One-Sentence Rejection by Constitutional Court to Application on 'Insulting President' Ruling

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The Constitutional Court has rejected an individual application regarding a court verdict on "insulting the President" in a one-sentence decision

The one-sentence decision was signed by two members of the top court:

"As the application is examined to the extent that it falls within the authority of individual application review and pursuant to the presented documents, it has been concluded that there is no interference with the fundamental rights and freedoms envisaged in the Constitution or that the interference did not constitute a violation."

The decision was sent today (February 26) to the attorney of Sarp Ruç, the applicant.

Application to the ECtHR is possible now

"Apparently, when they saw the topic of 'insulting the president,' they rejected it directly, without any review," attorney Özgür Urfa told bianet, noting that they had applied to the court with a pages-long petition.

"The Constitutional Court normally put applications including this charge into its agenda. Many similar applications that were made after convictions of 'insulting the president' have been waiting at the court.

"As far as I could follow, this is the second decision that the Constitutional Court has made on this issue. It cites the first decision in its response.

"It looks like they will give the same verdict in similar decisions from now on."

The verdict at least paved the way for an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), he added.

"The application is inadmissible because being clearly devoid of basis," Constitutional Court stated in the decision on Umut Kılıç, which it cited in this decision.

Kılıç stood trial for his expressions during a job interview for a judgeship.

Ankara 32nd Penal Court of First Instance sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in prison for insulting the president and insulting a public official because of his/her duty over his words during the interview. The announcement of the verdict was deferred.

Kılıç had made an individual application to the Constitutional Court. (AS/VK)