Another Lawsuit Against Musician Tunç, This Time for Insulting Former PM

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A new lawsuit has been filed against musician Ferhat Tunç, this time for insulting the then PM Binali Yıldırım in 2016.

The Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office charged Tunç because of a tweet he posted in response to a statement by Yıldırım, saying, "You must be kidding... The millions who voted for HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) is so honorable to not kneel down before your dictator whom you prostrate yourself before."

Yıldırım said, "HDP is out of credit. Now this time to decide. Five million citizens of ours who voted for HDP are frustrated. They (HDP) can't show their face to the citizens."

"Not judiciary, but the stick of AKP"

Commenting on the lawsuit, Tunç said, "It is the shame of the Turkish judiciary to claim that saying 'you prostrate yourself' is an insult that necessitates a prison sentence."

"The real offender is the Turkish judiciary, which is not only not independent but also takes on the task of being the stick of the AKP. It commits an offense against democracy and the democratic values," he added.

This is the fifth lawsuit against Tunç, who has already been on trial in four different cases with charges of terrorist propaganda and insulting the president.

Tunç left Turkey on March 13 because of the lawsuits against him.

Lawsuits against Ferhat Tunç

Having four lawsuits against him because of his posts on social media, Tunç is facing a total of 15 years prison term.

He was detained when he returned from Germany on January 13, then released after giving testimony.

Ferhat Tunç was sentenced to 1 year, 11 months, 2 days in prison for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" by the İstanbul 36th Heavy Penal Court over his social media posts on September 25, 2018.

After this sentence, another case was filed against Tunç for "insulting the President". Büyükçekmece Public Prosecutor's Office in İstanbul launched an investigation into the ten tweets that Tunç posted in 2016. The bill of indictment it prepared was accepted by the Büyükçekmece 7th Penal Court of First Instance. The trial is continuing.

There are also two investigation files against Tunç at the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Speaking to bianet about the investigation, attorney Fatma Hopikoğlu stated that there are two separate investigations launched against the musician and added that they have not been informed about the details:

"There are two separate investigations against Tunç at Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. One of them is about his remarks during a statement for the press regarding the devastation of Sur (in Diyarbakır).

"Though the nature of this statement was about the protection of historical artifacts, an investigation was launched against him for 'propagandizing for a terrorist organization.' This investigation consists solely of this statement."

(EMK/VK)