Artist Zuhal Olcay’s Prison Sentence for ‘Insulting the President’ Upheld

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Artist Zuhal Olcay previously stood trial on charge of "insulting the president" on the allegation that in a concert that she gave in Kadıköy, İstanbul in August 2016, "she made hand gestures in a way to insult the president."

Announcing its verdict on March 22, 2018, the İstanbul 46th Penal Court of First Instance ruled that she shall be sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Afterwards, the 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice, the court of appeal, increased the prison sentence of Olcay to 11 months, 20 days and deferred the sentence.

The 16th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals unanimously upheld her prison sentence of 11 months, 20 days yesterday (July 18).

What happened?

After a person notified the police that Zuhal Olcay "made hand gestures in a way to insult the president" during her concert in Kakıdköy, İstanbul on August 5, 2016, an indictment was issued against her, demanding a prison sentence of up to 4 years, 8 months.

The İstanbul 46th Penal Court of First Instance announced its verdict on March 22, 2918 and ruled that the artist shall be sentenced to 10 months in prison for "insulting the president."

On July 12, 2018, the court of appeal reversed the 10-month prison sentence given by the local court and increased her prison sentence to 11 months, 20 days. Deferring the prison sentence, the court has also imposed judicial control measures on Olcay for 1 year and 6 months.

About Zuhal Olcay

Artist Zuhal Olcay was born on August 10, 1957 in Üsküdar, İstanbul.

Graduated from Ankara State Conservatory in 1976, she first started as a stage actress. Since 1983 she also started being a film actress and became famous with films like "Amansız Yol", "Kurşun Ata Ata Biter", "Bir Avuç Gökyüzü", "Halkalı Köle", and "Dünden Sonra Yarından Önce".

In 1989 she started a successful singing career. (DB/SD)