Famous Turkish lawyer Feyza Altun detained over ‘sharia’ remark

Duvar English

Lawyer Feyza Altun, against whom an investigation was initiated by an Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to “inciting people to hatred and hostility,” was detained on Feb. 19.

The police conducted a search and seizure operation at the residence of the prominent Internet figure. Beykoz district’s Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation against Altun for allegedly violating Article 216/1 of the Turkish Penal Code. 

Article 216/1 regulates the offense of "publicly inciting one section of the public, which has different characteristics in terms of social class, race, religion, sect or region, to hatred and hostility against another section of the public" and stipulates a prison sentence of one to three years.

Some social media users targeted Altun for "insulting sharia" in a post shared on X on Feb. 18, where she said, "F**k the sharia," in response to another user. Altun deleted the post after facing backlash.

Numerous social media posts circulated about Altun, with calls for her arrest gaining traction. Altun himself addressed some of these comments in her response.

Altun on Feb. 19 made a statement on X and noted that she has not written anything offensive about any belief.

“For me, what you call Sharia is the Taliban mentality that stones women on the streets. In this context, I stand behind my word. That regime will not be implemented in this country either. Modern secular law applies in this country. Demanding sharia is a threat to the constitutional order and a crime," she stated.

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