10 indicted in İzmir for insulting Erdoğan

TGB members are hanging a banner against then-prime minister and now President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before his election rally ahead of presidential election in İzmir on Aug.2. (Photo: DHA)

March 20, 2015, Friday/ 15:04:15/ TODAYSZAMAN.COM / ISTANBUL

A total of 10 young people from the ultra-nationalist Turkish Youth Union (TGB) have been indicted for shouting slogans and hanging a banner allegedly insulting then-prime minister and now President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his election campaign for the presidential elections on Aug. 10, 2014 in the Aegean city of İzmir.

According to the private Doğan news agency, the indictment prepared by public prosecutor Fehmi Aşgun seeks a prison sentence against the 10 TGB members of between one-and-half and four-and-half years on the charge of insulting a public officer regarding the performance of his duties.

The leftist groups gathered at Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street, close to Gündoğu Square where Erdoğan was scheduled to hold a rally for the presidential elections, and staged a demonstration against Erdoğan on Aug. 2. Meanwhile, a 10-meter-banner, reading “Murderer, thief is in Gündoğu” was hung from the TGB branch office, close to the area where the rally was planned to be held. Police officers removed the banner and detained 10 TGB members who attempted to leave the office and started to chant slogans. Some TGB members were detained after a tumult broke out between them and police. The TGB members were released after they testified to police.

The prosecutor Aşgun, who completed the investigation, opened a criminal file against 10 TGB members; Görkem G., Uğraş Y., Rasim D., Hakan G., Batuhan T., Ekrem Erkin S., Burak K., Tuna S., Caner E. and Erden Ş. The prosecutor asked that the necessary legal procedure be launched against the suspects, who, he said, committed the attributed crime.

TGB members are expected to appear before the court in coming days.

Dozens of people, including journalists, high school students, activists and even a former Miss Turkey, have been prosecuted for insulting Erdoğan on social media.

Keywords: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan , turkish news