Turkey’s top appeals court rules for higher fine against Kılıçdaroğlu over Erdoğan remarks
Turkey’s top appeals court has not found sufficient the 25,000 liras fine given to CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu over his 2018 remarks against Erdoğan and sent the decision back to the lower courts for a retrial.
Duvar English
The Court of Cassation, Turkey’s highest court of appeals, has overturned a lower court’s decision to impose a fine of 25,000 liras against main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu over his 2018 remarks concerning President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The top court ruled that Kılıçdaroğlu should have been given a higher fine “considering into account the quality of the action and the sides’ position,” according to reporting by the state-run Anadolu Agency.
The ruling concerns a lawsuit that was launched against Kılıçdaroğlu following a speech he made at his party’s group meeting on July 17, 2018. Kılıçdaroğlu was also accused of “attacking the personal rights” of Erdoğan for sharing some posts on social media.
Following the trial process, the Ankara 14th Civil Court of First Instance ruled that Kılıçdaroğlu pay 50,000 liras in non-pecuniary damages. The Ankara Regional Court of Justice overturned this decision and determined the compensation amount as 25,000 liras. The case was later taken to the Court of Cassation, the last instance for reviewing verdicts given by lower courts, which ruled that compensation should have been higher.