'Fine imposed for 'No' vote call in 2017 referendum unlawful'

Ali Rıza İlker Cebeci, the chairperson of the Turkish Dentists Union of the time, received a financial fine for his "No" vote call in the 2017 referendum on the amendment of the Constitution.

The Constitutional Court of Türkiye (AYM) found his individual application justified and ruled that "his freedom of expression was violated."

Cebeci will be paid the litigation expenses worth 10.195 lira (540 US dollars)

Before the 2017 referendum, Cebeci had supported, in the name of his organization, a joint statement titled "We are Saying No in the Referendum for the Health of the Society."

2017 referendum

Türkiye made significant amendments in its constitution with the 2017 referendum which paved the way for the shift to the "presidential government system."

The referendum results announced were 51.41% "Yes" and 48.59% "No" votes by Supreme Election Board (YSK).

YSK's decision, on the day of the referendum, to consider the unsealed ballot papers valid, in violation of the related legislation, sparked debates.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Group Chair Bülent Tezcan applied to YSK on April 17 requesting the annulment of the referendum results.

Also, the Vatan Party and the People's Democratic Party (HDP) applied to the YSK to annul the referendum. The election board denied all three applications. (PE)