Lawyer Yücel Sayman, former president of Istanbul Bar, has been acquitted of the insult charge in the case filed against him by two lawyers.

The lawsuit was filed against Sayman for allegedly insulting lawyer Kemal Kerinçsiz, a member of the Great Union of the Jurists, and lawyer Murat İnan by calling them “despicable men.” However, the 3rd High Criminal Court of Istanbul concluded yesterday (November 27) that the elements of the offence had not materialized. 

I am a lawyer and trying to prove my innocence

Criticizing prosecutor Rasim Işıkaltın’s argument, Sayman indicated that the place where the said statement was said should have been taken into consideration as well, adding that he was trying to prove his innocence as a lawyer and was not able to accept this.

“They spit on us, they threw coins and insults at us"

Sayman told the court that when Hrant Dink was on trial at the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, they insulted him, they threw coins at him and they spit on him. Furthermore, he said, “they tried to prevent our client from defending himself. There was a show of racism in the courtroom. I will say the same things again if the same thing happens.”

One of Sayman’s lawyers Mehmet Uçum also indicated that both Kerinçsiz and İnan were there not as lawyers, but as complainants. Therefore, he demanded that the prosecutor fixed his statement.

Sayman, who is also a writer at daily Günlük Evrensel, was facing two years four months in prison. (EÖ/TB)