Court acquits former MP over 'hunger=Erdoğan' tweet

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Eren Erdem, former MP of the Republican People's Party acquitted in the case that he stood trial for insulting the president for tweeting "Hunger=RTE," the initials of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The prosecutor had requested 4 years and 8 months of imprisonment for Erdem for "insulting the president" in the case.

At the hearing, Erdem said, "We as citizens of the Republic of Türkiye have the freedom to express our opinions.

"The indictment itself is a crime since it aims at limiting my political activities," Erdem said. He argued that there were no insults in what he wrote and added, "It is of course the government who is responsible for the hunger. I have to criticize the government on behalf of the people."

The court acquitted Erdem, concluding that the elements of the crime were not present.

Thousands stood trial for insulting president

Thousands were investigated and stood trial for insulting the president in Türkiye in recent years. 

About 45,000 people were investigated and nearly 10 thousand stood trial for "insulting the president" in 2020, according to figures compiled by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu.

Lawsuits were filed against 9,773 people that year including 290 children.

Eighty-four of the 290 children were in the 12-15 age group and 206 were in the 15-18 age group. 

Among the people who stood trial for insulting the president, 3,655 were convicted and 3,736 were given a deferred sentence.

While cases against 1,013 people were dropped, only 14 percent of those who faced this charge were acquitted. (HA/PE/VK)