Demirtaş files a complaint against YouTuber Büşra Dede over insulting remarks

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Behind bars in the Edirne Type F Prison in northwestern Turkey since November 2016, former Co-Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has taken legal action against the insulting remarks of YouTuber Büşra Dede targeting himself and his family.

Demirtaş's lawyer Hadi Cin has announced that "a criminal complaint has been filed against the identified people, primarily against Büşra Dede, who used insulting remarks about Selahattin Demirtaş." The lawyer has added that "lawsuits for non-pecuniary damages will also be filed."

Lawyer Cin has shared the issue with the public in a series of messages on his social media account. Referring to Selahattin Demirtaş, Hadi Cin has stated, "Our client is of the opinion that political figures must be criticized in the severest way, the severe criticisms targeting himself as well as other politicians must be met with commonsense and freedom of expression must be given precedence when political criticisms are concerned."

The lawyer has added, "However, it is inevitable that the insulting remarks far from being criticisms are deemed as targeting both himself and the values and people that he represents. It is impossible to tolerate the insults against our client, people and the values of the people."

Accordingly, Lawyer Cin has announced that they will "pursue legal proceedings against the people who utter insulting remarks targeting Selahattin Demirtaş himself, his family and the values that he represents."

Cin has said that they, as the lawyers of Selahattin Demirtaş, will file criminal complaints and file lawsuits for non-pecuniary damages.

YouTuber Büşra Dede, in a video she posted on her Twitter account on November 19, targeted Selahattin Demirtaş, calling him a "baby killer". (KÖ/SD)