Over 36,000 people probed in one year over 'insulting' Erdoğan
Over 36,000 people were probed in one year over "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Justice Ministry statistics showed. Out of the 36,066 people probed, 12,298 were tried and 3,381 were given sentences. Before Erdoğan's term, the highest number of people being sentenced over "insulting" a president was 44.
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Over 36,000 people were probed in one year over "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Justice Ministry statistics showed.
According to data on 2019, the number of those probed over the 299th Article of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) reached 36,066, seeing an increase compared to previous years, daily Birgün reported.
Out of the 36,066 people probed, 12,298 were tried and 3,381 were given sentences.
"Insulting" Erdoğan may lead to being sentenced to prison between one and four years.
In 2014, the year Erdoğan was elected president, 40 people were handed sentences, while the number increased to 238 in 2015, 884 in 2016, 2,099 in 2017, 2,462 in 2018 and 3,831 in 2019, resulting in a total of 9,554 people being sentenced during his presidential term.
Before Erdoğan's term, the highest number of people being sentenced over "insulting" a president was 44.
During Erdoğan's term, some 2,663 people were sentenced to house arrest, Birgün said.