Penguen magazine caricaturists Bahadır Baruter and Özer Aydoğan are currently facing trial for charges related to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan - then PM and current President - according to Turkish Penal Code Article 125/3 with a magazine cover depicting him on 21 August 2014 .
The charges were made upon the scene where Erdoğan is telling the other person “We should have sacrificed a journalists or something” when admitted to the new presidential palace - referring to a Turkish tradition to make a sacrifice while moving to a new home.
The news broke through Cumhuriyet Daily Newspaper. According to that the complaint was submitted by Cem S.—who identified himself as an “AKP sympathizer”.
“On the cover of the magazine, a person is depicted in front of our president. That person is overtly making the finger sign of ‘homosexual people’ on the cover,” Cem S. wrote in his complaint.
10 years ago, Penguen magazine also faced charges related to insulting then-PM Erdoğan when they drew Erdoğan’s face in different face with the title “The Realm of Tayyips”.
Baruter: I am suspecting
Facing trial upon an indictment drafted by Prosecutor Vedat Yiğit, Baruter stood trial yesterday.
Tora Pekin, Baruter’s advocate, said that the prosecutor lost his impartiality by taking statement “as if they were already informed” and using the phrase “our president” in the indictment.
Prosecutor Yiğit also added that the aforemetioned caricature exceed the limitation of freedom of expression and assaulted the pride and honor of Erdoğan.
The court is expected to issue a verdict in the days to come. (EÖ/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
