Academic Özgen Sues President Over Insult

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Academic Neşe Özgen has sued President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for damages over his insults against academics signing Declaration by Academics, and researchers and anyone supporting them.

Prof. Dr. Özgen has expressed in her reason that many insults have been published in the newspapers quoting Erdoğan, human rights of the academics have been explicitly damaged, their right to expression, thought and live have gone under threat.

Özgen stating the academics and the individuals, institutes, institutions, and platforms in subject are also facing insults said, “furthermore an impression has awaken in certain crime and interest circlers as well that they are free to insult against academic and human dignity of the academics and even they are protected by the Presidency office”.

Özgen has used the following expression in her statement:

“I will not accept to hear expressions such as ’Scoundrel’, ‘tyrant’, ‘deep dark’, ‘ignorant’, ‘disgusting’, ‘traitor’, ‘lumpen’, ‘tool of terror organization’, ‘dirty’, ‘mandatary waste’, ‘polluted soul’ from a President who is liable to conduct Presidency service on my behalf”.

Özgen added that the laws apply to the President as well and he is not exempt from it. (ÇT/TK)