Compensation of 30 Thousand Turkish Lira for Saying ‘Fascist Dictator’

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The Spokesperson of the Republican People's Party (CHP) has been sentenced to pay an immaterial compensation of 30 thousand Turkish Lira (5,300 Euros) for calling the President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan "a fascist dictator".

Erdoğan's attorney Hüseyin Aydın made the following statement on Twitter:

"In the lawsuit for mental anguish that we filed against Bülent Tezcan due to his statement of 'fascist dictator', the court has ruled that Tezcan shall pay an immaterial compensation of 30 thousand TRY. The ones violating the personal rights of our dear President cannot evade accounting for before the law regardless of their positions."

What happened?

In his speech in Tekirdağ on October 30, 2017, Bülent Tezcan, the Spokesperson of the CHP said, "Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a fascist dictator. I am saying it in the language that they understand. He is the epitome of a dictator..."

After Tezcan's speech, insulting and swearing posts were shared on social media and it was demanded that Tezcan be put on trial for his words.

On October 31, 2017, President and AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan filed a criminal complaint against Tezcan. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also launched an investigation into his speech on the same day.

On November 1, 2017, President Erdoğan filed a claim for compensation of 50 thousand Turkish Lira. On November 3, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched another investigation against Tezcan.

Erdoğan made the following comment about the statements of Tezcan on November 9, 2017:

"If there was a dictatorship in this country, you would not be able to speak like that at a square in Tekirdağ... They would just take the man away. It is no joke. In a country where a dictatorship prevails, you cannot speak like that. Neither you, nor your party chair can speak like that". (AS/SD)