Eylem Sonbahar
Turkish actor İlyas Salman has been fined 7,000 Turkish lira (approximately $215) for "insulting the president" over comments made in a 2022 newspaper interview titled "I don't see Erdoğan as worthy of that seat." The ruling came during the sixth hearing of the case, held at Istanbul’s 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Salman, known for his roles in politically themed films and for his outspoken views, did not attend the hearing. His lawyer Selen Sınmaz was present, along with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s lawyer Melih Tüfenkçi. Prosecutors had previously argued that Salman’s statements in the BirGün newspaper interview were “insulting and derogatory,” and repeated their demand for punishment during the April 2025 hearing.
Lawyer Selen Sınmaz challenged the indictment on both procedural and substantive grounds. She cited the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) ruling in the Vedat Şorli case, which found that the dual legal basis for insult charges under the Turkish Penal Code violated legal clarity and urged Turkey to reform domestic legislation. She also referenced precedents from Turkey’s Court of Cassation’s 4th Criminal Chamber, which held that certain words — such as "cheap" — do not in themselves constitute criminal insult. Sınmaz argued that Salman’s statements should be considered political criticism and called for acquittal.
Erdoğan’s lawyer supported the prosecution’s stance and urged the court to impose a penalty in line with the prosecutor’s final opinion.
Ultimately, the court ruled that Salman’s statements did amount to an insult and imposed a judicial fine of 7,000 lira.
Background on the case
The charges stem from an interview published on August 1, 2022, in the left-leaning BirGün newspaper. In the article, Salman said:
“Tayyip [Erdoğan] is what bothers me the most. When I describe Turkey, I say it’s a country where unworthy people hold important positions. I don’t see Tayyip Erdoğan as worthy of the presidency. He’s a cheap man. I know this will get me into court. A fortunate laborer. Because I once described this country as a place where people hold positions they do not deserve. I was referring to Tayyip. I’m among those who believe Recep Tayyip Erdoğan doesn’t deserve the seat he holds. Then again, by this logic, you might think İlyas Salman isn’t worthy of the seat he occupies as an artist.”
Such cases are common in Turkey, where thousands of people — including journalists, academics, and artists — have faced criminal charges for allegedly insulting the president, under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code. The law has drawn frequent criticism from domestic and international rights groups for its chilling effect on free expression.
