Graphic artist faces up to four years in jail for depicting Erdoğan's 'sluts' rant

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan faced perhaps his biggest challenge almost 10 years ago during the Gezi protests.

Turkey witnessed unprecedented civil unrest and mass demonstrations following the police's use of excessive force against a local sit-in at İstanbul's Gezi Park in 2013.

The protests quickly transformed into a broader anti-government movement, with nearly five million people taking to the streets countrywide.

On June 1 last year, the ninth anniversary of the demonstrations, Erdoğan, at a party meeting, condemned the activists, referring to them as "terrorists" and using profanity.

"The bandits had dirtied the inside of the mosque with beer bottles. They are rotten. They are sluts," he said.

At the gathering, he continued swearing by targeting them with words that could be roughly translated as: ''mentally retarded, dishonorable, miserable, ignorant, bandit, dishonorable, artist scum, lacking in morals, bloodsucker."

Erdoğan's remarks almost immediately received a stern backlash. On Twitter, numerous users expressed their anger at their country's leader for using such language.

Multiple women, including Ayşe Sevtap Uzun, Berrin Küçüktabak, Funda Fener, and Yonca Alemdar, filed a criminal complaint against the president's derogatory language. However, in late November 2022, Bartın Chief Prosecutor's Office decided that there was no need for an investigation into the four women's accusations, stating that the action in question did not constitute a crime.

'Look at the slut, it's everywhere with the Turkish flag!'

While the case against the AKP chair was closed, Ankara-based graphic designer Berkay Kahvecioğlu received a visit from two police officers.

They informed Kahvecioğlu that he was being investigated for "insulting the president" as per article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code because he had painted Erdogan's portrait with the word "slut" underneath it and had shared it on social media with the caption "Look at the slut, it's everywhere with the Turkish flag! You can access the album on YouTube."

The artwork makes reference to the song "Sürtüğe Bak" (Look at the Slut) by the rapper Khontkar, which had drawn condemnation for misogynistic lyrics and being released on the Women's Day. The artist depicted Erdoğan like the rapper, with a golden necklace and pink hair.

The artist was released after giving a statement but later received a notification that the investigation had turned into a trial.

The prosecutor who drafted the indictment, Mehmet Aykut Cihangir, alleged that Kahvecioğlu had insulted the president by defaming his honor, dignity, and reputation through the use of foul language.

Cihangir requested a prison sentence of one to four years for Kahvecioğlu and demanded an additional one-sixth penalty increase due to openly committing the crime.

'All of this is just a waste of time'

The visual artist is awaiting the first hearing of his case, which will occur on May 16, two days after the dual elections. Despite the looming trial, Kahvecioğlu asserts that he is not afraid and will continue with his work even if he is convicted.

"Even if I go to jail. I don't have any worries or fears. I'll always find something to do. All of this is just a waste of time,'' he tells bianet.

''Last week, Mahir Akkoyun was taken into custody for stickers that read 'Is this product too expensive for you? Thanks to Erdoğan... Keep this in mind when you vote.' These are Turkey's realities. I don't think I'll change anything. But it's still about accepting or not accepting the pressure. Everyone should be able to continue doing what they want freely. All of this shows us that art is a powerful and feared thing.''

Fellow graphic designer, Mahir Akkoyun was detained in İzmir, after initiating a campaign that involved placing stickers on products criticizing President Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli over the high costs of living ahead of the elections. The campaign quickly went viral on social media and Akkoyun was investigated for "insulting the president" and "disrupting the electoral order," but was later released.

According to Kahvecioğlu, the states fear arts which results in sudden uncontrolled interventions, ''I believe in the power of art, and they do too, it seems. They have a great fear, and that fear turns into sudden interventions; uncontrolled.''

''The state which is unable to be found next to us in any disaster or happening in society, can appear in front of us when it concerns itself. It's like when the police end up right in front of you.

''I find this very strange. These issues never change for some reason. In the end, I will continue to do what I do. Because I don't see what I'm doing as a crime.''

(HA/WM)