Acquittal for Police Officer Tried for Insulting Discharged Teacher

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The police officer, against whom a lawsuit was filed for insulting Engin Karataş, an elementary school teacher in Bodrum, Muğla, who has started a protest of "I want my job" after being discharged by a Statutory Decree during the State of Emergency, has been acquitted.

The defendant police officer was put on trial for having allegedly said to Karataş, "He aided terrorists in his house."

Speaking to bianet, Karataş has stated that one police officer slapped him in the face at the police station, another one punched him in the chest and the doctor did not give him a report, stating "No marks were left on your body."

Engin Karataş has said, "The police officer has been acquitted based on the testimony of another police officer."

He has also stated that he will appeal against the verdict of acquittal.

"I want my job and students back"

In his statement of defense, the defendant police officer indicated that he did not say "He aided terrorists in his house" and the police officer heard as a witness stated that he was not a witness to the incident in question.

Though another witness confirmed that the defendant did indeed utter those words, the court gave a verdict of acquittal for the police officer based on his statement and the statement of the other officer listened as a witness.

"It has not been proven that the offense was committed by the defendant", the court board further stated in its ruling.

"The government ain't good; I want my job and students back"

Staging a protest in the air by jumping with a parachute, Karataş was taken into custody after he landed. In one of his protests, he went underwater in a wetsuit. This time, he was detained in water by coast guard officers.

"I only said, 'Will we bother with you, mate'"

Since Engin Karataş, who was a primary school teacher in Bodrum, Muğla, was discharged from his post as per the Statutory Decree no. 675 on October 29, 2016, he has been staging creative protests of "I want my job" with interesting banners that he prepares himself.

During one of these protests, police officers intervened with Karataş, who later filed a criminal complaint against the officers. Upon his complaint, a lawsuit was filed against one of the officers.

The second hearing of the case was held at the Bodrum 2nd Penal Court of First Instance yesterday (March 7).

In his statement of defense, the defendant police officer said,

"Engin Karataş was constantly protesting at the municipality square; he was also there on the day of incident. Our workload increased due to his constant protests; in response, I said, 'Will we bother with you, mate.' But, I did not say, 'He aided terrorists in his home.' I reject the charges."

The witness police officer also said that he did not heard the defendant uttering these words while he was there and added that he did not know what he said while he was not there. However, the other witness confirmed hearing the defendant saying the sentence in question.

"Constitution Article 34: Everyone has the right to hold unarmed and peaceful meetings and marches without prior permission."

"It is not a crime to want one's job"

Announcing its judgement after hearing statements of defense, the court board ruled that the defendant police officer should be acquitted. (AS/SD)