Author Found Not Guilty For “Recop Tazyik Gazdoğan”

On the first hearing, Istanbul 18th Peace Court acquitted Emrah Seres, an author who was charged with insulting PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Interior Minister Muammer Güler and Istanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu. “I will continue to speak up and criticize,” he told bianet.  

“It was a case that ought not be opened in the first place,” Serbes told bianet after the hearing. “I will continue to speak up and criticize.”

He called minister “neckless” 

According to the indictment drafted by Prosecutor Hasan Bölükbaşı, Serbes was charged with up to 12 years of prison for “insulting a public officer” according to Turkish Penal Code Article 125/a. 

Serbes proclaimed the words that originated the prosecution on May 1 on SKY360 TV Network. During a program, he called Erdoğan “Recop Tazyik Gazdoğan” and “neckless” to Minister Güler while criticizing the police violence on May 1. He also said that the police violence was an “dishonorable” act.  

“I didn’t mean to insult them. I meant to criticize them instead. Police intervention was harsh on May 1. They blocked the celebrations. They fired gas bombs at people, sprayed water cannon. My aim was irony. Anyways, the truth behind my words have revealed during the Gezi Resistance. 6 people were killed.”

“Not insult, a sparkle of mind” 

Advocate Haluk İnanıcı, on the other hand, said police have committed serious human rights violations on May 1 in Barbaros Boulevard, Okmeydanı, and Taksim Square.

“Police fired gas bombs and rubber bullets right at people’s faces just for revenge purposes. Rights organizations documented all. We have seen it all. PM declared that it was his order.”

Advocate İnanıcı continued that his client has used his democratic right to criticize. 

“His words were not an insult, they were a sparkle of mind. 

He also reminded related ECHR verdicts regarding the freedom of expression.

The court judge ruled that “the conditions for a crime have not met” and acquitted Serbes.(AS/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.