Oran sues President Erdoğan for Damages Over Defaming Academics

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Prof. Dr. Baskın Oran from Ankara University has sued President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for 3,110 Euro (10,000 TL) damages on charges of defaming the academics in four different speeches he has held with regards to the Peace Declaration of Academics for Peace.

Writing on the issue with the title “Why I have filed this claim” in his column on Cumhuriyet daily today (March 28), Prof. Dr. Baskın Oran has noted that this has been the first lawsuit brought against President Erdoğan in Turkey.  

Reminding that he has signed the declaration of academics demanding to put an end to the environment of war and to resume the negotiation process, Prof. Oran has explained why he has filed this claim under following topics:

Personal reasons

“The expressions Erdoğan has used in four different speeches he has held which have been broadcasted on TV are full of defamation and insult as clearly seen in on the sentences I have quoted in my bill of claims: ‘Despicable’, ‘tyrant’, ‘dark as pitch’, ‘ignorant’, ‘disgusting’, ‘traitor’, ‘lumpen’, ‘terrorist organization pawn’, ‘immoral’, ‘tainted souls’.

“I can’t take such gross insults violating my personal rights, neither as an individual, nor as scholar. That’s why I have brought the suit”.

Professional reasons

“Most of the academic signee colleagues are with regards to their ages, students of my students.

“Some of them have been dismissed by the universities and have been put some through hunger. Some others are resisting in an environment of threat in their own faculties, where some students mark their rooms. Prosecutors have launched investigations into some others demanding years long imprisonment. [...] Some are kept imprisoned in solitary confinement cells, without being given even a book or being taken out to fresh air.  

“If these young colleagues were to file claims against those insults of the President, the illegal and unlawful oppressions deemed proper for them would possibly increase even more. I [...] on the other hand can’t ignore these insults and oppression. [...] That’s why I have brought the suit.

Public reasons

“A President who has taken a vow  to protect the state of law, can’t escape from a law (damages) suit brought against him due to his insults and defamations by putting forward the excuse that no lawsuit can be brought against him except treason.  

“ [...] Especially, if he has sued and condemned thousand others who have criticized him to prison and/or damages since he has come to his position.  

“I have sued President Erdoğan for 777 Euro damages for each of his four defamation speeches. So that its known that also the rulers are subject to law in this country”. (EKN/DG)