Columnist Acquits From Erdoğan’s “Queer” Complaint
BirGün newspaper columnist Hakan Demir has acquitted from charges related to insulting then-PM Erdoğan when he wrote a tweet during Gezi Resistance in 2013.
The prosecutor claimed that the defendant used his “freedom of expression and right to criticize”.
Gezi Resistance and Pride Walk
From his account @suyorumcusu, Hakan Demir wrote the following tweet on 30 June 2013:
“We are expecting the PM to release a statement saying ‘I am not going to learn about homosexuality from you. I am a hunky-dory homosexual, I have planted 3 billion homosexuals.”
The message was a blend of Erdoğan’s previous statements on Alevi people and tree planting.
Not “suitable” to human dignity
Later on, Erdoğan filed a complaint through his attorney, saying that he was insulted with “f-word” related expressions and such expression did not suit human dignity and conscious.
The attorney complaint that Demir must be tried with insulting a public officer according to Turkish Penal Code Article 125/3a.
FoE and right to criticize
Bakırköy 50th Assize Court held the case this morning.
Hakan Demir defended himself saying that his words were within the “freedom of expression” and he didn’t use any insults.
Prosecutor Yaşar Sadık Taşkın also expressed his opinion, urging Demir’s acquittal as his message was considered within the “right to criticize and freedom of expression”.
Judge Rağıp Karatepe acquitted Demir, saying that the aforementioned charges weren’t perpetrated by the defendant.
“Queer case” resulted with a fine
Previously, LBGTI activist Levent Pişkin has been ordered to pay 1,500 liras upon Erdoğan’s complaint - a fine commuted from 2 months and 15 days of prison for defamation.
Upon then-PM Erdoğan’s statement “I am a hunky-dory Alevi”, Levent Pişkin wrote the following on Twitter: “I am hunky-dory queer. I won’t learn queer-ness from you. I am expecting a statement from you. This is statement I am expecting from Erdoğan now.” (AS/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.