‘Insulting Erdoğan’: CHP İstanbul Chair Kaftancıoğlu to pay damages to President

* Photo: Evrim Kepenek / bianet

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Put on trial over her social media messages, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu has been sentenced to pay 56,000 lira (approx. 7,000 USD) to President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The Büyükçekmece 6th Civil Court of First Instance in İstanbul has concluded that Kaftancıoğlu "posted insulting tweets."

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), at the final hearing held today (April 29), President and AKP Chair Erdoğan's attorneys Ferah Yıldız and Ümit Kudbay and Canan Kaftancıoğlu's attorney Mehmet Süleyman Türker were present in the courtroom.

Erdoğan's attorneys demanded that the court give a ruling of damages for each wrongful act. Kaftancıoğlu's attorney Türker noted that there was no intention of insult and requested the dismissal of the case.

Handing down its judgement, the court board has ruled that Kaftancıoğlu shall pay 56,000 lira to Erdoğan in non-pecuniary damages.

Why was the case filed?

In the petition submitted to the court by Erdoğan's attorneys, it was argued that Canan Kaftancıoğlu, in her tweets about Erdoğan, "used humiliating, degrading and dishonorable remarks, incriminated and insulted him by damaging his honor, reputation and dignity."

Requesting that "the gravity of slandering insults and degrading remarks" be taken into account, the attorneys requested 50,000 for each post, which meant a request for 700,000 lira in damages in total.

Criminal case to be heard by Court of Cassation

Put on trial due to her social media posts at the İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court, CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu was sentenced to 9 years, 8 months, 20 days in prison. After the court of appeals upheld this verdict, the case was taken to the Court of Cassation.

In its letter of notification about the prison sentence given to Kaftancıoğlu, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation demanded that 8 years, 2 months of this sentence be upheld. (AS/SD)