Social media user faces a lawsuit, warrant for calling MHP Chair Bahçeli ‘senile’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

Click to read the article in Turkish

A social media user who lives in İstanbul faces a lawsuit for "insulting" Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli.

Put on trial over social a media post about Devlet Bahçeli, the social media user now faces 1 year to 2 years, 4 months in prison.

The lawsuit has been filed against the criminal complaint of Bahçeli, the leader of the MHP, which is in the People's Alliance with the ruling AKP. Upon this criminal complaint, a warrant has also been issued against the social media user by the Ankara 2nd Penal Judgeship of Peace.

Request for increasing the penalty

The indictment lodged by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded that the social media user be penalized for "insult" as per the Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

On the grounds that "the offense of insult" was allegedly "committed against a public official," the minimum penalty has been determined as 1 year. The indictment has also requested that the following provision of the Article 125 of the TCK be implemented: "Where the insult is committed in public, the penalty to be imposed shall be increased by one sixth."

Taken together, the social media user now faces 1 year to 2 years, 4 months in prison on the offense charged.

'Put him in an old people's home'

The social media user has been put on trial for commenting on a news report of Sözcü newspaper on Facebook. Posting a comment about the news regarding a statement by Bahçeli, the social media user said, "Put him in an old people's home already. He has been either senile or has been completely out of his mind because he has changed positions so many times."

Trial will be held without a hearing

As required by the "simple trial" procedure*, the trial of the social media user will be held without a hearing.

CLICK - Trial Without Hearing, Defendant Without Defense, Ruling Without Prosecutor's Opinion

* According to the "simple trial" procedure, after the indictment is accepted by the penal court of first instance, a decision can be made for a trial with a "simple procedure" in the event that the penalty foreseen for the offense charged is a judicial fine and/or the maximum prison sentence to be handed down is two years or less. If the court gives such a decision, the indictment is notified to the defendants, the aggrieved party and the complaint and they are requested to submit their statements and defense in written form within 15 days. The written notification also indicates that a ruling can be handed down without holding a hearing.

CLICK - 'They say reform to Europe, stifle the media!'

(AS/SD)