PodcastTurkish court orders main opposition CHP MP Özel to pay 15,000 liras in compensation to Defense Minister Akar
A Turkish court has ruled that main opposition CHP MP Özgür Özel will pay 15,000 liras ($1,910) in compensation to Defense Minister Hulusi Akar over the deputy's criticism of the minister for not backing his former military colleagues when they were arrested in Ergenekon and Balyoz trials.
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A Turkish court on Dec. 2 ordered Özgür Özel, deputy head of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)'s parliamentary group, to pay 15,000 liras ($1,910) in compensation to Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, online Diken news portal reported.
The case concerns Özel's criticism of Akar during parliamentary discussions in 2018.
Özel had accused Akar of not visiting his former army colleagues in prison when they were jailed in Ergenekon and Balyoz trials.
The Turkish government says that the Gülen network, referred to as the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), used its members in the police and judiciary to fabricate evidence in the Ergenekon and Balyoz trials, leading to the arrest of hundreds of military officers.
“As someone who has been appointed, you cannot reprimand those who have been elected; you should know your place,” Özel said to Akar during a heated debate in parliament on Dec. 18, 2018.
“Your brothers in arms have died without giving their blessings to you; you are someone who have received their curses,” Özel also said.
Following Özel's remarks, Akar filed a lawsuit demanding 500,000 liras in compensation.
Akar, the former chief of staff of the Turkish military, was named minister of defense shortly after the June 2018 elections.