Opposition leader becomes first person facing 'disinformation' charges under new law

Photo: AA

The General Directorate of Security (EGM) has filed a complaint against the head of Türkiye's main opposition party for "spreading disinformation" over his recent accusations against the government over the rampant methamphetamine use in the country.

Filing a petition with the Parliamentary Investigation Bureau of the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office today (November 3), the directorate also pressed charges of "insult," "slander" and "insulting the Turkish nation and state."

In a Twitter video on October 31, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), held the government responsible for what he called a "methamphetamine epidemic" in the country.

In need of foreign currency inflows due to the economic crisis, the government attracted "drug barons" to the country, which resulted in the booming methamphetamine production and use, he claimed.

"They emptied the Treasury, destroyed the economy. After all the resources were consumed, they started a very dirty game in order to remain in power ... They turned a blind eye to all kinds of black money entering the country," Kılıçdaroğlu remarked.

The 'disinformation law'

With the EGM's lawsuit, Kılıçaroğlu has become the first person facing "disinformation" charges in the country under a law enacted in mid-October.

Those who "disseminate information misleading the public" should be sentenced to up to three years in prison, according to article 29 of the law, which drew widespread criticism from journalism groups and opposition parties.

Kılıçdaroğlu attempted to "create the perception that our organization operates not in accordance with the law but together with certain criminal organizations" and "damage the reputation of our Security Organization and Mr. Interior Minister in the eyes of the public," the EGM said in its complaint.

Following Kılıçdaroğlu's video, the EGM, the General Command of Gendarmerie and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu had said they would file lawsuits against him.

Celal Çelik, a lawyer for the CHP leader, said the EGM's complaint showed that the criticism against the law was right.

"They have shown that this article of the law will be applied to politicians to restrict freedom of expression," he said. "This step has completely revealed the rightfulness of our arguments."

The methamphetamine debate

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also threatened legal action against Kılıçdaroğlu over the methamphetamine claims that "crossed all the boundaries."

"Methamphetamine, a chemical drug... I think you know about it very well," he said yesterday (October 2) at his party's parliamentary group meeting. "The entire world is in trouble with this menace. But I know that you are in trouble with that, too. I heard such things."

Denying Kılıçdaroğlu's claim that the government was trying to make up for the current account deficit with "drug revenues," Erdoğan said, "We will hold him accountable before the law."

The opposition leader made another statement about the issue late yesterday, repeating his claims.

Noting that Tükiye was greylisted last year by a global anti-money laundering watchdog, Kılıçdaroğlu wrote, "I'm calling out to the drug barons: Leave our cities. We'll chase you after winning the election."

The amount of methamphetamine seized by the police in Türkiye rose by over five times from 2019 to 2021, according to the Counter Narcotics Department.

The substance has become a "gateway drug" especially among the youth in low-income urban areas, experts say. 

(VK)