Acquittal for ‘Thief, Murderer Erdoğan’

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Eight people being tried over “insulting the President” on charge of chanting “Thief, murderer Erdoğan”, have been acquitted at Yalova 3rd Penal Court of First Instance.

Their lawyer Özgür Urfa pled as follows:

“The European Court of the Human Rights (ECtHR) has many verdicts on this issue. President is political power, and it doesn’t require additional protection. The criticisms subjected to the trial are within the scope of freedom of expression. The court’s possible negative ruling is a violation of the ECtHR”.

The court on the basis of “not finding sufficient, precise and convincing evidence” has ruled acquittal of the defendants.

"Freedom of expression within legal appropriateness"

As many as 100 people from Yalova United June Movement staged a rally in protest of fatal workplace accidents.

According to prosecutor’s indictment, U.G. from the group marching towards Cumhuriyet square chanted “Murderer, thief Erdoğan”, and the protesters reiterated. Testimonies of the police at the scene were shown as evidence.

In the indictment, it was stated that the permission was granted by Ministry of Justice for the defendants to be tried on the basis of Turkish Penal Court (TCK) Article 299 concerning the crime of “insulting President”, and demanded penalty for them over this crime.

Defense attorney Bedia Boran Bulut said the following in the hearing today:

“The defendants have exercised their freedom of expression within legal appropriateness. We are of the opinion that the crime of ‘insulting the President’ should not be practice because this article is meant to protect the position of the President. Victim of the crime is the position, not the person. Thus, we believe elements of the crime do not exist”.

The trial was concluded today, and acquittal of all the defendants was decided. (AS/TK)