Former CHP MP Berhan Şimşek indicted for ‘degrading the state’

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An indictment has been filed against Republican People's Party (CHP) former MP and actor Berhan Şimşek because he said in a TV program, "The governor is a militant, the sub-governor is a militant."

Şimşek has been indicted on charge of "degrading the state and its bodies" as per the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). He now faces 6 months to 2 years in prison on the offense charged.

As reported by Kısa Dalga news website, the indictment, citing the Interior Ministry as a complainant, is sent to the İstanbul Penal Court of First Instance, which will decide whether it will be accepted or not.

Details from the indictment

In a TV program aired on January 22, Berhan Şimşek said, "The governor is a militant, the sub-governor is a militant, the judges are militants." Some time ago, he went to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to give his statement over these remarks. The investigation carried out by the prosecutor's office into the incident has been completed.

According to the indictment issued by the office, the word "militant" has three meanings according to the dictionary of the Turkish Language Association (TDK): "A person who fights and struggles to ensure that a thought, an opinion will win", "an active member of a political organization" and "a partisan who wages a struggle by using force and illegal ways."

Referring to this definition, the indictment has argued that the "militant" remark of Berhan Şimşek "will lead to a perception that the state and its judicial bodies are an illegal administrative organization."

Accordingly, the prosecutor's office has claimed that the related remark constitutes the offense of "degrading the State of the Republic of Turkey and its judicial bodies." The office has demanded that Şimşek be sentenced to 6 months to 2 years in prison on the offense charged.

About Berhan Şimşek

Politician and actor.

He has been a film actor for 25 years. He is also the founder of the 78's Foundation and Progressive Cinema Actors/Actresses Association and a member of the 68's Foundation. In 1997, he was a columnist for the Günaydın Newspaper. In 1999, he was elected as a member of the CHP Party Assembly. He was a member of the Assembly for five terms.

In the general elections in 2002, he was elected CHP İstanbul MP; he remained in office until 2007. He was the CHP İstanbul Provincial Organization Chair from the year 2010 to 2011. (TP/SD)