SEVDA AYDIN
Dilruba Kayserilioğlu, accused of "insulting the president" during a street interview in Izmir, was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison by the Izmir 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The sentence was suspended, pending no repeat offenses within a specified timeframe.
Court proceedings
At her second hearing, Kayserilioğlu defended herself, stating that her comments were criticisms of Turkey’s presidential system rather than personal insults directed at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“As a woman in this country, I expressed my concerns about the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, my outrage over animal massacres under recent legislation, and my belief that social media bans are equivalent to book burning in the 21st century. I am free to say these things. My words contained no insults; they criticized the 'one-man regime.' I request my acquittal,” she said.
However, Erdoğan’s lawyer, Ağakan Yüksel, argued that Kayserilioğlu’s statements, such as “The one-man regime runs the country like his father’s farm,” amounted to defamation. “Freedom of expression has limits, and it cannot infringe on a person’s dignity or honor,” Yüksel stated, calling for her conviction.
Defense and judgment
Kayserilioğlu’s lawyer, Hüseyin Yıldız, contended that her comments fell within the scope of political critique:
- He highlighted that decisions under Turkey’s presidential system are made solely by the president's decree, rendering criticisms of a "one-man rule" legitimate.
- He referenced European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings that deemed expressions like "his father’s farm" non-defamatory.
- He also noted procedural irregularities, arguing that the same video was used as evidence in two separate trials, a violation of legal standards.
In her final defense, Kayserilioğlu reiterated that her trial was politically motivated:
“I am being prosecuted for criticizing the presidential system. I spent 18 days in prison, and since then, I have been targeted by trolls, called a ‘foul-mouthed woman’ by Erdoğan, and insulted by pro-government media. Dignity is not just a right of the president—it is our right too. I demand my acquittal.”
Aftermath
Kayserilioğlu and her legal team announced plans to appeal the decision. Outside the courthouse, her lawyer said, “We will continue to fight this battle legally to uphold freedom of expression.”
This case adds to the growing number of prosecutions under Turkey’s controversial Article 299 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes "insulting the president." Critics argue that such cases suppress dissent and limit political critique.
