenian writer and journalist Hayko Bağdat a "leftover of the sword," which is a derogatory expression used for the survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

After Hayko Bağdat posted a tweet on December 6, 2018 and announced that he was being threatened due to his article on Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Prof. Dr. Yahya Mustafa Keskin responded, "If you have the guts, put him on trial, you leftover of the sword."

Referring to the Articles 122 and 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) on "discrimination based on language, religion, race, color, gender, political opinions, philosophical convictions and the like" and "inciting the public to enmity and hatred", the Commission Against Racism and Discrimination of the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch filed a criminal complaint against the academic on December 12, 2018.

Announcing its decision today (January 29), the Prosecutor's Office has given a verdict of non-prosecution against Yahya Mustafa Keskin.

İHD: We will raise an objection

Making a statement regarding the verdict on her Twitter account, İHD Co-Chair attorney Eren Keskin has said,

"İHD filed a criminal complaint against Professor Yahya Keskin for doing racism by saying 'leftover of the sword.' The prosecutor has become party to this crime by giving a ruling of 'non-prosecution'."

Hayko Bağdat’a ,”kılıç artığı”diyerek ırkçılık yapan Profesör Ö.Yahya Keskin için İHD suç duyurusu yaptı. Savcı , “takipsizlik “ karar vererek, suça ortak oldu. İtiraz edeceğiz...

— Eren Keskin (@KeskinEren1) 28 Ocak 2019

Keskin has also added that they will object to the ruling.

What happened? 

Writer and journalist Hayko Bağdat posted a tweet on December 6, 2018 and said, "Because I wrote today 'Süleyman Soylu should be tried', I received numerous threats and swears. They have all led me to think. What I would like to say is this: [Former Director General of Security] Mehmet Ağar and, even, [former Minister of Interior] Meral Akşener were as professional to commit qualified homicides. Soylu is both pathetic and will be tried."

Head of Sociology Department Keskin wrote in response, "If you have the guts, put him on trial, you leftover of the sword." (PT/SD)