Erdoğan Finds Fine Too Little in “Faggot” Case, Gets 10 Thousand Liras Extra
LGBTI activist and lawyer Levent Pişkin will pay President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 10 thousand liras more in fines because of his “fag” tweet for which he was already convicted last year.
Following then PM Erdoğan’s statement, “If Alevilik (alawism) is about loving Ali, I’m a perfect Alevi”, Pişkin had written tweeted, “I expect a declaration from Erdoğan saying, ‘I’m a perfect faggot and we are not going to learn faggotry from you’. Kisses. #AnayasadaLGBT [LGBT in the constitution]”
A case had been filed against Pişkin for “insult, slander or heavy provocation of a public official for their public service,” at the end of which he had been sentenced to pay 1,500 liras in compensation for 2 months and 15 days in prison. The announcement of the verdict had been adjourned.
After winning the criminal case, Erdoğan had filed a claim for damages against Pişkin demanding to be paid 50 thousand lira.
In the suit for damages that took place today, Erdoğan’s lawyer Ferah Yıldız argued that the 1500 lira fine in the previous verdict was not enough, and asked for 50 thousand liras in damages. “My client received other assaults to his legal person because the monetary fine given in the criminal case was too little and my client’s personality rights were affected,” spoke Yıldız.
Istanbul 14th Civil Court of General Jurisdiction ruled for Pişkin to pay Erdoğan 10 thousand liras in non-pecuniary damages.
“I can’t possibly pay this sum, I will start a campaign.”
Pişkin said the following to bianet: “Their defense at court was meaningless. If he hadn’t filed this case, that tweet would never have reached so many people. I find the verdict to be unlawful, both because Erdoğan cannot tolerate criticism as a politician, and because it facilitates the view of homosexuality as an insult.”
Pişkin also noted that he plans to launch a solidarity campaign when the monetary fine is commenced to execution saying, “I cannot possibly afford to pay this fine.” (ÇT/PU)
Click here to read Pişkin’s defense.
Click here to read this article in Turkish.