Actors Gezen and Akpınar face prison sentence for ‘insulting President’

* Photo: Ali Cevahir Aktürk / AA

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Charged with "insulting the President" over their remarks during a TV program, Müjdat Gezen and Metin Akpınar had their second hearing at the İstanbul 8th Penal Court of First Instance today (February 17).

The prosecutor of the hearing demanded that actors Gezen and Akpınar be sentenced to 1 year, 2 months to 4 years, 8 months in prison due to their comments during Uğur Dündar's "Halk Arenası" (People's Arena) program aired on pro-opposition Halk TV in 2018.

While today's hearing was attended by Müjdat Gezen and his attorneys, the attorney of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was also present in the courtroom.

Making his defense at the hearing, Müjdat Gezen said:

"I am suffering from chronic diseases. I have been unwell for the past 11 months. If it was an insult to say 'Know your place', the President would not have said it. Moreover, these words are not marked as an insult in the dictionary, either. It means 'knowing one's worth'."

Requesting his acquittal, Gezen did not accept the deferment of the pronouncement of the verdict in the event of his conviction.

'It is not insult, but criticism'

Taking the floor afterwards, Gezen's attorney Fuat Selvi said that the remarks made by his client did not constitute the crime of insult and reiterated Gezen's request for his acquittal of the offense charged.

Köksal Bayraktar, the attorney of Metin Akpınar, also said, "When the words are considered as a whole, there is no insult, but criticism."

As for Gökhan Arslanoğlu, the attorney of President and AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he demanded the actors' penalization.

Afterwards, Gökhan Bakaner, the prosecutor of the hearing, pronounced his opinion as to the accusations. The prosecutor demanded the imprisonment of Gezen and Akpınar for 1 year, 2 months to 4 years, 8 months each on the grounds that they committed the crime of "insulting the President" with their remarks during the TV program on December 21, 2018.

Announcing its interim ruling, the court has ruled that Gezen shall be exempted from attending the hearings. Ruling that Gezen, Akpınar and their attorneys shall be given time to make their statements as to the prosecutor's opinion, the court has adjourned the hearing until a later date.

What happened?

The İstanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against actors Müjdat Gezen and Metin Akpınar over their remarks during the "Halk Arenası" (People's Arena) program, which they attended as guests on December 21, 2018.

Taken to the Anadolu Courthouse in company of the police as part of the investigation, Gezen and Akpınar were referred to the Anadolu 3rd Penal Judgeship of Peace. The judgeship released the two on probation.

The judicial control measures on Gezen and Akpınar stipulating them to go to a police station and give signatures once a week and barring them from going abroad were lifted upon the decision of the prosecutor's office.

A lawsuit was then filed against them, demanding up to 4 years, 8 months in prison each on charge of "insulting the president publicly." (HA/SD)