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Ex-academic on trial for “insulting the president” draws parallel with Erdoğan’s “Selo” remark

Ex-academic on trial for “insulting the president” draws parallel with Erdoğan’s “Selo” remark

 

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Dr. Cenk Yiğiter, a lawyer and academic dismissed via emergency decree (KHK) during Turkey’s state of emergency, argued at his trial that ruling against his alleged use of the term "Tayyo" to refer to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan would require also penalizing Erdoğan for calling Selahattin Demirtaş "Selo."

The trial, held at the Ankara 53rd Criminal Court of First Instance on December 18, 2024, revolves around charges of “insulting the president,” stemming from Yiğiter’s social media posts.

Yiğiter’s defense: contextualizing the contested terms

During his defense, Yiğiter dismissed the accusations of insult, describing the term "Tayyo" as no more offensive than Erdoğan’s use of “Selo” to refer to the imprisoned former co-chair of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş.

"If you convict me for saying 'Tayyo,' you will also be establishing precedent that Erdoğan’s use of 'Selo' to describe Demirtaş constitutes insult,” Yiğiter said.

He explained his use of “Tayrap,” a word associated with plastic cable ties, as symbolic criticism of Erdoğan’s governance. “The term refers to the plastic ties used to bind the hands of workers, women, students, and other citizens exercising their constitutional rights under an autocratic regime.”

Yiğiter also expressed doubt about the possibility of acquittal in what he described as a politically motivated trial, noting the involvement of Erdoğan’s lawyers and the judicial permissions granted by the Ministry of Justice for the prosecution.

Court adjourns for prosecutor’s opinion

The court accepted Yiğiter’s request to be excused from future hearings and set the next session for February 12, 2025, when the prosecutor is expected to present the final opinion.

Case background

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office filed charges based on a social media post deemed “offensive to the honor, dignity, and reputation” of President Erdoğan. The case was initiated following a report by law enforcement rather than a direct complaint.

The indictment also referenced Yiğiter’s prior designation as “wanted” in connection with a separate investigation, a claim Yiğiter’s defense team has questioned.

Broader implications

Yiğiter’s trial adds to a series of cases where Turkey’s strict defamation laws have been used to prosecute individuals for perceived insults against Erdoğan, drawing criticism from rights groups for undermining freedom of expression.

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Medya ve Hukuk Çalışmaları Derneği (MLSA) haber alma hakkı, ifade özgürlüğü ve basın özgürlüğü alanlarında faaliyet yürüten bir sivil toplum kuruluşudur. Derneğimiz başta gazeteciler olmak üzere mesleki faaliyetleri sebebiyle yargılanan kişilere hukuki destek vermektedir.