Record High Prison Sentence for ‘Insulting the President’

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Van 2nd Penal Court of First Instance has ruled that Burhan Borak, a citizen living in Turkey's eastern province of Van, shall be sentenced to 12 years, 3 months in prison on charge of "insulting the President".

The lawsuit in question was filed due to seven different social media messages posted by Borak in 2014. Accordingly, sentenced to 1 year, 9 months in prison for each one of his messages, Borak has been given a prison sentence of 12 years, 3 months in total. The court has suspended neither the announcement of the verdict, nor the verdict itself.

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As reported by Müjdat Can from Mezopotamya Agency (MA), speaking about his prison sentence, Burhan Borak indicated that his social media posts were within freedom of thought and expression.

"Such sentences do not come as a surprise in countries where the judiciary is not independent. We will appeal to the upper court against the verdict. I hope that justice will be served. I want this verdict to be reversed", he said.

Cihan Durmaz, the attorney of Borak, also said, "My client was given a high prison sentence of 12 years and 3 months. We are of the opinion that it is a record high sentence. We know that, in cases similar to this one, successive provisions are applied and a defendant is given 2 years the most.

"The 12-year prison sentence given to my client can be explained with neither conscience, nor the law. All of these posts are within the scope of freedom of thought and expression, they completely involve the criticisms of my client about the process". (RT/SD)