Podcast16-year-old child sentenced to 10 months in prison over ‘insulting Erdoğan’
A Turkish court sentenced a 16-year-old high school student to 10 months in prison for “insulting President Erdoğan.”
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A 16-year-old child has been sentenced to 10 months and 10 days in prison on charges of “insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” with the court deciding to defer the announcement of the verdict.
The case stemmed from an incident on May 12, when the teenager was accused of swearing during the president's convoy's passage, according to the daily BirGün. Following the accusation, a presidential bodyguard reportedly ordered the student's detention.
The high school student, who spent a day in custody, denied the allegations, stating, "Six months ago (before the incident), I had a car accident. On that day, while waiting at the pedestrian crossing, I got scared and reacted to a fast-approaching vehicle. I did not know that any state official, including the president, would be there."
Despite this, the child spent a night in custody.
The Istanbul Criminal Judge of Peace released the child under judicial control conditions, including a weekly signature obligation at the police station and a travel ban. These measures were in effect until Sept. 30.
However, President Erdoğan, through his lawyer Ahmet Özel, submitted a petition requesting the student be penalized.
The child’s lawyer, Kardelen Ateşci, requested CCTV footage be reviewed to confirm the claims, but the prosecutor declined further investigation, alleging the absence of recordings in one of Istanbul's busiest areas.
In court, Ateşci argued that the accusations were baseless, supported by the child's testimony and witness statements. She also criticized the legal process, stating that the child's best interests were neglected throughout.
During the third hearing on Dec. 12, the court initially sentenced the high school student to one year and four months but reduced it to 10 months and 10 days due to mitigating circumstances.
The announcement of the verdict was deferred, meaning if the child does not commit any offenses within the five-year probation period, the sentence will be annulled.
16-year-old child faces lawsuit over ‘insulting President’ in Turkey, signs on bail every weekHuman Rights