University Student Detained for “Insulting Erdoğan”

A student, Emine Akbaba, attending Ege University of İzmir province in Aegean Region of Turkey, was detained. Akbaba had hung a sticker depicting the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s caricature on campus walls.

Created by Öğrenci Kolektifleri (Student Collective), the caricature pictured Erdoğan while running away from the crowd and was titled “Time Has Come! Freedom is Beyond the Presidential Palace!”

Accusation of insulting the President

Akbaba was accused of insulting the President according to the Article 299 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) by Public Prosecutor of İzmir, İbrahim Bereket. Akbaba used the right to remain silent.

The student was released after five hours of detention.

According to Bianet’s Media Monitoring Report, 11 journalists will be put on trial this month according to Article 299. Media representatives from each politic view are demanded to spend from 2 years and 8 months to 4 years and 8 months in prison. (BK/BD)

 Click here to read the article in Turkish