Turkish Interior Minister Soylu sues opposition newspaper for 1 million liras

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has filed a lawsuit against daily Cumhuriyet, demanding 1 million Turkish Liras (approximately $115,000) in non-pecuniary damages over what he said “an attack against his personal rights.”

Tuesday July 06 2021 01:08 am

Duvar English

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has filed a lawsuit against daily Cumhuriyet for 1 million liras (approximately $115,000) in non-pecuniary damages, online news platform T24 reported on July 5.

Lawyer Uğur Kızılca said in a statement that the newspaper has published a total of 313 news reports and columns about Soylu in the last 52 days.

The lawyer claimed that these news reports had “targeted” Soylu's personal rights, contradicted the truth, and consisted of insults and slander.

“Due to a systematic attack of the newspaper in a persistence way, a lawsuit has been filed at the Ankara Civil Court of First Instance with a demand for 1 million Turkish Liras in non-pecuniary damages,” the lawyer said.

Soylu has a long history of threatening journalists and newspapers, most recently Cumhuriyet, Karar and Sözcü.

On May 11, Soylu targeted Cumhuriyet over a report on his past contradictory statements, saying that the newspaper will answer in court.

Soylu's remarks came after Cumhuriyet on May 10 reminded readers that the minister didn't act against mafia leader Sedat Peker, who has been revealing alleged deep state schemes and cover-ups in recent videos, in the past.

"Your history is one of deep, dirty and shady relations," Soylu said in a tweet on May 11, while also accusing the daily of "getting revenge" for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and acting upon the "nonsensical words of a mafia scum."

"Turkey is not what it used to be. You'll answer in court," the minister also said.